You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Summer for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) Program - 2020


**This internship is part of the University’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program. Please review the Metcalf Interns’ Responsibility Notice to learn more about program requirements for Metcalf interns.

Students are responsible for independently finalizing the logistics of their internship, including transportation and lodging. If you are considering an internship in Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., or abroad, please reference these helpful city guides. **

2020 Jeff Metcalf Summer for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF)

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), founded in 1888 on Cape Cod in the village of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is a private nonprofit research institution and affiliate of the University of Chicago. An international center for innovation in scientific research and education, the MBL has drawn the world’s greatest minds in science to carry out some of their most creative and far-reaching work.

In its seventh year of development as part of the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program from the University of Chicago, a cohort of exceptional undergraduate fellows will be awarded a nine-week summer research experience (June 14 - August 14, 2020) hosted at the Marine Biological Laboratory. The Jeff Metcalf Summer for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) is an opportunity exposing University of Chicago students to the world-class science conducted at the MBL.

The Metcalf SURF targets first through third year undergraduate students. It is designed to help students explore science beyond their core courses and immerse in comprehensive discovery research over a 9-week summer experience. Augmenting student learning are career enrichment opportunities such as required weekly lunch seminars with MBL faculty, evening science lectures, professional development opportunities, social and cultural engagements, and a chance to go on an excursion aboard the research vessel Gemma. Metcalf fellows will also have meetings with a scientific mentor and mandatory bi-weekly Metcalf meetings. These experiences are tailored to foster student-faculty relationships, help to develop academic and professional credentials and aid students in refining their career goals. A link to MBL’s Education website can be found here: http://www.mbl.edu/education/undergraduate-programs/jeff-metcalf-summer-for-undergraduate-research-fellows/. MBL Fellows live on-campus in a beautiful coastal setting with access to fun summer activities such as going to the beach, biking, taking a ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard, etc. 

A. APPLICATION PROCESS
To Apply: Students will apply through the UChicago Career Advancement platform Handshake. Previous Jeff Metcalf MBL Fellows are welcome to reapply and will be evaluated in the general application process. Students interested in applying must also attend a mandatory information session (Location: Biological Sciences Learning Center BSLC 205) on January 21st at 5:00pm - Please register using this link. Reach out to David Lerner (dlerner@uchicago.edu) if you are unable to attend this info session and need to schedule a make-up appointment.

To be considered, please submit the following components:

Note: If you experience trouble uploading multiple documents to Handshake, please consider combining your documents prior to uploading using Word / PDF. Thank you!


2.  An unofficial transcript

3.  A resume or curriculum vitae

4. A one-page statement of your expectations of the program – what you anticipate this experience will be like and what you hope to gain from the experience

5. A one to two-page Statement of Interest to include the following:
·         What aspect of the Jeff Metcalf SURF opportunity excites you and convinced you to apply?
·         Explain how this opportunity fits into your academic and career goals.
·         Description of any relevant previous research experience
·         Please indicate three MBL mentors you would like to work with (from the provided mentor list below) and write why you would like to work with each of them. Demonstrate your clear understanding of and specific interest in their research.

6.  One letter of recommendation in support of your application (a second optional recommendation letter may be submitted). Applicants with previous research experience may wish to consider having their previous research mentors write a letter of recommendation on their behalf.

Please complete and share the attached ‘Waiver of Right to Access’ form as well as the following link (https://careeradvancement.wufoo.com/forms/2020-mbl-surf-recommendation-form/) with the individuals who agree to recommend you. Recommenders may be a scientist, professor, high school teacher, or adviser. It is advised to provide the recommender with at least 3 weeks’ notice of the form prior to the February 21st deadline. Recommenders will receive receipt of the recommendation by email. Student applicants must also upload the completed Waiver to Handshake. Please upload your waiver with your other Handshake application documents.

B. AWARD: Room and board is paid for through the partnership between Career Advancement’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program and the University of Chicago Biological Science Collegiate Division. We encourage you to review the housing and dining amenities; the houses are not air conditioned. Students are required to live in the provided housing located in either Drew, David, or Veeder House and accommodations are organized as double and triple rooms. In addition to room and board, students will receive a stipend - more information will be provided at the information session. Some SURF cohort activities will also be organized and provided during the 9 week stay. MBL Fellows are required to complete a post-internship survey to provide feedback regarding their experience in Woods Hole.

C. DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted until February 21st, 2020. Applications will be reviewed and ranked by a committee. Students will be notified of their acceptance via email by early March. Those accepted into the program will need to plan on arriving on Sunday, June 14th, and orientation will take place on Monday, June 15th. The program runs nine weeks through August 14th, 2020 and students must commit to the entire program.


UChicago Metcalf Mentor List 2020

Carrie Albertin, Hibbitt Fellow, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Irina Arkhipova, Associate Scientist, MBL Josephine Bay Paul Center

Scott Brady, Distinguished Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago; MBL Whitman Center Scientist
Research Statement: Our studies of molecular mechanisms of axonal transport using isolated axoplasm from squid giant axon fall into two categories: to characterize signaling pathways that regulate trafficking and targeting of vesicles in neurons; and to analyze effects of pathogenic proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s disease as well as ALS and tauopathies. Effects of pathogenic proteins on transport are evaluated and relevant pathogenic pathways mapped. The goal is to develop new strategies and targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases and understand basic neuronal cell biology. 

Maureen Conte, MBL Fellow, MBL Ecosystems Center
Seeking students interested in environmental chemistry.

Karen Echeverri, Associate Scientist, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Kristin Gribble, Assistant Scientist, MBL Josephine Bay Paul Center

Roger Hanlon, Senior Scientist, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Abhishek Kumar, MBL Investigator & CZI Scientist

Javier Lloret, Research Scientist, MBL Ecosystems Center

Gerardo Morfini, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago; MBL Whitman Center Scientist
Research Statement: Our studies of molecular mechanisms of axonal transport using isolated axoplasm from squid giant axon fall into two categories: to characterize signaling pathways that regulate trafficking and targeting of vesicles in neurons; and to analyze effects of pathogenic proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s disease as well as ALS and tauopathies. Effects of pathogenic proteins on transport are evaluated and relevant pathogenic pathways mapped. The goal is to develop new strategies and targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases and understand basic neuronal cell biology. 

Hilary Morrison, Senior Scientist, MBL Josephine Bay Paul Center

B. Duygu Özpolat, Hibbitt Fellow, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Blair Paul, Assistant Scientist, MBL Josephine Bay Paul Center

Rut Pedrosa, Research Scientist, MBL Ecosystems Center

Loretta Roberson, Associate Scientist, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Joshua Rosenthal, Senior Scientist, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Emil Ruff, Assistant Scientist, MBL Ecosystems Center

Michael Shribak, Associate Scientist, MBL Eugene Bell Center

Joe Vallino, Senior Scientist, MBL Ecosystems Center
Seeking students specifically interested in modeling