We are delighted to announce the 15 student-faculty teams selected to receive awards for Spring 2019. Congratulations to all award recipients!
SHARE Awards support undergraduate research apprenticeships in the social sciences, humanities, and arts, offering students majoring in these fields opportunities to develop inquiry skills and explore research interests early in their college careers.
Project Title: Exploring the Upper Crust of Mesopotamian Society: An Archaeological Study of Bread Production at Tell Leilan Student Apprentice: Stephen Baker, Anthropology and Physiology & Neurobiology Faculty Mentor: Alexia Smith, Anthropology
Project Title: Head vs. Heart Beliefs: Comparing Intuitive and Rational Cognitive Judgments Student Apprentice: Erin Blake, IMJR: Mental Health & Well-Being Faculty Mentor: Crystal Park, Psychological Sciences
Project Title: Study of Language and Math – Mapping Abilities and Math Fluency in Hearing and Deaf Children Student Apprentice: Caroline Hebert, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences and Cognitive Science Faculty Mentor: Marie Coppola, Psychological Sciences
Project Title: “Advice and Consent” or “Search and Destroy?”: The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Review of U.S. Supreme Court Nominations in the Era of Party Polarization Student Apprentice: John Kelly, Political Science Faculty Mentor: Kimberly Bergendahl, Political Science
Project Title: The Scholio Project: Designing Online News Comments to Promote Intellectual Humility in Public Discourse Student Apprentice: Addison Kimber, Political Science and Biology Faculty Mentor: Michael Morrell, Political Science
Project Title: Justice in the Dark: How Secretively Funded Campaign Advertisements Shape Judicial Campaigns Student Apprentice: Hollianne Lao, Political Science Faculty Mentor: Virginia Hettinger, Political Science
Project Title: The PRISM Project: A Mindfulness Intervention on Substance Abuse Student Apprentice: Kasey Macedo, Psychological Sciences and Human Development & Family Studies Faculty Mentor: Beth Russell, Human Development & Family Studies
Project Title: Preterm Infant Feeding Type in Relation to Neurobehavioral Development Outcomes and Performances in the NICU Student Apprentice: Effie Makris, Nursing Faculty Mentor: Xiaomei Cong, Nursing
Project Title: Musical Rhythm and Nationalism in the Eastern Bloc Student Apprentice: Maria Mandoiu, Music History and Anthropology Faculty Mentor: Daniel Goldberg, Music
Project Title: Patterns of African American Life in Post War Hartford (1940-2010) Student Apprentice: Chloe Murphy, Africana Studies Faculty Mentor: Fiona Vernal, History and Africana Studies
Project Title: Puerto Rican Heritage Trail Student Apprentice: Alejandro Rodriguez, History Faculty Mentor: Anne Gebelein, Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Project Title: Digitizing the Paper Trail: Enslaved and Freedpeople in The Spanish Empire Student Apprentice: Jenifer Rojas Orellana, Political Science Faculty Mentor: Ricardo Salazar-Rey, History
Project Title: Can Inclusive Education Programs Reduce Racial and Gender Discrimination in the Labor Market? Student Apprentice: Mary Vlamis, Economics and Political Science Faculty Mentor: Jorge Aguero, Economics
Project Title: Stratified Model Minorities: Educational Experiences and Social Mobility of Chinese Immigrants from Taishan and Fuzhou Student Apprentice: Jingya Zhu, Sociology and Communication Faculty Mentor: Simon Cheng, Sociology
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get valuable research experience this summer. Undergraduate students who are interested in participating in a summer research program should be preparing applications and requesting letters of recommendation now! Check out the following summer research programs with late January and early February deadlines.
NORC Summer Intern Program – University of Chicago Deadline: January 18, 2019 http://www.norc.org/WorkingAtNORC/Pages/internship-programs.aspx
This 9-week paid summer internship is designed for upper level undergraduate students with an interest in social science research. The program introduces interns to the design, implementation and analysis of large surveys. Students will have the opportunity to learn the principles of survey research from leading practitioners while exploring recent innovations in data collection techniques and the integration of survey data with other types of data.
