Month: January 2019

Taking the First Steps Toward Your Own Research

By Brendan Hogan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Student Research Blog Post: Taking the First Steps Toward Your Own Research. By PRA Brendan.Since finishing a research apprenticeship with a faculty mentor I have wanted to start my own research project, but I have struggled to figure out how. I’ve known for a while that I want to explore ways to utilize photography to help with environmental efforts to preserve natural parks and resources in the West, but it seemed like an enormous project to even begin. I became overwhelmed as I tried looking into past studies, professors on campus who work in this area, and even explored internships, yet it just was not coming together. Continue reading

• Summer Research Opportunities Accepting Applications

Undecided about how to spend your summer? Consider an undergraduate research program or research internship hosted by a research institute or university. Many summer research programs and internships, including those listed below, are accepting applications through late February or early March. There is still time to prepare a personal statement, gather application materials, and secure letters of recommendation.

Nanotechnology for Health, Energy, and the Environment – Stony Brook University
Deadline: February 15, 2019

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/cie/reu/
This summer REU program is targeted towards undergraduates with an interest in the application of nanotechnology and nanomaterials to various societal needs. Undergraduate STEM majors who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study are eligible to apply. $4,000 stipend, free housing and a meal plan. Stipend $600/week for the 12-week internship period.

Robert Frederick Smith Internship Program – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
Deadline: February 15, 2019
https://nmaahc.si.edu/connect/osp/robert-frederick-smith-fund-internship-and-fellowship-program
Internship opportunities through this program focus on digital imaging, media preservation, digital preservation of personal and community objects, collections information management, and recording and preserving oral histories. Interns will be located onsite with the National Museum of African American History & Culture and offsite at select African American museums, museums of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other institutions dedicated to preserving African American history and culture. 

Maryland Sea Grant REU Program
Deadline: February 16, 2019
http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/topics/research-experiences-undergraduates/research-experiences-undergraduates
Fifteen students are selected to conduct marine research on the Chesapeake Bay at one of two University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences laboratories. The program is designed for students majoring in marine science, ecology, environmental science, biology and chemistry. Preference given to students who are rising seniors. $6,000 stipend and housing costs are provided.

Summer Internships in Plant Health – Kansas State University
Deadline: February 18, 2019
https://www.plantpath.k-state.edu/undergraduate/reeu/index.html
The program is designed for students with an interest in plant pathology, horticulture, crop genetics, entomology, or agronomy. Students must identify the projects they are most interested in working on as part of the application process. This Research and Extension Experience (REEU) program is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. $4,900 stipend, housing, and meals provided.

Microbial Friends & Foes REU Program – Cornell University
Deadline: February 21, 2019
http://cihmid.cornell.edu/reu-mff.html
Students selected for this REU program will work with faculty mentors in the Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease (CIHMID). The program provides training in the concepts and experimental approaches needed to understand microbial interactions with eukaryotic hosts. Stipend of $5,750, on-campus housing, and meal allowance.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Oceanography – University of Rhode Island
Deadline: February 21, 2019
https://web.uri.edu/gso/academics/surfo/
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships in Oceanography program is a 10-week research experience designed for science, math, and engineering students who will be seniors in Fall 2019. The program emphasizes the quantitative aspects of Oceanography; many projects involve fluid dynamics, marine geophysics, or numerical/physical modeling. $5,500 stipend.

Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) Undergraduate Summer Research Internship – Virginia Tech
Deadline: 5pm, February 22, 2019
https://maop.vt.edu/Undergraduate_programs/summer_research.html
This program provides undergraduates from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Wide variety of academic disciplines; $3,000 stipend, free on-campus room and board. Applicants should be rising sophomores and juniors.

Analytical Studies Intern Program – Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute (MCI)
Deadline: February 25, 2019
https://www.si.edu/mci/english/professional_development/2019AnalyticalStudiesInternProgram.html
These 10-week summer internships offer undergraduates the opportunity to work on research projects with staff in MCI’s technical studies and research group. MCI is the center for specialized technical collections research and conservation for all Smithsonian museums and research centers. Applicants should specify preferred advisors (from the list on the website) in their applications.

Dangremond Museum Studies Internship – Connecticut Historical Society
Deadline: March 8, 2019
https://chs.org/support-ct-historical/volunteer/dangremond-museum-studies-internship/
This internship offer undergraduates the opportunity to gain exposure to and experience in the daily operation of a history museum, library, and research center. Selected interns will work closely with museum professionals to gain a deeper understanding of the museum, library and history fields. Interns must complete 250 hours of work. $1,700 stipend.

