Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research REU

The institution: University of New Mexico Sevilleta Field Station

The program: This interdisciplinary program will train in independent research under the guidance of UNM faculty in Biology and Earth and Planetary Sciences. Students will conduct independent research at the Sevilleta, and present results at the annual research symposium. They will also attend a weekly seminar and journal club, and interact with visiting speakers. The program includes faculty in ecology, the geosciences, and meteorology. The summer program includes a seminar series, a journal club, an annual symposium, professional development workshops, ethics training, and fieldtrips.

• 1 June - 14 August 2009


• $4,500 stipend for 11 weeks


• Lodging and laboratory space provided at no cost


• Travel costs to and from the UNM Sevilleta Field Station up to $500 refunded

Eligibility:

• Maintain undergraduate degree through Summer 2009


• Interest in conservation biology and ecology


• U.S. Citizen

Application deadline: 20 March 2009

More information: http://sev.lternet.edu/reu

Minority Health Disparities Undergraduate Summer Research Program

The institution: The University of Arizona

The program: Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who conducts research in the biomedical sciences (particularly pulmonary, heart and vascular, and blood diseases and disorders). Students participate in weekly seminars offered by UA faculty on health issues disproportionately affecting minority populations, attend weekly workshops on graduate school preparation and presentation skill development, attend a GRE Prep Workshop, and present their work at the University of Arizona's end of summer research symposium.

• A financial award of $4,000 for 10 weeks of research and other activities


• Round-trip airfare to Tucson from anywhere within the United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico


• Six units of transferable research course credit


• Housing will be available at the University of Arizona residence halls

Eligibility: Students between their junior and senior year, or students who have completed their baccalaureate degree but not yet been accepted into a graduate program.

• African American, Native American, Alaska Native, Hispanic, Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander


• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident


• Major in fields leading to biomedical careers


• Upper-division undergraduate standing


• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above


• Aspire to obtain a Ph.D. in a biomedical field

Application deadline: 1 February 2009

More information: http://grad.arizona.edu/imsd/undergraduate-summer

Opportunities in Genomics Research Undergraduate Scholars

The institution: Washington University-School of Medicine

The program:

• Students conduct research with investigators in the department of genetics or with other investigators


• Eight-week summer program


• Housing


• Travel to St. Louis


• "Nice" stipend


• GRE prep


• Career workshops


• Seminars


• Journal club

Eligibility:

• "Competitive" GPA


• US citizen or permanent resident


• Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics major (some exceptions)


• Sophomore of higher student in a 4-year institution

Application deadline: 2 February 2009 (early decision); 23 March 2009 (late decision)

More information: http://genome.wustl.edu/outreach.cgi.

Research program in ecology

The institution: Harvard Forest

The program: Each student will participate in an on‑going study with senior researchers from Harvard University, Marine Biological Lab-Ecosystems Center, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts and other collaborators. Responsibilities generally include field and laboratory studies, data analysis and scientific writing. In addition, students attend weekly seminars given by nationally known scientists about their research and workshops on ethics and career and graduate school planning. At the end of the summer, students will develop their research results and present their findings at a student research symposium.

• 12 week program running from 26 May to 14 August 2009.


• $5,400 stipend.


• On-site housing.


• Full meal plan.


• Assistance with travel costs to and from Harvard Forest.

Eligibility:

• Demonstrated interest in ecology.

Application deadline: 6 February 2009

More information: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/reu/reu.html

Amgen Scholars Program

The institution: California Institute of Technology (a.k.a. CalTech)

The program: geared towards students in biology, chemistry, and biotechnology fields. Some of these fields include biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, and chemistry.

• $5,500 award.


• Round-trip air transportation.


• Generous housing allowance.


• Food allowance.

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.


• 3.2 GPA or better.


• Sophomore through to non-graduating senior.

Application deadline: 15 February 2009

More information: http://www.amgenscholars.caltech.edu

MURF undergraduate research fellowships

The institution: California Institute of Technology (a.k.a. CalTech)

The program:

• Ten-week program.


• $6,000 award.


• Additional housing and travel support may be provided.

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.


• 3.0 GPA or better.


• Sophomore through to non-graduating senior.

Application deadline: 12 January 2009

More information: http://www.murf.caltech.edu

NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The institution: Home institution.