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies – Summer REU Program in Translational Ecology Deadline: January 25, 2019 http://www.caryinstitute.org/students/reu-program
Cary Institute’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides the opportunity for 8-12 students each summer to conduct ecology research at a world-class institute. Students selected for this 12-week program receive a $6,600 stipend, a $900 food allowance and housing in an Institute dormitory.
NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) – Bay Area Environmental Research Institute
Deadline: January 30, 2019 https://baeri.org/sarp/
This 8-week summer internship program is targeted at rising seniors with a strong background in any of the physical, chemical, or biological sciences, mathematics or engineering and an interest in applying their background to the study of the Earth system. Research areas include atmospheric chemistry, air quality, forest ecology, and ocean biology. SARP participants will acquire hands-on research experience using one or more NASA Airborne Science Program flying science laboratories. $5,000 stipend and housing provided.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP) Deadline: January 31, 2019
https://crissp.research.chop.edu/
The CHOP Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP) is committed to educating and training future leaders in the biomedical sciences, with a special emphasis on advancing laboratory, clinical, behavioral and translational pediatric research. Summer stipend of $4,000 and housing provided.
Summer Internships in Science and Technology (SIST) – Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) Deadline: February 1, 2019
http://diversity.fnal.gov/sist/
Fermilab’s SIST program offers 12-week summer internships in science and technology. Internships available in physics, engineering (mechanical, electrical and computer), materials science, mathematics and computer science offer a chance for students to conduct research with Fermilab scientists and engineers.
Summer Undergraduate Research Program – Gerstner Sloan Kettering
Deadline: February 1, 2019 http://www.sloankettering.edu/summer-undergraduate-research-program
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering sponsors a 10-week summer research program for undergraduate students who are interested in the biomedical sciences. This is a competitive program that accepts 20 students. Applicants must have research experience. $6,000 stipend and housing provided.
SAO REU Summer Intern Program (contingent on funding by NSF)
Deadline: February 1, 2019
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/opportunities/reu//overview.html
The SAO Summer intern program is a research experience for undergraduates where students work on an astrophysics research project under the supervision of an SAO or Harvard scientist. Undergraduates interested in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or related physical sciences are encouraged to apply. The 10-week program takes place at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Deadline: February 1, 2019 http://www.stjude.org/poe
This program provides a short-term training experience in either laboratory research or clinical research. Students will be matched with a faculty mentor and will participate in the mentor’s ongoing research projects. Qualified students with an interest in cancer research are encouraged to apply. $400/week stipend provided to selected students.
NSF-REU Internships in Astronomy – Maria Mitchell Observatory
Deadline: February 1, 2019 http://www.mmo.org/get-involved/internships/reu
Six REU internship positions are available for qualified undergraduate astronomy and physics students. These positions provide students the opportunity to conduct independent research supervised by a senior staff member of MMO. $2,000 per month stipend and housing provided.
REU Program in Solar and Space Physics – University of Colorado Boulder Deadline: February 4, 2019 http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/education/reu/
This 10-week summer REU program targets students with an interest in solar and space physics. Students work under the direction of scientists from one of a number of participating institutions, including Colorado’s Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics and the High Altitude Observatory. $500/week stipend and housing provided.
Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program in Vision Science, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Deadline: February 4, 2019
http://www.cvs.rochester.edu/training/undergraduate/fellowships/index.html
Rising juniors and seniors with an interest in neuroscience, cognitive science and biomedical science are encouraged to apply for this summer of supervised laboratory training. $4,000 stipend and on-campus housing provided.
SENS Research Foundation (SRF) Summer Scholars Program
Deadline: February 4, 2019 http://www.sens.org/education/research-opportunities/srf-summer-scholars-program
This program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct biomedical research under the guidance of a scientific mentor. Paid positions are available at a number of research institutions including Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Stanford University and Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Full descriptions of each research project can be found at the website link above.
Undergraduate students who are interested in participating in a summer research or internship program need to plan ahead. December is the time to gather together all the required elements of the applications, including faculty letters of recommendation. All of the exciting summer opportunities listed below have application deadlines in December or January! Check out the programs below and consider if any would fit with your research goals and interests.
