• Research Assistant in Biomedical/Clinical Research

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Opportunity Description
Patient outcomes research in clinical medicine utilizing large nationwide databases to investigate clinical questions related to liver disease and liver transplant. This is an opportunity for prospective students interested in being involved in biomedical research with the goal of learning and manipulating large medical databases. With the guidance of the mentor and statistical assistance, the prospective candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a research project in medicine. With the mentor, the student will develop a clinical question which can answered with the appropriate database, and gain experience proposing a hypothesis, working with statistical team, interpreting the results, and formulating conclusions from the results. There will be weekly meeting with the mentor and opportunity to have exposure to a clinical environment for those students interested to pursue careers in medicine. Work is primarily done independently with guidance, thus no specific number of hours per week commitment. One of the objectives of the project would be to allow the student to present his or her findings in a poster or oral presentation format at national meetings and eventual publication. This is currently a nonfunded volunteer position. The time commitment is variable depending on student’s proficency handling large databases.

Student Qualifications
Comfortable using excel database, be able to work independently, ability to perform online pubmed research to gather background literature on the topic, understand basic statistics

How to Apply
Please contact mentor directly;
Provide resume and letter of interest

Mentor: Raffi Karagozian, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department: Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Email: rkaragozian@sfhcp.org
Timing: Ongoing
Campus: UConn Health

Rebecca D’Angelo, future historian

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By Samantha Ruggiero CLAS ’14, originally published March 24, 2014 in CLAS News.

History and Anthropology student Rebecca D’Angelo, CLAS ’14.
History and Anthropology student Rebecca D’Angelo, CLAS ’14.

While still in high school, Rebecca D’Angelo was working in the Research Department at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum when she stumbled across an unusual detail in a book about New England whalers. She read that these whalers were apparently using using schooners for their journeys to the sub-Antarctic islands between Australia and Antarctica.

“I thought that was odd because I know that they wouldn’t typically use schooners to whale,” says D’Angelo, currently a senior history and anthropology double major, referring to the small size of schooner boats. “So I looked into it and turns out they were actually catching seals.”

As a native to the Connecticut shoreline, D’Angelo paired her passion for maritime culture with a major in history and anthropology so that she could enrich her understanding of the world’s evolving social, political and environmental patterns.

“We talk about history all the time in the conversations we’re having now about politics, culture, and life,” says D’Angelo. “If you know history, you can identify when public figures are invoking it correctly, and when they are invoking it incorrectly. Understanding history ultimately makes you a better consumer of culture.” Continue reading →

Krisela Karaja, future editor

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By Samantha Ruggiero CLAS ’14, originally published May 19, 2014 in CLAS News.

Fulbright scholar Krisela Karaja (CLAS ’14) will return to Albania to conduct research.
Fulbright scholar Krisela Karaja (CLAS ’14) will return to Albania to conduct research.

If there’s one word that translates UConn senior Krisela Karaja’s story into words anyone can understand – it would probably be “translation.”

Literary translation, says Karaja, is a challenging endeavor because the translator carries the responsibility of not only delivering an author’s message, but also interpreting the cultural background of a word or phrase.

“I like the process of translating poetry because there are so many ways to tackle it,” says Karaja. “There’s no such thing as a literal translation because an expression in Albanian might not have the same cultural baggage if it were just translated word-for-word in English.”

Karaja, a double major in English and Spanish, has spent much of her undergraduate career bridging the gap between language and literature by composing English translations of poems and academic essays originally in written Albanian or Spanish. Born in Albania, Karaja moved to the United States when she was two years old and is a native Albanian speaker. She is also fluent in Spanish.

“My interest in language and literature stems from a natural desire to integrate my knowledge of the Spanish, English and Albanian languages,” says Karaja. “I’ll be reading a really great text in Albanian that isn’t very well-known in English, and think, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could translate and share this?’” Continue reading →

Ragini Phansalkar, future physician scientist

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By Samantha Ruggiero CLAS ’14, originally published May 19, 2014 in CLAS News.

Ragini Phansalkar will pursue her MD and PhD at Stanford in the fall of 2014.
Ragini Phansalkar will pursue her MD and PhD at Stanford in the fall of 2014.

Ragini Phansalkar will pursue her MD and PhD at Stanford in the fall of 2014.

For senior Ragini Phansalkar, bridging the gap between different fields of research through her dual degree in computer science and biology has been like solving an exciting puzzle – and one that has taken her around the world.