The program:

• $8,000 / year in academic assistance for up to two years


• 10 week summer internship paying $650 / week, with housing subsidy

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizenship


• 3.0 GPA or better


• Majoring in NOAA related discipline

Application deadline: 30 January 2009

More information: http://www.orau.gov/NOAA/HollingsScholarship/

NOAA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The institution: Varies.

The program:

• Payment of tuition and fees -$8,000 per year


• Two 10-week summer internships at NOAA sites


• Weekly stipend during internships of $650


• Weekly housing allowance during internships

Requirements:

• U.S. citizen


• Sophomores attending a Minority Serving Institution


• Minimum 3.0 GPA


• Majoring in NOAA mission disciplines, including oceanic, environmental, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical and social sciences including, geography, physics, and hydrology

Deadline: 2 February 2009

More information: http://epp.noaa.gov/undergrad_scholar/welcome.html

Louisiana State University summer research 2009

The institution: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The program:

• Individual research with mentors


• $3,500 stipend, with housing provided


• Course credit


• 1 June to 31 July 2009

Requirements: Life Sciences or Chemistry Major, 3.0 GPA, have completed Introductory Biology & Chemistry coursework, plan to pursue higher degree

Deadline: 11 February 2009

More information: http://www.biology.lsu.edu/hhmiprog/undergrad/

UT Southwestern Medical Center SURF

The institution: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

The program:

• Ten week program from 1 June 2009 to 7 August 2009


• Individual laboratory research projects with UT Southwestern Graduate School faculty members


• Research areas include modern cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology are represented


• Includes seminars, GRE prep course, social events, and an end-of-program poster session


• $4,000 stipend ($5,250 in support if housing is needed)

Requirements: Enrolled in a natural science degree program at the undergraduate level and have completed the sophomore year.

Application deadline: 9 February 2009

More information: http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/SURF or email surf@utsouthwestern.edu

Rice IBB Summer Undergraduate Internship Programs

The institution: Rice University, Houston, TX.

The program: There are two programs, one in cellular engineering and one in bionanotechnology.

More information:

REU in Cellular Engineering: http://cohesion.rice.edu/naturalsciences/nsfreu/index.cfm?doc_id=11338

HHMI program in Bionanotechnology: http://cohesion.rice.edu/naturalsciences/hhmi/index.cfm?doc_id=10945

Application deadline: 13 February 2009.

More reporting on Dr. Bement's visit

The front page of the UTPA website has a story describing NSF director Arden Bement's recent visit. The REU program featured quite prominently in the article:

Ashley Longoria, a sophomore from Weslaco majoring in biology, was a co-presenter on one of the winning posters and had an opportunity to discuss her research with Bement. Longoria is a participant in UTPA’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program, an NSF-funded program which supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the NSF. The award to UTPA – Research in Subtropical Biology at a Hispanic Gateway Institution – allows Longoria and other students to work side-by-side with faculty mentors in conducting research and creating new knowledge. The goal of REU is to prepare students to enter graduate school and ultimately enter careers in research and technology.

Longoria said they talked about her research – the effect of low salinity conditions on snails after Hurricane Dolly -- and her future goals.

“I thought Dr. Bement was very one-on-one, wanted to listen and to understand everyone’s different projects. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be. It was like talking to my grandfather or my dad. It was an honor to talk to him,” she said.

Longoria said she told Bement that through her participation in the REU program, she learned how much she enjoyed research and discovery and has since switched from a premed major to wanting to be a scientist.

REU student Ashely Longoria is becoming a veritable poster woman, having featured on the front page twice in recent weeks -- once for winning the poster competition, now for meeting with Dr. Bement...

Front row seats

A few past and present REU students -- Cassandra Rivas, Jess Valdez, and Stehanie Castellanos -- got to meet and greet Jeff Corwin before his presentation at UTPA last night. Just another little perk to the program!

World class

Our university president, Bambi Cardenas, wrote a memo today describing a dinner conversation she had with Dr. Arden Bement, the National Science Foundation director. He said about HESTEC:

Imagine, 50,000 people coming to celebrate science. Bambi, it’s the best in the nation, and by extension, the best in the world.

NSF director visits UTPA

Left to right: Amery Yang, Ashley Longoria, Ammie Ortiz, NSF director Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., Jess Valdez, Stephanie Jimenez.