DAAD RISE – Research Internships in Science and Engineering in Germany
Deadline: Applications are due by December 15, 2018; Letters of Reference are due by December 22, 2018; https://www.daad.de/rise/en/
DAAD RISE gives students in the fields of biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering, and physics the chance to spend a summer working on research projects with doctoral students at German universities and research institutions. Interested students must first register online between November 1, 2018 and December 15, 2018. Student application materials must be submitted by December 15, 2018, with letters of reference due December 22, 2018.
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program (MLEF) Deadline: December 17, 2018;http://orise.orau.gov/mlef/
The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy. It is a 10-week summer internship program that provides opportunities to students who are pursuing degrees in STEM fields. The goal of the program is to improve opportunities for minority and female students in these fields, but all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply.
Summer Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SNURF) – University of Vermont Deadline: January 6, 2019;https://www.med.uvm.edu/neuro/snurf
Two summer research programs will be hosted by the University of Vermont’s Department of Neurological Sciences. One is funded by NSF and the other by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Both offer generous stipends and housing. Interested students may apply to only one of the two programs. Details available on the website.
Summer Research Experience Program in Cancer Science – Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Deadline: January 10, 2019; https://www.roswellpark.org/education/summer-programs/college-students
This 10-week summer research program is open to students who are college juniors or junior-equivalents (credit-wise) at the time of application and who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree towards a biomedical research career. Areas of research include, but are not limited to: cancer biophysics, tumor immunology, cancer genetics, molecular pharmacology. Selected students will be working in a Roswell Park department alongside professional researchers and graduate students.
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Deadline: January 10, 2019;https://science.energy.gov/wdts/suli/
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at one of 17 participating Department of Energy laboratories.
Cold Spring Harbor Undergraduate Summer Research Program 2019 Deadline: January 15, 2019; https://www.cshl.edu/education/undergraduate-research-program
The URP program is designed to give students an opportunity to conduct first-rate research under the supervision of senior laboratory staff in the areas of cancer biology, neuroscience, plant biology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics, and genomics. Selected students receive room and board in addition to a $5,500 stipend.
ThinkSwiss Research Scholarships Deadline: January 15, 2019; http://thinkswiss.tumblr.com/About
ThinkSwiss scholarships support highly motivated undergraduates who are interested in doing research at a public Swiss university or research institute. The scholarship is open to students in all fields. A monthly stipend of approximately $1,600 is provided for a period of 2-3 months.
Summer ORISE Fellowship Opportunities at the CDC Deadline: January 18, 2019; http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/dls/orise.html
Appointments through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowship Program. Undergraduate students majoring in the applied sciences may apply. Biology and chemistry majors are preferred. Stipend of approximately $2,900 per month for undergraduate students.
Arecibo Observatory REU Summer Program Deadline: January 25, 2019 (online application); February 1, 2019 (supporting documents); http://outreach.naic.edu/ao/reut
Students selected for this 10-week summer research opportunity will work with staff scientists at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico on projects related to ongoing research or instrumentation development. Applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident and must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program during Fall 2019. Strong candidates will be students majoring in astronomy, physics, computer science, and electrical engineering. Stipend of $450 per week.
Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP) – Columbia University Deadline: January 31, 2019;http://ps.columbia.edu/education/student-life/office-diversity/programs/college-and-post-baccalaureate-students/summer-publ
The Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP) is designed for undergraduate students who are interested in public health and biomedical science careers. Applicants must have completed at least two years of college. Students from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Approximately 40 students will be selected to participate. Students will receive a stipend, housing, and round trip travel.
Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley (SUPERB)
Deadline: January 31, 2019; https://eecs.berkeley.edu/resources/undergrads/research/superb
The SUPERB Computer and Information Science and Engineering program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to work on research projects focused on using Big Data. This 9-week program is open to rising juniors or seniors who have completed some upper division course work in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. Stipend of $4,500, housing, meals, and $600 travel allowance provided.
