Project Mentor
Orthopedic Surgery
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description
| Project Description | The student will be involved in the design, development, and fabrication of polymeric micro-nano structures for tissue regeneration and drug delivery. These structures will be characterized for their physicochemical and biological properties using in vitro and in vivo test models. Specifically, the student will work on conducting drug release and accessing the in vitro cell response to the released drug. The student will be introduced to protocols to conduct experiments, data acquisition, analysis, oral presentations and report writing. |
| Project Direction | Polymeric materials and structures developed in this work will be used for a focused application in bone or neural tissue regeneration. This is a multidisciplinary approach combining the focus on biological systems with material science and engineering in order to develop biomaterials that can either control the release of drugs and growth factors or aid in tissue regeneration. This study will give the student a background in the development of biomaterials and regenerative medicine. |
| Mentorship and Supervision | I will train the student directly ( or with the aid of a grad student) on relevant assays and check their progress during weekly laboratory meetings. The graduate students in my lab will be available to help the student in both experiments and in experimental planning and will also aid me in supervising the student at all times. I will provide feedback through short weekly meetings with the student and help them with any questions they may have in their work. |
| Student Qualifications | We are looking for motivated and committed candidates who are willing to work at least 9 hours a week over the semester and are recommended to have some level of prior wet-lab experience. Specifically, cell culture, chemistry, histology, and imaging techniques are highly desirable. Students must have a plan to pursue a career in the field of molecular and cellular biology, engineering, medicine or biomedical sciences. |
| Summer Schedule Options | Research Dates: May 26 to July 31, 2020 Schedule: M-F, 9am-5pm |
| Project Continuation | Fall 2020, Spring 2021 |
| 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/HRP20-12. The application deadline is Monday, February 3, 2020.
This application requires a cover letter, a resume or CV, an unofficial transcript, a brief statement of research interests, and a brief statement of career interests.