Dr. Bement and several other NSF staffers visited UTPA today, and met with students in our REU program. Here mainly for HESTEC, they had a chance to view student research posters presented at the HESTEC science symposium, and chat with several students in some detail about their research.

HESTEC science symposium 2008

The HESTEC science symposium yesterday was held yesterday, and the REU program was proud to welcome visiting mentor Dr. François Therrien.

Despite being the first talk of the morning, Dr. Therrien addressed a large audience in the Engineering auditorium, and delighted listeners with a lively and engaging story about dinosaur diversity and climate change, and how lessons learned in paleontology can inform our understanding of the current climate change crisis.


On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Dr. Therrien, joined by fellow paleontologist Darla Zelenitski, visited the student posters and met with the REU students and their mentors individually. They also took a few minutes with REU students in the Sue exhibit to talk a little about the skeleton. As it happened, one part of the exhibit contained a panel proclaiming that T. rex was a "super sniffer," and that the part of the T. rex brain involved with smell was almost the same size as the rest of its brain. Drs. Therrien and Zelenitski had published a paper disputing that claim earlier this year. They argued that the olfactory part of the brain was not as large as had been thought (grapefruit size) -- although it was still large relative to other meat-eating dinosaurs (strawberry sized, maybe).

It's fun to have an expert on hand...


Front row: Amery Yang. Middle row (L to R): Jess Valdez, Stephanie Jimenez, Darla Zelenitski, François Therrien, Ashley Longoria, Ammie Ortiz, Stephanie Castellanos. Back row: Sue.

HESTEC poster winner

REU student Ashley Longoria (pictured at right) won the student poster competition for the Department of Biology for her work on how salinity stresses impact parasitic infections. Congratulations!

At left: Poster co-author Perla Aguirre. This work was supervised by REU mentor Brian Fredensborg.

Botanical 2008 Conference!

Hey everybody. Below are a few photos and words from my trip to the Botanical 2008 Conference in Vancouver Canada!!! I hope you enjoy, cheers.

So I began the trip pictures aboard the Dallas skytrain. With a 4 hour layover and a student budget I could not exactly stay at the airport lounge for more than an hour so I rode the various airport amusement rides. The moving sidewalk and 3 story eslcalators are great, but the train is definately my favorite. So out of sheer bordem I calculated a 20 minute roundtrip from Gate D and approximately 30 people boarded the skytrain in a single trip.

Bon Voyage Dallas. Canada here I come.

HESTEC 2008

The REU program will again be a major presence at HESTEC this year. Our REU students will have posters in the science symposium, and an REU visiting mentor will be a featured speaker at the science symposium.

I am excited to have Dr. Francois Therrien (pictured) as a guest to HESTEC and the REU program. Dr. Therrien is a dinosaur paleoecologist who works in the world-class Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Canada.

Dr. Therrien's visit coincides with the display of a cast of the T. rex skeleton, Sue. Dr. Therrien has actually studied and published work on T. rex -- check out the story, "T. rex - nothing to sniff at" on Quirks and Quarks (below). He's also done fascinating work on bite strength, described new fossil species, and more.

Dr. Therrien on the web

• Royal Tyrrell Museum staff page


• Interview on CBC radio's science show, Quirks and Quarks


• Representative publications
  
  
  
  • Ali F, Zelenitsky DK, Therrien F, Weishampel DB (2008) Homology of the "ethmoid complex" of tyrannosaurids and its implications for the reconstruction of the olfactory apparatus of non-avian theropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:123-133
    
    DOI 10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[123:HOTECO]2.0.CO;2
  
  
  • Zelenitsky DK, Therrien F (2008) Phylogenetic analysis of reproductive traits of maniraptoran theropods and its implications for egg parataxonomy. Palaeontology 51:807-816 DOI 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00770.x
  
  
  • Therrien F, Henderson DM (2007) My theropod is bigger than yours… or not: Estimating body size from skull length in theropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27:108-115
    
    DOI 10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[108:MTIBTY]2.0.CO;2
  
  
  • Therrien F (2006) Depositional environments and fluvial system changes in the dinosaur-bearing Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Romania): Post-orogenic sedimentation in an active extensional basin. Sedimentary Geology 192:183-205 DOI 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.04.002
  