Please join us in congratulating the UConn undergraduates named below for their significant research and creative accomplishments in spring 2018. Students: if you have an accomplishment to share, please do so using this online form.
AWARDS
Congratulations to Colby Buehler ’18 (ENG), Sydney Carr ’18 (CLAS), Vince Pistritto ’18 (CLAS, SFA), and Daniel Wackelin ’18 (ENG), the undergraduate recipients of 2018 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships! They are among the 12 UConn students and alumni who won NSF Graduate Research Fellowships this year. Three other talented undergraduate researchers, Amy Robinson ’18 (ENG), Nicholas Russo ’18 (CLAS), and Nicholas Oliveira ’18 (ENG) received Honorable Mention recognition.
Naseem Sardashti ’18 (ENG), an undergraduate research in the Health Research Program working under the guidance of Dr. Sangamesh Kumbar, was awarded 3rd place at the 2018 Northeast Bioengineering Conference for her and her team’s work on the synthesis of hybrid skin models for product evaluation.
PUBLICATIONS
Jamasia Williams ’20 (CLAS), a participant in the Work-Study Research Assistant Program, was a co-author on a recent publication based on research conducted with Dr. Molly Waring:
Waring, M.E., Jake-Schoffman, D.E., Holovatska, M.M., Mejia, C., Williams, J.C., & Pagoto, S.L.(2018). Social media and obesity in adults: a review of recent research and future directions. Current Diabetes Reports, 18:34. doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1001-9.
EXHIBITIONS AND SCREENINGS
Spring 2018 included a series of art exhibitions and screenings by the following undergraduate students:
Matthew Bilmes ’18 (SFA) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient Exit: A Short Film
Kiana Cao ’18 (SFA) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient An Examination of Immigration: A look into Buddhism, Community & Refugees
Yanlin (Eva) Hu ’18 (SFA) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient CHU: A Solo Exhibition of Ceramic Sculpture
James Keth ’19 (SFA, CLAS) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient The Khmer – A Personal Journey: On being Cambodian American
Austin MacDonald ’18 (SFA) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient & UConn Co-op Legacy Fellow Prodigal: The Sentinel’s Garden
Emy Regan ’19 (SFA) – UConn IDEA Grant recipient Clementine: The Adventures at Foxhead Manor
PRESENTATIONS
Joint Mathematics Meetings – January 10-13, 2018 – San Diego, CA
Rajeshwari Majumdar ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Applications of Multiplicative LLN and CLT for Random Matrices
Anthony Sisti ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Black-Scholes Using The Central Limit Theorem
Plant and Animal Genome XXVI Conference – January 13-17, 2018 – San Diego, CA
Madison Caballero ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Designing a Genotyping Array for Genomic Selection in Loblolly Pine
Alexander Trouern-Trend ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Comparative Genomics of the Juglandacea
Maria Antony ’19 (CLAS, CAHNR)
Conference on Electronic and Advanced Materials – January 17-19, 2018 – Orlando, FL
Hope Whitelock ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Real Nanoparticles Have Curves: Exploring the Polar Phase Transition Topology in Superellipsoidal Nanoparticles
International Stroke Conference – January 23-26, 2018 – Los Angeles, CA
Maria Antony ’19 (CLAS, CAHNR) – ISC Junior Investigator Travel Award recipient
Oral presentation: Restoration of MiRNA MiR-181c-5p–Rescue From the Detrimental Effect of Social Isolation in the Mice Subjected to Ischemic Stroke
Ocean Sciences Meeting – February 11-16, 2018 – Portland, OR
Jessica Hinckley ’19 (CLAS)
Jessica Hinckley ’19 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Investigating Dissolved Gas Concentrations and Alkalinity in a Long Island Sound Time Series
International Neuropsychological Society Conference – February 14-17, 2018 – Washington, DC
Debra Tomasino ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Informant Report of Cognitive Functioning in Geriatric Depression: Correlates with Objective Cognitive Tests and Structural Imaging
Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting – February 22-25, 2018, Baltimore, MD
Caroline Brooks ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient
Cross Sectional Time Series Analysis on the Impacts of Race on Homeownership