“I think a lot of the advancements that are going to be needed to overcome today’s medical challenges are going to be achieved through interdisciplinary collaboration,” says Phansalkar. “Biomedical engineering is interdisciplinary, but I liked having the freedom to choose for myself the aspects of engineering and biology that I wanted to integrate, specifically bioinformatics.”

Phansalkar has spent the past four years at UConn combining computational science with biological sciences by working in the labs of Assistant Professor Daniel Schwartz of the Physiology and Neurobiology Department and Assistant Professor Barbara Mellone of the Molecular Cell Biology Department. Phansalkar’s interdisciplinary research experiences at UConn have developed her interest in pursing the medical field, and earned her acceptance to the MD/Ph.D program at Stanford University. Continue reading →

• Launch of the Mentorship Excellence Awards

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Chemical engineering student Derek Chhiv '14, right, discusses with Professor Anson Ma his group’s prototype for an artificial kidney.
Chemical engineering student Derek Chhiv ’14, right, discusses with Professor Anson Ma his group’s prototype for an artificial kidney.

In recognition of the critically important role that mentors play in supporting undergraduate research and creative activity, the Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to introduce a new annual award program for outstanding mentorship. This program was developed in collaboration with the OUR Peer Research Ambassadors, undergraduates engaged in research and creative scholarship across the disciplines who help promote undergraduate inquiry at the university.

The Mentorship Excellence Awards will be presented each year to one faculty recipient and one graduate student recipient. A committee of undergraduate students will select the award recipients, who will be formally presented with their awards in April during the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition.

Students are encouraged to nominate their outstanding mentors before the close of the nomination period on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Learn more and access the nomination forms on the Mentorship Excellence Awards webpage.

• Apply Now for Summer Research Opportunities

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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 are still accepting applications.

State University of New York Upstate Medical University – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program
Deadline: February 16, 2015
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 2015) and have a strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical research. $3,000 stipend and housing provided.

American Heart Assocation, Founders Affiliate Undergraduate Student Summer Fellowship Program
Deadline: February 19, 2015
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/Founders-Affiliate-Local-Research-Opportunities_UCM_315885_Article.jsp
This program encourages students to pursue careers in cardiovascular research. Projects related to cardiovascular biology and stroke will be considered. $5,000 fellowship. Student is expected to identify a sponsor with a research laboratory within the Founders Affiliate.

Maryland Sea Grant REU Program
Deadline: February 20, 2015
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. $6,000 stipend and housing provided.

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office – Summer Internships
Deadline: February 20, 2015
http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/student-opportunities/chesapeake-bay-internships
Paid undergraduate internships available for Summer 2015. Descriptions of available internships can be found at the above link.

Research Fellowships in Oceanography at University of Rhode Island
Deadline: February 21, 2015
http://surfo.gso.uri.edu/~surfo/index.html
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 2015. Stipend of approximately $5,500.

Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MCOP) Undergraduate Summer Research Internship, Virginia Tech
Deadline: February 27, 2015
http://www.maop.vt.edu/Undergraduate_programs/summer_research.html
Wide variety of academic disciplines; $3,000 stipend, free on-campus room and board.

Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Deadline: February 27, 2015
http://www.medschool.pitt.edu/spaep/application/
Summer research program that pairs rising juniors and seniors with biomedical researchers in a variety of areas. $1,000 stipend, room and board included, and travel assistance provided.

Marine Physical Laboratory Internships at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Deadline: February 27, 2015
http://www.mpl.ucsd.edu/news/mpl.internships.html
10-week summer research internship in marine science and technology; $14/hour compensation.

Center for Security Printing & Anti-Counterfeiting Technology (SPACT) NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates
Deadline: February 27, 2015
http://spact-center.org/reu/
This 10-week, NSF sponsored, REU program provides students with the opportunity to conduct research on security printing and anti-counterfeiting technology. Research opportunities in Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Electrical/Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. $5,000 stipend and housing provided.

National Institutes of Health – Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
Deadline: March 1, 2015
https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) internship program provides students with an opportunity to work side-by-side with scientists in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. This is a highly competitive program.

Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences REU Program: Gulf of Maine and the World Ocean
Deadline: March 1, 2015
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. Housing and $5,000 stipend provided.

Center for Visual Science – Summer Research Fellowship Program, University of Rochester
Deadline: March 1, 2015
http://www.cvs.rochester.edu/training/undergraduate/fellowships/index.html
Students who are juniors (during 2014-15) with an interest in neuroscience, cognitive science, and biomedical science are encouraged to apply for this summer of supervised laboratory training. $3,600 stipend and on-campus housing provided.

