BSCD Research Foundations in Genetics and Genomics Fellowship - 2024

BSCD Research Foundations in Genetics and Genomics Fellowship

About the Fellowship

Rapid technological advances in genome engineering, genetics and genomics technologies have opened new areas of discovery with applications to basic research and human health.  As a result, genome biology and gene regulation have become highly multidisciplinary and challenge researchers to gain proficiency across multiple sub-disciplines.  The Research Foundations in Genetics and Genomics Fellowship provides an opportunity for students to conduct research in any of the many areas of biology that involves genetic and genomic approaches and methodologies and to explore the multi-disciplinary aspect of this field through exposure to external and University of Chicago guest lecturers in the field. Our aim is for fellows to gain a better understanding of the pathways to future careers in related fields, develop a clear understanding of the skills and preparation required to attain their individual career goals and engage in full-time independent, mentored research under the guidance of a host laboratory.

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 areas of genetics and/or genomics.  We understand that this process may be confusing for students new to research and encourage interested applicants who have not yet identified a laboratory and/or who would like assistance with this process to reach out to program mentors Dr. Marlow prior to March 1 for assistance connecting with a research PI. 

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.  Previous external guest lecturers include researchers from top R1 research institutions from around the world. In addition to the broad aims outlined above, students will gain experience with primary scientific literature and communicating their research to a broad audience. 

Students and PIs are welcomed to email fellowship directors ahead of the deadline with any questions regarding the fellowship opportunity or application process.

The Fellowship awards a $5500 stipend for the summer research period, as well as $1500 for research expenses and supplies made available to the PI.

Duties and Responsibilities

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. 

Requirements

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.

Class Level Eligibility

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

Required Materials

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) Brief (1 to 2 paragraph) statement of support from proposed research lab head to be emailed directly to program director ahead of the application deadline (hmarlow@uchicago.edu)

4) Resume or CV

5) Unofficial transcript

Please submit all materials as PDF Files

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-2024/

Expiration Date

April 1, 2024