Savannah-Nicole Villalba ’18 (CLAS) A Healthy Food Inventory of Waterbury, CT
Eastern Psychological Association Meeting – March 1-3, 2018 – Philadelphia, PA
Allison Arnista ’18 (CLAS) & Kyrstyn Jenkins ’19 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipients Evaluating Mechanisms of Reward Enhancement by Nicotine in Humans
Dilsara Liyanage ’18 (CLAS)
Dilsara Liyanage ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient The EEG Mu Rhythm and Language Abilities in 18- and 24-Month-Olds
Morgan Livingston ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Longitudinal Outcome of Attention Modification Training for Social Anxiety
Adam Mealy ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Longitudinal Stability of Hostile Attention Allocation, Attention Bias, and Hostility Symptoms
Michelle Padua ’18 (CLAS) & Skyler Sklenarik ’19 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipients Behavioral Biases in People at Risk for Problematic Gambling
Eastern Society for Pediatric Research Annual Meeting – March 16-18, 2018 – Philadelphia, PA
Benjamin Redenti ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Risk Stratification System for Use in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and Correlation with Adverse Events During Hospital Admissions
Margaux Verlaque-Amara ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Impact of State-By-State Adoption of Key Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Provisions on PED Patients
American Chemical Society National Meeting – March 18-22, 2018 – New Orleans, LA
Caroline Anastasia ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Multicomponent Flexible Film of Organometallic Polymers with Polyimide as High k and Low Loss Dielectric
Northeast Writing Center Association Conference – March 24-25, 2018 – Worcester, MA
Joseph Greenwald ’18 (BUS), Daniel Johnson ’18 (CLAS), & Kaylee Thurlow ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipients Cracking the Code: A Method for Designing and Implementing a Writing Center Honor Code
Odia Kane ’19 (CLAS) & Kharl Reynado ’19 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipients Assessing Our Practice: A Writing Center Fellow-To-Fellow Support System
Odia Kane ’19 (CLAS) and Kharl Reynado ’19 (CLAS)
Anneliese Lapides ’20 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Reassessing Our Responses to the Everyday Language of Oppression
Sierra Rice ’18 (ED) – OUR Travel Award recipient Hosting a Regional Middle and High School Conference: A Practical Model
Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting – March 24-27, 2018 – Boston, MA
Roisin Healy ’19 (CLAS) & Jonathan Serino ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipients Understanding “Thunder” is More Difficult than “Rainbow” when Performing a Concurrent Auditory Task
Northeast Bioengineering Conference – March 28-30, 2018 – Philadelphia, PA
Garrett Soler ’18 (ENG) An Economical & Ergonomic Hydrocephalus Software System
New England Science Symposium – April 8, 2018 – Boston, MA
Brian Aguilera ’19 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient CD13 Promotes Tunneling Nanotube Formation and Cell-cell Communication in Human Endothelial Cells and Mouse Primary Macrophages
Eastern Nursing Research Society Annual Scientific Sessions – April 11-13, 2018 – Newark, NJ
Courtney Lopiano ’18 (NUR) A Battle on Opiates: The NICU Nurse’s Perspective on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting – April 20, 2018 – Hartford, CT
Kayla Hope ’18 (CAHNR)
Kayla Hope ’18 (CAHNR) – OUR Travel Award recipient What Type 1 Diabetes Nutrition Advice is Being Shared on Twitter and Who is Sharing It?
Experimental Biology Conference – April 21-25, 2018 – San Diego, CA
Jordyn Dickey ’18 (CLAS) – OUR Travel Award recipient Analysis of Physiology and Neurobiology (PNB) 2265 Course Redesign
In recognition of the pivotal role that mentors play in supporting undergraduate research and creative activity, the Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the recipents of the 2018 Mentorship Excellence Awards. These awards recognize two faculty members – one in a STEM field, and one in a non-STEM field – and one graduate student who exemplify the ways in which outstanding mentors challenge and support their students, enabling them to take intellectual risks and achieve milestones they might not have initially envisioned being able to reach.