  
  • Lipka TR, Therrien F, Weishampel DB, Jamniczky HA, Joyce WG, Colbert MW, Brinkman DB (2006) A new turtle from the Arundel clay facies (Potomac Formation, Early Cretaceous) of Maryland, U.S.A. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26:300-307
    
    DOI 10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[300:ANTFTA]2.0.CO;2
  
  
  • Therrien F (2005) Feeding behaviour and bite force of sabretoothed predators. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145:393-426
    
    DOI 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2005.00194.x
  
  
  • Therrien F (2005) Mandibular force profiles of extant carnivorans and implications for the feeding behaviour of extinct predators. Journal of Zoology 267:249-270
    
    DOI 10.1017/S0952836905007430
  
  
  • Therrien F (2005) Palaeoenvironments of the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) dinosaurs of Romania: insights from fluvial deposits and paleosols of the Transylvanian and Hateg basins. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 218:15-56
    
    DOI 10.1016/j.palaeo.2004.12.005
  
  
  • Therrien F, Fastovsky DE (2000) Paleoenvironments of early theropods, Chinle formation (Late Triassic), Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Palaios 15:194-211
    
    DOI 10.1669/0883-1351(2000)015<0194:POETCF>2.0.CO;2
  
  

Dates to remember

• 8 September: Poster abstracts due


• 15 September: Posters due


• 22 September: Science symposium

Another summer seminar

It's always nice to welcome one of your own back.

Our next visiting mentor, Dr. Matthew Garcia, is a UTPA alumnus. He will returning to his old stomping grounds to present a seminar titled, "The mitochondria and neurodegeneration: A tale of two proteins, μ-calpain and PANK2" on 15 July 2008, 11:30 am, in SCIE 2.106.

Matt Garcia completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology here in 2002. He then completed his doctoral research at the University of Kentucky in 2007. He is currently a postdoctoral associate at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Summer seminar

Dr. Wes Tunnell is our next REU visiting mentor. He will be presenting a seminar on coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico on 1 July 2008, 1:00 pm, in SCIE 2.108.

Dr. Wes Tunnell is founder of the Center for Coastal Studies, Associate Director of the Harte Research Institute, Director of the Center for Coastal Studies, and Professor of Biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He is a broadly trained marine biologist/ecologist with a particular interest in field studies on coral reefs and coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Tunnell's most recent book, Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico, was published in 2007. He is slated to publish Texas Seashells later this year.

USDA summer internship

The institution: USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The program: The student intern will assist microbiologist in preparation of microbiological media, growth and maintenance of stock cultures, bioasssays and other related duties. In addition, intern can also assist chemist in chemical analyses pertaining to microbiological experiments. Other assignments will be determined based on student’s interest.

Requirements: Junior or senior status.

More information: Sandra.penaherrera@ars.usda.gov

REU and Earth Day

REU student Claudia Tamez is featured in an article in student newspaper, The Pan American, on her involvement in Earth Day 2008.

REU students: not just researchers, but leaders, too.

The envelope, please...

Our 2008 cohort of students is...

Ammie Ortiz
Stephanie Jimenez
Jessena Valdez
Stephanie Castellanos
Amery Yang
Ashley Longoria

More about these students soon!

Invasive species control internships

The institution: Numerous, working with Student Conservation Association. In 2007, there were 247 SCA Botany and Restoration positions located in 34 states in all regions of the country and working with state, federal, and private agencies, including the National Parks Service, US Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy.

The program: Varies. Invasive species control internships are great positions for someone interested in spending time outside. Invasive species interns spend a large amount of time off trail getting to know an area intimately.

More information: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_internships/.
Search for internships here .

The pool, 2008 edition

We have about 25 applicants this year. We should be doing personal interviews in about two weeks (due to March break).

Research like a rock star

I've written before about Brian May, so it was inevitable that he would show up on a recruitment poster.

Pull it together!

Time is almost up... the deadline for REU applications is this Friday!

Talk to potential mentors if you haven't done so, and remember to have two letters of recommendation sent to Zen Faulkes in the Department of Biology.

To boldly split infinitives

I cannot win with posters this year. My Pirates poster has been stolen twice now. And when I put this one up, someone wrote on it to point out the split infinitive.

"To boldly go."

Sheesh. Do people not recognize the quote? Perhaps some people need a refresher in classic TV intros.

Also, check out Futurama Math for more geek goodness.

