Project Mentor

Dr. Sarvenaz Sarabipour
Department of Center for Cell Analysis & Modeling, Cell Biology, Center for Vascular Biology, Biomedical engineering, Molecular Biology & Biophysics

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description

Project Description	Our lab is interested in building mechanistic computational models to study protein interactions (coupling, trafficking, activation, and downstream signaling) in human cells. Our current projects include studying families of cellular receptors in vascular endothelial cells. In these projects, we will use rule based model building to construct computational models of receptor movement across cellular compartment. We will then simulate the system to numerically solve ordinary differential equations that describe receptor interactions. We will implement detailed biophysics and biochemical parameters from experimental findings in the literature to build these state of the art models of receptor interactions to test the effect of therapeutic agents on blood vessels.
Project Direction	Once we build a base model for vascular receptors and co-receptors, we can expand the model to include interactions of ligands (that bind specifically to these receptors) and therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies that can target these receptors. The ultimate goal of the project is to identify receptor interaction mechanisms that can be targeted to promote or inhibit vascular endothelial cell mobility and blood vessel development.
Mentorship and Supervision	I plan to meet with all my lab members at least once a week on a one-on-one basis, encouraging them to share their thoughts on research and workspace culture with me. I maintain a clear mentee-mentor expectations dialogue. I will listen to each mentee’s personal challenges and will further implement interventions that have been shown to improve outcomes such as providing opportunities for peer-learning, and taking measures to promote equal participation by all members of my group in lab activities. I believe that mentors can ease mentee concerns by proactively adapting an open, honest, constructive, and continuous dialogue on mentor-mentee interactions, dynamics of the lab and direction of research projects and funding and dissemination of the lab’s research findings via open science platforms. As a mentor, I strive to be a resource that my students feel safe turning to when they have questions about their research, careers, or other topics and believe that this is an important responsibility. The interdisciplinary nature of my research makes me capable of mentoring students with a wide range of interests in biological and computational research. I have mentored students interested in careers ranging from medicine to computer sciences. My research program contains a wide range of smaller projects nested within larger projects, which will make it easy to split appropriately-sized projects for high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Student Qualifications	courses in basics of cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and computer programming (MATLAB or Python or R).
Summer Schedule Options	Research Dates: May 19 to July 25, 2025 Schedule: Monday-Friday 9am through 6pm
Project Continuation	Fall 2025, Spring 2026
Academic Year Time Commitment	3, 6, or 9 hours/week
Possible Thesis Project	Yes

Application

Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRPSU25-25. The application deadline is Monday, February 17, 2025.

This application requires a resume or CV, an unofficial transcript, GPA minimum of 3.2 and science GPA minimum of 3.2, a brief statement of research interests, a brief statement of career interests, and two references (at least one reference from other faculty who have previously taught, worked with or mentored the candidate).