The 2018 Mentorship Excellence Awards were presented to Andrea Voyer, Nicholas Eddy, and Laura Mickelsen during the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Andrea Voyer, Assistant Professor, Sociology
Professor Voyer’s award was presented by Savannah-Nicole Villalba ’18 (CLAS). The following text is excerpted from Savannah-Nicole’s presentation remarks.
Savannah-Nicole Villalba ’18 (CLAS) presents the award to her mentor, Professor Andrea Voyer.
I had Dr. Voyer for one of the required classes for our major, social theory. Dr. Voyer gracefully worked us through the dense theories of 19th century sociologists. It was my first time engaging with sociological theory, and many of us were struggling to understand the concepts. Dr. Voyer was patient with us as we tried to make connections to the material. She was encouraging so that we weren’t afraid of being wrong, and was personable in a way that encouraged students to work harder.
This mentality was one that she brought with her when we began the IDEA Grant application process. When we started discussing the possibility of applying, she did not bring me in to work on something she was interested in. In our first meeting, she asked me what I was passionate about and I could tell she genuinely cared. Dr. Voyer was the first person to believe in my passions and to tell me that my research questions were valid. We spent months working on the application process, and when the grant was approved, I knew it would not have been possible without her guidance.
With her own incredible research and personal life, she has always been accessible to discuss the newest challenge I faced. Instead of just providing answers, she would offer suggestions on ways to problem solve to reach reasonable solutions. Even though Dr. Voyer has been away this school year, she has helped me apply (and be accepted) to graduate school, supported (and protected) me at my first research conference, and has shown me what an academic mentor should be.
Nicholas Eddy, Assistant Professor in Residence, Chemistry
Professor Eddy’s award was presented by Pranjali Ichalkaranje ’18 (CLAS). The following text is excerpted from Pranjali’s presentation remarks.
Pranjali Ichalkaranje ’18 (CLAS) presents the award to her mentor, Professor Nicholas Eddy.
Research with Dr. Eddy has been the most rewarding experience I could have wished for as an undergraduate. I was able to grow tremendously by obtaining knowledge and skills applicable not only in research but also other aspects of life. In terms of research, teaching an undergraduate student with experience in life sciences but limited knowledge in Organic Chemistry was a challenging task that Dr. Eddy took on with no hesitation.
I was challenged each day, whether it was mixing a solution or reading articles with little background on the material. He was not afraid to hold me to a higher standard and push me beyond my limits, allowing me to put classroom knowledge into practice and increase my critical thinking and problem solving skills. He encouraged me to read, write, ask questions, and – most importantly – make mistakes. Though I made more than he agrees to, he offered reassuring and constructive feedback each time. Most importantly, he made sure I had everything I needed to succeed in anything I put my mind to – a role he took on as my mentor.
My research experience opened my eyes to career opportunities in research and medicine. I have been able to grow immensely as a scientist, researcher, student, writer, teacher and an overall individual.
Dr. Eddy represents the diligence, passion and commitment that students, scientists and teachers need on a daily basis. He puts his students, researchers and colleagues before himself. He is the highlight of the students’ day, and a source of comfort for many as they embark on their undergraduate experience.
Laura Mickelsen, Ph.D. Candidate, Physiology and Neurobiology, Jackson Laboratory
Laura was presented with her award by Eric Beltrami ’19 (CLAS) and Jacob Naparstek ’18 (CLAS), two of the undergraduate researchers who work under her supervision in the Jackson lab. The following text is excerpted from Eric’s presentation remarks.
Award winner Laura Mickelsen, center, is pictured with undergraduate researchers James Costanzo, Jacob Naparstek, and Eric Beltrami, as well as Professor Alexander Jackson.
Laura is an incredible scientist and speaker, and she has made an effort to help develop those skills in us. She challenges us to explain our projects and try to troubleshoot our setbacks independently so that when we present our work we are prepared to take ownership of what we did and understand the scientific process behind it thoroughly.