Bioinformatic Research Assistant

Opportunity Description

This is an opportunity to learn some of the computational and bioinformatic tools used in genomics.

The project is to study the genetic basis of evolutionary adaptation using whole genome sequence data and functional genomic data (RNA-seq). The study system is a pair of coastal fish species in the genus Fundulus that inhabit a wide range of salinities. A probable chromosomal inversion exists which is shared by the two species, associated with environmental salinity and encompasses a critical osmoregulatory gene. The project will confirm the presence of the inversion and analyze genetic and gene expression data from genes it encompasses from multiple populations of each species.

The work is entirely computational in nature, as the data have already been collected. The student would be expected to learn the basics of analyzing genetic variation data, gene expression data, and identifying structural variants from whole genome sequence data.

The expected time commitment would be 10-15 hours per week. Taking the project to completion would likely require two semesters.

Student Qualifications
Applicants should have some prior experience using the linux command line interface, and ideally some experience with the statistical computing language R. Prior coursework should include genetics.

How to Apply
Available immediately.

Please contact Noah Reid at noah.reid@uconn.edu

Applicants should submit a resume, and explain relevant coursework and prior experience related to bioinformatics (e.g. experience using command line interfaces, scripting languages, etc).

Mentor: Noah Reid, Assistant Research Professor
Department: Molecular and Cell Biology
Email: noah.reid@uconn.edu
Timing: Spring 2019
Campus: Storrs

• Health Research Program – Opportunities for Summer 2019

Brian Aguilera with Prof. Mallika Ghosh
HRP student Brian Aguilera ’19 (CLAS) working with his UConn Health mentor, Dr. Mallika Ghosh, Center for Vascular Biology.

The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the next phase of the Health Research Program (HRP). This program offers a pathway into undergraduate research for students with interests in health and/or the biomedical sciences. By facilitating connections between UConn Health researchers and UConn undergraduates, the program aims to involve more students in research at UConn Health.

For students interested in participating in this program for Summer 2019, here is the key information:

  • Summer 2019 opportunities are now posted on the HRP website. There are 31 opportunities that range from public health to biological modeling, biomaterials to neuroscience, genetics to psychiatry. The application deadline for these opportunities is 11:59pm on Monday, February 4, 2019.
  • All of these opportunities are slated to continue into the 2019-20 academic year. Continuation is contingent on satisfactory progress over the course of the summer and both student and faculty mentor interest in continuing the placement.
  • To be eligible for Summer 2019 HRP opportunities, students must plan to graduate no sooner than May 2020.

Further details and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Health Research Program website. Students are encouraged to peruse the posted opportunities and begin preparing application materials for any placements of interest. We urge students to take care to consider the time commitment and schedule options involved in a given opportunity to ensure that they can accommodate these demands in their summer and academic year schedule.

• Additional Summer Research Opportunities – Apply Now

Interested in spending the summer engaged in an exciting research project? Although February is fast approaching, there is still time to apply for summer research opportunities in a variety of areas including those listed below with February deadlines.

Amgen Scholars Program 
The Amgen Scholars Program, a competitive summer program providing undergraduate students the opportunity to work full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of a research scientist, is hosted at thirteen institutions in the United States. Each host institution has its own application process; visit the links below for information on each institution’s program. The application deadline for all programs (except Caltech) is February 1, 2019. Applications for the Caltech program are due February 15th. Amgen research is conducted in fields including biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry, immunology, medical pharmacology, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, molecular medicine, molecular pharmacology, neurobiology, neuroscience, pathology, physiological psychology, physiological science, statistics, and toxicology. Funding levels vary by program but most include a stipend (between $3,500 and $6,500), a housing and/or meal allowance, and travel expenses.


Summer Undergraduate Research Experience – University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Deadline: February 1, 2019
http://medicine.buffalo.edu/education/undergraduate/sure.html
The School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences offers a summer undergraduate research program for students in their junior year (at the time of application). Offers extended to only 6-8 students; $3,500 stipend and housing provided.

Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship Program (BESIP)
Deadline: February 2,
2019
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/training-careers/undergraduate-graduate/biomedical-engineering-summer-internship-program-besip
This program, sponsored by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), is targeted at undergraduate biomedical engineering students who will be between their junior and senior years in summer 2019. This program is a subprogram of the Summer Internship Program (SIP). Students will participate in biomedical research projects under the direction of scientists at NIH laboratories in Bethesda, MD. 

