BSCD Developmental Neurobiology Undergraduate Fellowship - 2022
BSCD Developmental Neurobiology Undergraduate Fellowship
Please bear in mind that while BSCD Summer Fellowships are currently scheduled to proceed these opportunities may have to be modified or cancelled if the situation warrants.
The “Developmental Neurobiology Undergraduate Fellowship Opportunity” (DNUFO) program takes advantage of the breadth and depth of developmental neurobiology research across various departments (Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Human Genetics, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and others) in order to facilitate rigorous undergraduate involvement in research, foster interactions between students, expose students to research outside their immediate interests, develop professional skills, and build personal networks with colleagues within and outside the University. Undergraduate students selected for the program will be DNUFO Fellows. The research activities will take place in host laboratories across campus*.
* We hope research will be in-person, but if COVID restrictions prohibit this, virtual projects will be implemented where possible (see below for additional details for mentor letter)
Duties and Responsibilities
Fellows will be required to perform 10 weeks of full-time research in their host labs. The specific lab duties will depend on the project assigned to the Fellow. In addition, every Fellow must attend weekly meetings that include professional development sessions, journal club presentations, and student research presentations. Each Fellow will prepare one journal club session and present at a student research symposium. Also, fellows are strongly encouraged to attend and present a poster at one regional conference/meeting (virtual or in-person).
Requirements
· No previous research experience is required but it is preferred.
· Preference will be given to students who are, or plan to be, Neuroscience majors; however, any student who has begun their general education requirement in the biological sciences is eligible to apply.
Class Level Eligibility
Preference will be given to 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students. Exceptions will be made for 3rd year students if space is available.
Required Materials
In order to apply for DNUFO, applicants must first identify a mentor who works within the general area of developmental neurobiology (see partial list below*) or closely related fields. Once a mentor is identified, the applicant will work with him/her to prepare the application. A full application will consist of the following:
· Resume or CV
· Cover Letter (stating why the applicant applied for the fellowship, why the specific mentor was selected, and how participation in the DNUFO fits into his/her career path).
· Unofficial Transcript
· Research statement (less than one-page summary of the proposed project); the candidate should work closely with their proposed mentor to develop this statement.
· Letter from the mentor (additional letters of recommendation may be included) stating that he/she will commit to the full mentor responsibilities including supervising the Fellow during the 10-week period, attending weekly DNUFO meetings as frequently as summer travel plans allow, working closely with the Fellow to prepare presentations, presenting a research seminar to the DNUFO cohort, and providing a written evaluation of the Fellow at the end of the summer. Additionally, please state whether a remote project is possible if COVID restrictions prohibit in-person research. The letter must be submitted via email to Neuromajor@uchicago.edu by April 8, 2022. In the subject of the email, please include “DNUFO” and the applicant’s name (e.g. DNUFO Jane Smith).
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-2022
Compensation
Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend. In addition, the host laboratory will receive funds (~$1000 for on campus research; otherwise ~$300 for virtual) to cover the Fellow’s lab supplies and attendance (travel, room, board) at a conference/meeting.
Deadline
Application and recommendation letter must be submitted by April 8, 2022.
Potential Mentors in Developmental Neurobiology (not all-inclusive)*
Robert Carrillo (Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology)
Elizabeth Grove (Neurobiology)
Elizabeth Heckscher (Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology)
Robert Ho (Organismal Biology and Anatomy)
Paschalis Kratsios (Neurobiology)
Victoria Prince (Organismal Biology and Anatomy)
Clifton Ragsdale (Neurobiology and Organismal Biology and Anatomy)
Xiaochang Zhang (Human Genetics)
* Candidates may email Robert Carrillo (robertcarrillo@uchicago.edu) to seek advice on whether a specific alternative faculty mentor may be appropriate for this program.