Laura’s exceptional mentorship is not limited to guidance in our research projects. Laura has fostered a family of people who deeply care about one another… and the lateral hypothalamus. Laura makes coming to lab not only incredibly productive but also fun. With her effortless humor and kind heart she has made lab somewhere we look forward to going every day. She never hesitates to make sure we are keeping up in our courses and ask us about our extracurricular involvement. It is clear to us that she cares about our personal lives and is always there to provide us guidance in our daily life and about our career goals. I can honestly say that Laura’s mentorship was a major factor in my decision to pursue a career in which I can make research a part of my life.
Laura, whatever path you take on your journey to success will be an amazing and rewarding one because of your incredible dedication and love for what you do. I am constantly inspired by your personal drive and ability to master such a diverse set of skills. James, Jake and I cannot thank you enough for everything.
Congratulations to the 2018 award recipients! The Office of Undergraduate Research thanks the undergraduate students who nominated their faculty and graduate student mentors as well as the Peer Research Ambassadors who served on this year’s selection committee.
The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the selection of 59 undergraduate students to receive SURF Awards in support of their summer undergraduate research projects.
Click here to view the full list of Summer 2018 SURF awardees.
Congratulations, SURF awardees! Your academic achievements, curiosity, initiative, and motivation were evident in your applications. You have an exciting summer of deep engagement with the process of academic inquiry ahead of you. We look forward to hearing about all you learn and discover!
We thank the faculty members who supported SURF applicants in a range of roles: mentors, letter writers, and faculty review committee members. SURF represents a collaborative effort between students and faculty. This program would not be possible without the support and participation of the UConn faculty!
OUR also extends thanks to SURF supporters in the UConn community. We are grateful to the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and to the Deans of the Schools and Colleges of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources; Engineering; Fine Arts; Nursing; and Pharmacy, who all contributed funding to the SURF competition this year. Alumni, parents, and friends of UConn also helped fund SURF awards. This collaborative funding effort ensures that SURF supports a diverse array of undergraduate research endeavors. We are grateful to all of our program partners for making intensive summer research opportunities available to students seeking to enrich their undergraduate experience in this way.
Once again, congratulations to the recipients of 2018 SURF awards, and good luck with your summer projects!
Congratulations to the 40 UConn undergraduates who have been awarded UConn IDEA Grants in the spring 2018 funding cycle! 26 of the award recipients will be completing individual projects, and 14 will be working on collaborative group projects.
The award recipients represent a variety of disciplines, from graphic design to history, animal science to biomedical engineering. They will conduct independent research, create art exhibitions and short films, design prototypes, and develop programs that engage the University community.
Special thanks to the faculty and staff that supported student applications to the UConn IDEA Grant and to those who will be mentoring the award recipients as they complete their projects.
The UConn IDEA Grant program awards funding to support self-designed projects including artistic endeavors, community service initiatives, research projects, prototyping and entrepreneurial ventures, and other creative and innovative projects. Undergraduates in all majors at all UConn campuses can apply. Applications are accepted twice per year from individuals and from small groups who plan to work collaboratively on a project. The next application deadline will be in December 2018.
Congratulations to the nineteen UConn undergraduates who have been awarded UConn IDEA Grants in the fall 2017 funding cycle! Thirteen of the award recipients will be completing individual projects, and six will be working on collaborative group projects.
The award recipients represent a variety of disciplines, from nursing to puppetry, biomedical engineering to ecology and evolutionary biology. They will conduct independent research projects; produce documentaries, novels, and creative nonfiction pieces; design prototypes; and engage in service initiatives.
Special thanks to the faculty and staff that supported student applications to the UConn IDEA Grant and to those who will be mentoring the award recipients as they complete their projects.
The UConn IDEA Grant program awards funding to support self-designed projects including artistic endeavors, community service initiatives, traditional research projects, entrepreneurial ventures, and other creative and innovative projects. Undergraduates in all majors at all UConn campuses can apply. Applications are accepted twice per year from individuals and from small groups who plan to work collaboratively on a project. The next application deadline is March 12, 2018.
