BSCD Research Foundations in Genetics and Genomics Fellowship - 2021

 

Rapid advances in genome editing and high-throughput sequencing techniques continue to open new areas of discovery with applications to both basic research and human health. The Research Foundations in Genetics and Genomics Fellowship provides an opportunity for students to conduct research in any area of biology that involves genetic and genomic approaches and methodologies. Fellows should identify a potential host-lab in advance of the application deadline and work with the PI of that lab to design an independent research project in the area of genetics and/or genomics. While projects focused on genetics, epigenetics and gene regulation will be encouraged, additional topics with links to genetics and development will be considered. In addition to conducting full-time research, Fellows will attend a weekly group workshop where they will have opportunities to present their research and to engage with external and University of Chicago guest lecturers in the field. The goals are for students to engage in full-time primary research, gain exposure to the big questions in fields that utilize genetic and genomic approaches and learn to present and communicate their research.

 

The Fellowship awards a $5000 stipend for the summer research period, as well as $1500 for research expenses and supplies made available to the PI.

The primary responsibility of each Fellow is to conduct a research project under the supervision of a faculty PI. Fellows will perform research tasks on a full-time basis for the 10-week summer quarter. Students will work with an identified mentor within the host lab to design and outline a project and to carry out that project under the direct supervision of the identified mentor(s).  Mentors will also support the undergraduate research intern by providing relevant project literature and including the intern in laboratory activities such as group meetings and journal clubs. The specific tasks will be dependent on the lab and project, but are likely to involve animal, tissue or cell culture, molecular biology, next-generation sequence data analysis and genome browsing, and other experimental and computational techniques. Fellows will meet weekly with the Fellowship Directors, Heather Marlow and David Pincus, to present cutting-edge methodologies as well as their projects and results to one another. At the end of the summer, Fellows will present their research in a mini-symposium. At this time, priority will be given to in-person projects. However, remote projects will also be considered. Should summer undergraduate research shift to remote-research only, fellowships will still be offered to students that have included a contingency remote work-plan in their fellowship research proposal. 

The main requirement is interest in genetics and genomics and a desire to conduct full-time research. Some biological training is required, but a declared major in biology is not necessary.

Undergraduates who have completed at least one year in the college.

1) Statement explaining your interest in genetics and genomics and any past research experiences (max 1 page).

2) Research proposal that includes a project description, outlines methodology and approach and indicates whether the project will occur remotely or on-campus. For projects proposed to occur on-campus, students are encouraged to consider including a brief contingency plan for a remote-project in the event that summer research transitions to a remote mode.

3) Resume or CV

4) Unofficial transcript

Please Note: If you are applying to multiple BSCD Fellowship Grants, please fill out the following BSCD Preference Form - https://careeradvancement.wufoo.com/forms/bscd-research-2021/

April 9, 2021