Ecology and Evolution in Changing Environments: Mechanisms to Responses – Kansas State University Biology REU Program
Deadline: March 1, 2015
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. $5,000 stipend and housing provided.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Deadline: March 1, 2015
http://www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu/node/268
10-week research experience, with research mentors from Cell Biology, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Immunology, Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology, Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, Molecular Pharmacology, and Molecular Virology and Microbiology. Stipend of $3,500; additional funding for housing and travel may also be available.

Nanotechnology for Health, Energy and the Environment – University of Stony Brook
Deadline: March 13, 2015
http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/reu/index.html
The summer research experience is for talented undergraduates who are interested in the nanotechnology field. $4,000 stipend, free housing and a meal plan.

Unite for Sight’s Global Impact Corps
Deadline: Rolling, for short term and long term trips throughout the year
http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad
This volunteer abroad opportunity offers a global health experience for students interested in public health, international development, medicine, or social entrepreneurship. Global Impact Fellows may elect to participate in the Global Impact Lab research program. Current projects include research studies about medication management, the use of visual resources for patient education, traditional medicine practices, and patient barriers to eye care.

• Congratulations, Fall 2014 UConn IDEA Grant Recipients!

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idea_logo_standard_color_bottomWEB_cropCongratulations to the twenty-six UConn undergraduates who have been awarded UConn IDEA Grants in the fall 2014 funding cycle!

Eighteen of the award recipients will be completing individual projects and eight will be working on collaborative group projects. The award recipients represent a variety of disciplines, from puppetry to mechanical engineering, nursing to horticulture, and campus affiliations, including three recipients from the Stamford campus and one from the Avery Point campus.

Click here to view the full list of Fall 2014 UConn IDEA Grant recipients.

Special thanks to the faculty and staff who supported student applications to the UConn IDEA Grant and to those who will be mentoring the award recipients as they complete their projects. We would also like to thank the faculty and staff from around the University who served as reviewers.

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 Monday, March 16, 2015.

• Explore Summer Research Opportunities and Apply Now!

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Still thinking about your summer plans? Check out these exciting Summer Research opportunities with February application deadlines. Apply now and remember to keep your options open in order to find the best experience for you!

REU Program in Solar and Space Physics – University of Colorado Boulder
Deadline: February 4, 2015
http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/education/reu/
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 National Center for Atmospheric Research’s High Altitude Observatory. 8-week program; $500/week stipend and housing provided.

Hartford Hospital Summer Student Pre-Med & Research Program
Deadline: February 4, 2015
http://www.harthosp.org/ResidenciesFellowships/SummerStudentResearchProgram/default.aspx
This 10-week program offers pre-med students an introduction to research methodology, patient treatment, and ethical issues in medicine. $1,800 award for selected students.

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies – Summer REU Program
Deadline: February 5, 2015
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. Selected students receive a $6,000 stipend, a $600 food allowance and housing in an Institute dormitory.

University of Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Deadline: February 6, 2015
http://medicine.buffalo.edu/education/undergraduate/sure.html
The School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences offers a summer undergraduate research program for undergraduate students in their junior year (at the time of application). Offers extended to only 10 students; $3,500 stipend and housing provided.

Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship Program (BESIP)
Deadline: February 9, 2015
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/training-careers/undergraduate-graduate/biomedical-engineering-summer-internship-program-besip
This internship will allow rising senior bioengineering students to participate in cutting edge biomedical research projects under the mentorship of world-class scientists in NIH laboratories in Bethesda, MD. Stipend of approximately $6,600 for 10 weeks.

American Psychological Association – Summer Science Fellowship Program at George Mason University
Deadline: February 9, 2015
http://www.apa.org/science/resources/ssf/index.aspx
This program gives rising seniors an opportunity to explore the intellectual process of scientific inquiry and to experience cutting-edge psychological research through hands-on laboratory activities. Applicants should be psychology majors; students with related majors may apply if they intend to enter a psychological science graduate program. Summer salary and living expenses provided.

Summer Internships in Science and Technology (SIST) – Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)
Deadline: February 9, 2015
http://sist.fnal.gov/index.php
Fermilab’s SIST program offers 12-week summer internships in science and technology. Internships available in physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science offer a chance for students to work with Fermilab scientists or engineers on a project within the context of laboratory research. The internship includes a weekly stipend and local housing subsidy.