Interested in spending the summer engaged in an exciting research project? There is still time to apply for summer research opportunities in a variety of areas. The programs and opportunities listed below have application deadlines in February.
Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program in Vision Science – University of Rochester Deadline: February 1, 2018
http://www.cvs.rochester.edu/training/undergraduate/fellowships/index.html
Students who are juniors (during 2017-18) with an interest in neuroscience, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and biomedical science are encouraged to apply for this summer of supervised laboratory training. $3,820 stipend and on-campus housing provided.
UCSD MSTP Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program Deadline: February 4, 2018 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 Experience – University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Deadline: February 5, 2018 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 9, 2018 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 have completed their junior year of college. 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. Stipend of approximately $6,600 for 10 weeks.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program – UT Southwestern Medical Center Deadline: February 9, 2018 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, 2018
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.
Amgen Scholars Summer Research Program – California Institute of Technology Deadline: February 15, 2018
http://sfp.caltech.edu/programs/amgen_scholars
The Caltech Amgen Scholars program provides undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in STEM fields with the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical fields under the supervision of seasoned research mentors. $6,275 stipend for the 10-week program, campus housing and a board allowance provided.
Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowships in Law and Social Science Deadline: February 15, 2018
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, 2018
https://sackler.tufts.edu/academics/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, 2018
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, 2018 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 $632/week for 10-12 weeks and institutional housing provided.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences REU Program Deadline, February 15, 2018
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, 2018 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.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Changing Environments: Integrating from Genomes to Biomes – Kansas State University Biology REU Program Deadline: February 15, 2018
http://www.k-state.edu/reu/REU/index.html
This 10-week program provides undergraduates interested in biological sciences with research experience and professional development under the mentorship of a faculty mentor. Student applicants should have research interests in ecological genomics, grassland ecology, or evolutionary biology. $5,250 stipend and housing provided.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Internship Program Deadline: February 15, 2018 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.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program – State University of New York Upstate Medical University Deadline: February 16, 2018
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 2018) 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.
Maryland Sea Grant REU Program Deadline: February 16, 2018 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.
Marine Physical Laboratory Summer Internship Program – Scripps Institution of Oceanography Deadline: February 16, 2018 https://scripps.ucsd.edu/mpl/mpl-summer-internship-program
Undergraduate students interested in a career in scientific research and development are encouraged to apply for this summer research internship in marine science and technology. This 10-week summer internship program is seeking undergraduates majoring in engineering, chemistry, physics, biology or geology. Interns are paid $14/hour.
Chesapeake Bay Summer Internships – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Deadline: February 20, 2018 http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/student-opportunities/chesapeake-bay-internships The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office internships connect student interested in a career in marine biology, oceanography, environmental education and related fields with professionals in these areas. Paid undergraduate internships are available for Summer 2018. Descriptions of available internships can be found at the above link.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Oceanography – University of Rhode Island Deadline: February 21, 2018 https://web.uri.edu/gso/education/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 2017. Stipend of approximately $5,500.
Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) Undergraduate Summer Research Internship – Virginia Tech Deadline: February 24, 2018
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.
The Office of Undergraduate Research is delighted to announce the four students selected to receive UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowships to support projects they will complete summer 2018.
Click here to view the full list of Summer 2018 UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Recipients.
Born out of the UConn Co-op’s commitment to public engagement, innovative entrepreneurship, social impact, and active mentorship, the UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program provides undergraduates the opportunity to pursue funded summer research projects and/or creative endeavors. Projects pursued through this program represent the legacy of the UConn Co-op’s commitment to public engagement, innovation, and social impact.
Special thanks to the faculty and staff that supported student applications to the UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship and to those who will be mentoring the award recipients as they complete their projects.
Click here for more information on the UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program.
https://events.uconn.edu/live/json/v2/events/response_fields/location,summary/date_format/%25F%20%25j,%20%25Y/group/Office of Undergraduate Research/max/4/start_date/today/end_date/6 months/
The Office of Undergraduate Research is delighted to announce the four students selected to receive UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowships to support projects they will complete summer 2018.