Speaking of which, I'll bet there are projects in the REU program that wouldn't mind having a math major to help with a research project. You don't have to be a biology major to be in this REU program.

Referee choice

Another common question this year has been, "Who should I get to write recommendation letters?"

I can't speak for other programs, but in ours, there really is only one requirement: That your referee know you.

Now, that said, if you think about it, there are some characteristics that are going to be desirable for a recommendation letter.

Since research positions like our REU program are, fundamentally, academic positions, you want to have someone who can address your ability to learn and your learning style. Your referee might want to answer questions like whether you are a quick study or Whether you need a lot of guidance. Whether you learn better in groups or if you prefer to work independently. Your referee might also want to place your academic work in context. In some classes, many students get As, but in others, very few get As. Or perhaps you got a B or a C, but you just missed the dividing line by a point or two, as opposed to scraping by near the bottom range for that letter grade.

Second, since research work is work, you also want someone who can address your ability to work with others. So, generally, you want someone who has supervised you in some way in task-oriented situations. This might be volunteer work, work for pay, or academic classes.

In many cases, professors are good choices for writing recommendation letters.

Sometimes, teaching assistants can write helpful letters of recommendation, as they have more face-to-face interactions with students than in a lecture setting with a professor. Teaching assistants also get to see how you handle equipment and your lab technique.

The one thing you probably don't want, though, is a letter from your mother. We're sure your mom is nice and all, but she's your mom. She has to like you.

This blog takes no position on whether pirates or ninja are cooler

Another variation on the riff started in the stolen poster.

Mentor choice

A very common question asked by students interested in our program is, "Who would I work for?"

In our program -- and, I believe, most programs -- that is largely up to the student. We have a list of mentors who participate in the program, and there is a spot on the application form that asks who you are interested in working with.

A few tips.

First, talk to possible mentors. Remember, the mentors are involved in the selection process that determines who goes into the program. You want to introduce yourself and try to have them on your side before you submit your application. It's even better if you get to know them well enough that they will be one of the people providing you with a letter of recommendation.

Second, try to find a happy medium in indicating who you want to work with. If you select only one mentor, you're really limiting yourself. If another student wants to work with that mentor, you could cut yourself out of the program if you leave no other choice. On the other hand, it doesn't look good if you check the boxes for every mentor, either. That just makes you look like you're complete adrift and have no idea what it is you're interested in.

Finally, keep an open mind. Just because you might be interested in ultimately doing research on, say, polar bear ecology, do not think, "Oh, nobody works on polar bear ecology, so I shouldn't apply." Even if no one works on polar bear ecology, maybe there's someone working on ecology. There's always stuff to learn that can be applicable to later study and research, particularly if you go on to graduate school.

Talents

After the first Johnny Depp poster was popular enough to have been stolen less than 24 hours after I put it up, I made another. It's only a little twisted...

STEP-UP Summer Research

The institution: Various. The research experience is provided nationally by experienced investigators in their laboratories for 8 to 10 consecutive weeks during the summer. Students are with a research mentor at their choice of a research institution when possible.

The program:

• Research in areas of diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, obesity, digestive, liver, urologic, kidney, and hematologic diseases


• Ten to twelve weeks of basic or clinical research education and training provided by experienced faculty


• Student participation allowance and housing allotment ($4000)


• Education-related expenses fee provided to the research mentor


• All travel expenses to the Annual Undergraduate Research Training Symposium in May and the Annual Undergraduate Scientific Session and Research Presentations in August at the NIH


• Limited housing is available under special circumstances (paid from the student's participation allowance)

Requirements:

• Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year at an accredited institution


• U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or legal permanent residents

Deadline: 1 March 2008

More information: http://stepup.niddk.nih.gov/

C is for...

Well, I hear choirs of angels when I have a good cookie...

Apply now!

The online application form is ready for this year. Click here to apply.

Darwin, young researcher

Happy Darwin Day!

In keeping with one of the recurring themes of this blog, Darwin was only about 22 when he set off on the H.M.S. Beagle on a trip around the world. The trip would make him famous for his book, Voyage of the Beagle.

The picture shows Darwin in 1840, several years after the Beagle voyage.

All this and beauty too...

I love showing people who have done research, but that you would never expect it from...

Student profile: Claudia Tamez

What is your project about?