American Bar Association – Summer Research Diversity Fellowships in Law and Social Science
Deadline: February 15, 2015
http://www.americanbarfoundation.org/fellowships/Call_for_Summer_Research_Diversity_Fellows.html
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, 2015
https://sackler.tufts.edu/academics/BDBS
The Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences (BDBS) Program offers a ten week, mentored research experience for students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD. Participants in the program receive training in written and oral communication of scientific data and learn about careers in biomedical science. Stipend of $4,000 and on-campus housing provided.

Northwestern University – Materials Research Science & Engineering REU
Deadline: February 15, 2015
http://www.mrsec.northwestern.edu/content/educational_programs/reu.htm
REU students will have the opportunity to contribute to a research project led by a center faculty member. Students with an interest in nanomaterials and majoring in a science or engineering field are encouraged to apply. $4,500 stipend.

• Deadlines Approaching for Summer Research Opportunities

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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 fast approaching early February deadlines.

Gerstner Sloan Kettering – Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Deadline: February 1, 2015
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. $4,000 stipend and housing provided.

Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Deadline: February 1, 2015
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. $4,000 stipend provided to selected students.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP)
Deadline: February 1, 2015
http://www.research.chop.edu/programs/crissp/index.php
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.

Environmental Health Research Experience Program, University of Washington
Deadline: February 1, 2015
http://deohs.washington.edu/ehrep
This funded, nine-week, summer research program is for undergraduates with a strong interest in environmental health science research. Undergraduate applicants must be graduating in 2016 or later. $5,200 summer stipend.

NSF-REU Internships in Astronomy – Maria Mitchell Observatory
Deadline: February 1, 2015
http://www.mmo.org/get-involved/internships/reu
Six summer internship positions are available for qualified undergraduate astronomy and physics students. $1,800 per month stipend and housing provided.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – Washington, DC
Deadline: February 1, 2015
http://www.cbpp.org/jobs/index.cfm?fa=internships
Offers internships working on a variety of public policy issues. Areas include Media, Federal Legislation, Health Policy, Housing Policy, International Budget Partnership, Food Assistance, National Budget and Tax Policy, Outreach Campaigns, State Fiscal Project and Welfare Reform and Income Support Division.

Summer Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SNURF) at University of Vermont
Deadline: February 1, 2015
http://www.uvm.edu/~nbhspire/?Page=snurf.html
Two summer research programs will be hosted by the University of Vermont. One is funded by the 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.

Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)-Amgen Scholars Program
Deadline: February 2, 2015
http://ssrp.stanford.edu/
The SSRP-Amgen Scholars program is a research-intensive program where students are matched with a member of the Stanford faculty to conduct a research project from a comprehensive list of biological and biomedical science programs. The program encourages applications from students whose backgrounds and experiences would bring diversity to the field. $3,600 stipend, housing and meals provided.

Amgen Scholars Program at NIH
Deadline: February 2, 2015
https://www.training.nih.gov/amgenscholars
Undergraduate students will be matched with a research mentor and participate in a curriculum that will teach leadership skills as well as prepare them for research-oriented careers. Preference will be given to students who lack opportunities to perform independent research during the school year. Students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Amgen-UROP Scholars Program at MIT
Deadline: February 2, 2015
http://web.mit.edu/urop/amgenscholars/
The Amgen-UROP Scholars Program is a competitive program providing the opportunity for undergraduates to participate in faculty-mentored summer research at MIT in the science and biotechnology areas. Students work 40 hours per week for nine weeks ($4,320 salary). Housing in an MIT residence hall and a food allowance of $800 are also provided.

Amgen Scholars Summer Research Program at Columbia University/Barnard College
Deadline: February 2, 2015
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/amgen/
Columbia University and Barnard College offer a summer research program to undergraduate students who are interested in hands-on biology-related laboratory research. The program is competitive with awards based on grades, recommendations, and career plans. Selected students receive a stipend of $4,000, a meal stipend ($500) and housing on the Morningside campus of Columbia University.

SENS Research Foundation (SRF) Summer Scholars Program
Deadline: February 2, 2015
http://www.sens.org/education/research-opportunities/srf-summer-scholars-program
Undergraduate students are provided 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.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Summer Intern Program
Deadline: February 2, 2015
http://hea-www.harvard.edu/REU/REU.html
The SAO Summer Intern Program is an REU program where selected students work on astrophysics research projects with an SAO/Harvard scientist. Stipend and housing provided.

Additional information on off-campus research opportunities is available here.