Project Mentor
Dr. Daniel Youngstrom
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description
| Project Description | Multiple projects are available related to musculoskeletal stem cell differentiation in the contexts of development/regeneration of 1) craniofacial bone and 2) intervertebral disc. Depending on the project, the student will gain skills in some or all of the following: wet lab cell/molecular biological techniques, histological workflows, imaging modalities including fluorescence microscopy and x-ray microtomography, zebrafish husbandry and surgical models, and/or mammalian cell culture. The student will be required to keep accurate experimental notes, regularly report on progress in small group settings, and ultimately function with increasing independence in a small and dynamic team. |
| Project Direction | The overall goal of this laboratory to identify new treatments for musculoskeletal regeneration. To this end, work is currently focused on therapeutic modulation of candidate signaling pathways including Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt. |
| Mentorship and Supervision | We are a small and interactive group. The PI and student will collaborate to plan and execute a project of mutual interest. The student will be trained and supervised by a combination of the PI and the lab technician/manager. Student will interact with the PI daily. Progress will be shared during regular group meetings. |
| Student Qualifications | No specific past experience or achievements are required for consideration. Student must be self-motivated, collegial, and organized. The “Statement of Research Interests” is the most important component of this application. |
| Summer Schedule Options | Research Dates: May 24 to July 30, 2021* Schedule: M-F, 8:30am-5pm *This opportunity cannot be pursued virtually and may be cancelled if there are pandemic-related restrictions on research for summer 2021. |
| Project Continuation | Fall 2021, Spring 2022 |
| Academic Year Time Commitment | 9 hours/week |
| Possible Thesis Project | Yes |
Application
Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRP21-33. The application deadline is Monday, February 1, 2021.
This application requires a resume or CV, an unofficial transcript, a brief statement of research interests, and a brief statement of career interests.