My project consists of several studies centered around the rare native water lily of South Texas, Nymphaea elegans. In normal instances, pollen is washed off pollinators. The fluid bath secreted by N. elegans routinely causes pollinators to drown. From one of my studies, I hope to conclude that larger flowers have a higher capacity for fluid thus increasing the rate at which pollinators are sacrificed by the flowers for pollination. Also, Dr. McDonald and I are currently preparing to construct a temporary study site on campus to observe pollinator preference for flower color and pollinator visitation rates.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I have enjoyed very much my actual physical field work. I am very grateful to be working with a flower so exquisite. I absolutely love when I am surrounded by thousands of beautiful N. elegans flowers in the middle of nowhere; it's absolutely tranquil.

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to another awesome flowering season and great results to enable me to publish substantial information for future studies on Nymphaea elegans.

Supervisors: Anita Davelos Baines and Andrew McDonald

Read all about it

I found this article when I went to the Society for Neuroscience meeting. The hotel I was in delivered free newspapers on weekdays.

And really bad eggs...

My favourite recruitment poster so far this year. And, apparently, everyone elses. I wasn't even done putting it up before I heard someone behind me laughing at the first tagline.

Not too clever

This will be one of the first recruitment posters, which I hope to print today. Sometimes, what's going on in the office sort of bleeds onto the page...

Maryland Sea Grant summer research

The institution: Maryland Sea Grant, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

The Program:

• 18 May to 10 August 2008


• $4200 stipend plus housing, travel to and from site

Deadline: 29 February 2008

More information: http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/REU

Texas A&M Kingsville Citrus Center internship

The institution: Texas A&M Kingsville Citrus Center, Weslaco, Texas

The program:

• Learn to operate lab equipment, perform molecular biology techniques


• $8 / hour

Requirements: Be a UTPA student enrolled in biology classes; ability to lift 25 lbs.

Deadline: None; open until filled

More information: Email e-louzada@tamu.edu

Louisiana State University summer research

The institution: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The program:

• Individual research with mentors


• $3,500 stipend, with housing provided


• Course credit


• 2 June to 1 August 2008

Requirements: Life Sciences or Chemistry Major, 3.0 GPA, have completed Introductory Biology & Chemistry
coursework

Deadline: 13 February 2008

More information: http://www.biology.lsu.edu/hhmiprog/undergrad/

Committee on Institutional Cooperation summer research

The institutions: Many across the midwest! The institutions include University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, Indiana University, Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Whew!

The program:

• Faculty mentoring in all fields of study


• 8 to 10 weeks


• $2,000-$4,000 stipend, housing and travel paid

Deadline: 10 February 2008

More information: http://www.cic.net/programs/SROP/

University of Texas LSAMP summer research

The institution: All of The University of Texas system and 8 regional community college districts

The program:

• Work alongside nationally- and internationally-recognized professors


• $2,500 stipend, travel funds, on-campus housing allowance

Deadline: 15 February 2008

More information: http://research.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.utep.edu/lsamp

University of Arkansas Carver summer research

The institution: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The program:

• Individual research with mentors


• Competitive stipend, with room, board, and travel costs provided


• May to July 2008

Requirements: Completed 60 undergraduate credit hours, 3.0 GPA

Deadline: 3 March 2008

More information: http://carver.uark.edu

Danforth Plant Center summer research

I'm going to start this set of posts describing research opportunities at other institutions with one that had a UTPA student in it last year. See, people from here do go elsewhere get accepted in other programs!

The institution: The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri

The program:

• Focus on plant biology research, including bioinformatics, plant diseases, stress responses, genetics, and structural biology


• Pays $5,400


• 27 May to 8 August 2008

Deadline: 11 February 2008

More information: http://www.danforthcenter.org/internship/

Info session

Zen Faulkes, UTPA REU director, will be doing a little chittin' and chattin' on all manner of summer research programs. Learn:

• Who to turn to for recommendation letters


• What research programs are looking for in their students


• When applications are typically due


• Where to look for summer research programs


• Why UTPA students are in high demand for summer programs


• How competetive the programs are

The focus will be on biology, but the tips should apply to almost any research program. UTPA's own REU program will also be discussed.

Learn all about it by coming to SCIE 2.288 on Thursday, 31 January 2008, at noon.

Mark the calendar!

The deadline for this year's REU cohort will be Friday, 29 February 2008. There will be an application form online sometime in early February.