UCSD MSTP Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program
Deadline: February 4, 2019
http://mstp.ucsd.edu/surf/Pages/default.aspx
The Medical Scientist Training Program at UC San Diego is designed for students interested in learning about a career as a physician-scientist. The program features an 8-week research project, weekly seminars, and a physician-scientist clinical shadowing experience. Students from groups underrepresented in health-related sciences and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply. $3,200 stipend and room provided. 

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program – State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Deadline: February 4, 2019
http://www.upstate.edu/grad/programs/summer.php
This 10-week summer research program is for students majoring in chemistry, biology, or a related field. Applicants should be between their junior and senior years (in Summer 2019) and have a strong interest in pursuing post undergraduate study. Students should be specifically interested in pursuing a PhD, MS, MD, MD/PhD, DNP, DPT, MPH, or PA. $3,500 stipend and housing provided.

Hartford Hospital Summer Student Pre-Med & Research Program 
Deadline: February 6, 2019
https://hartfordhospital.org/health-professionals/education/residencies-fellowships/summer-student-pre-med-research-program
This 10-week program offers pre-med students an introduction to research methodology, patient treatment, and ethical issues in medicine. Applicants must be pre-med students completing their junior year as of May 2019. $2,600 award for selected students.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program – UT Southwestern Medical Center
Deadline: February 9, 2019
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/education/graduate-school/programs/non-degree-programs/surf.html
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at UT Southwestern’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is designed for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. career in biomedical research. Applicants to this 10-week program must have completed their sophomore year in an undergraduate science degree program. $4,000 stipend.

Quantitative and Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (QP-SURF) Program – UT Southwestern Medical Center
Deadline: February 9, 2019
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/education/graduate-school/programs/non-degree-programs/qp-surf.html
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at UT Southwestern’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is designed for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. career in biomedical research. Applicants must be enrolled in a physics, computer science, mathematics, biomedical engineering, or chemistry degree program and have completed their sophomore year. $4,000 stipend.

Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowships in Law and Social Science
Deadline: February 15, 2019
http://www.americanbarfoundation.org/research/Fellowshipopportunities/SummerResearchDiversityFellowshipsinLawandSocialScience.html
The American Bar Foundation sponsors a program of summer research fellowships. The summer program is designed to introduce students from diverse backgrounds to the benefits of a research-oriented career in the field of law and social science. Open to students who will have completed at least two years of undergraduate study by the time the fellowship begins. Selected students will receive a stipend of $3,600.

Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences – Summer Research Program at Tufts University School of Medicine
Deadline: February 15, 2019
https://sackler.tufts.edu/admissions/nonDegreePrograms/BDBS
The Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences (BDBS) Program offers a 10-week, mentored research experience for students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD.  Participants in the program also receive training in written and oral communication of scientific data and learn about careers in biomedical science through workshops. Stipend of $4,000, on-campus housing and travel expenses within the US are provided.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center REU at Northwestern University
Deadline: February 15, 2019
http://mrsec.northwestern.edu/undergraduate-opportunities/
REU students will have the opportunity to contribute to a research project led by a center faculty member expanding their science and engineering experience. Students with an interest in nanomaterials and majoring in a science or engineering field are encouraged to apply.  Participants receive a $4,500 stipend, a travel allowance, and on-campus housing.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Summer Student Fellowship
Deadline: February 15, 2019
http://www.whoi.edu/main/summer-student-fellowship
The Summer Student Fellowship provides undergraduates with an interest in ocean sciences, oceanographic engineering, mathematics, or marine policy with a meaningful first-hand introduction to research in those areas. Students who have completed their junior year prior to the start of fellowship period in summer 2018 are eligible to apply. Stipend of approximately $600/week for 10-12 weeks and institutional housing provided.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences REU Program
Deadline: February 15, 2019
http://www.bigelow.org/education/reu/
This highly competitive, 10-week REU program pairs students with scientist mentors for a hands-on, independent research experience. Student applicants should have a minimum of one year of basic biology and at least one earth or ocean science course. Housing and $5,000 stipend provided.

Molecular Biology REU at the Ohio State University
Deadline: February 15, 2019
https://molgen.osu.edu/research-experience-undergraduates
This NSF-funded research program is hosted by the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and the Division of Biochemistry at Ohio State. Selected students will receive a $5,250 stipend and university housing. Students from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Internship Program
Deadline: February 15, 2019
https://serc.si.edu/pro_training/internships/projectmenu.aspx
This 10-week program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to work on independent research under the direction of a SERC mentor. Research areas include environmental chemistry, marine and estuarine ecology, molecular ecology, and terrestrial ecology. Stipend $550/week.