Grants>Biochemistry

Travel Fellowships to RNA 2012

RNA 2012 will be held from May 29th through June 3rd in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

As in past years, the RNA Society has funds available to provide travel fellowships in support of researchers who otherwise would not be able to attend the meeting for financial reasons. This year we have budgeted $30,000 for this purpose, but we are also soliciting additional support from corporate sponsors, so more funds may be available later. In most cases the fellowships will be made in the form of reduced or waived registration fees, although it is possible that some contribution toward travel costs could be made in addition to the fee waiver. Travel reimbursement, if awarded, will be presented in the form of a check from the RNA Society either during or after the close of the conference (keep your travel receipts; they will be required to receive reimbursement!).

Please note:

Previous awardees are not eligible to receive a fellowship.
No more than one fellowship per research group will be granted.
Fellowships are restricted to RNA Society members.
Abstracts submitted with the travel fellowship application will NOT be entered into the conference registration system. You will need to make a separate conference registration, followed by a separate abstract submission once you have registered for the conference.

The application deadline for travel fellowships is February 29th. The conference organizers will review your request, and decisions will be communicated by email no later than March 7th. Registration and abstracts must then be submitted by March 11th to be considered for an oral presentation, or by March 31st to meet the poster-only early registration deadline.

Questions can be addressed to travel@rnasociety.org.

Call for Applications: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy - Rutgers University

The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy announces the 2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program. The program is intended for highly motivated undergraduates interested in a career as a researcher in the pharmaceutical and environmental sciences. Students are provided with an opportunity to conduct full-time research in areas related to Pharmacology and Toxicology, Environmental Health Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Clinical Pharmacy Research. The program is open to undergraduate students enrolled at Rutgers or at another university. Student should be sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the time of application. Previous experience performing independent laboratory or clinical research is not required.

This 10-week program will run May 21 through July 27, 2012 and provides a $2,800 stipend. Funding for room and board is not available. Students must be available for the entire 10-week period. Training includes hands-on research conducted in the laboratories or clinical practices of faculty members, round table discussions of research progress, and seminars on research careers and activities of the faculty. Students also participate in career development workshops. At the end of the fellowship, each student will provide a brief oral presentation on his or her summer research project.

To apply to the Summer Research Fellowship Program, the following items are required:

· Completed application form

· College transcripts (current and previously attended universities)

· Personal statement

· Two letters of recommendation

Applications must be typed and submitted in a single envelope. Letters of recommendation should be in sealed envelopes and included in the envelope with the completed application form, transcripts, and personal statement. All application materials must be received/postmarked by February 15, 2012. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

For further information, please contact Dr. Debra Laskin by email at laskin@eohsi.rutgers.edu or Dr. Lauren Aleksunes at aleksunes@eohsi.rutgers.edu. Students selected for the program will begin to be notified March 26, 2012. Students will have 1 week to notify the Program of their intent to participate. Notifications of selected students will be made through April 9, 2012. Students who are not selected will be notified by April 16, 2012.

Note: Pharmacy students selected for the SURF program will be placed into Cycle III for their pharmacy practice experience.

Send completed applications to:

Ms. Cindy Olexsa
Dean’s Office
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Rutgers University
160 Frelinghuysen Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854

The SURF Program at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy is financially supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1R25ES020721), the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the UMDNJ Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Dean of the School of Pharmacy.

General Research Areas

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences: neurotoxicology; immunology; inflammatory mechanisms of tissue injury; kidney injury; role of extracellular matrix in development and disease pathology; wound healing; nitric oxide biology; pulmonary toxicology, developmental toxicology; environmental health sciences

Medicinal Chemistry: design and synthesis of enzyme inhibitors and prodrugs; synthetic organic chemistry, structure activity relationships, medicinal chemistry

Pharmaceutics: design, development and evaluation of drug delivery systems; biopharmaceutics (drug formulation, drug transport); pharmacokinetics

Chemical Biology: cancer biology and prevention; regulation of tumor cell growth and differentiation

Pharmacy Practice: clinical studies; diabetes, hypertension, and medication therapy management

Call for Applications: Caltech's Amgen Scholars Program

Application, Recommendations, and Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2012

Caltech's Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical related fields under the guidance of seasoned research mentors. The program offers students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. a great opportunity to experience the research process.

Amgen Scholarships may be offered in the following fields: biochemistry • bioengineering • bioinformatics • chemical and biomolecular engineering • biopsychology • biotechnology • chemistry • immunology • medical pharmacology • microbiology • molecular genetics • molecular medicine • molecular pharmacology • molecular, cell, and developmental biology • neurobiology • neuroscience • pathology • physiological psychology • physiological science • statistics • toxicology

The Amgen Scholars program is modeled on the grant-seeking process:

Students collaborate with potential mentors to define and develop a project
Applicants write research proposals for their projects
A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards
Students carry out the work over a 10-week period in the summer, mid-June to late August
At the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper and give an oral presentation at Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a professional technical meeting

Eligibility Statement
Amgen Scholars must

Be sophomores (with at least 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college course work), juniors, or non-graduating seniors attending 4-year colleges or universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2
Not be under any disciplinary sanction
Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.

Students who have been an Amgen Scholar, at any U.S. site, are not eligible. Please consider applying through the Caltech SURF program.

Requirements
Upon receiving an Amgen Scholarship, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:

To conduct their research from June 18 - August 24, 2012
To devote full effort to conducting the Amgen Scholars project (Scholars are strongly discouraged from taking courses or holding a job)
To submit two progress reports signed by their mentors
To attend the mid-summer Amgen Scholars conference
To submit an abstract of their project
To submit a written technical report approved by the mentor
To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar day symposia
To attend weekly Amgen Scholar meetings
To fully participate in Amgen Scholar assessment efforts
To abide by Caltech's Honor Code

Compensation
Students receive a $5,500 stipend for the ten-week period. For information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and we will forward your question to the Amgen Scholars payroll coordinator.

Stipend payments will be distributed in equal installments near the first business day in July and August.

Students will also receive a $1500 room and $1200 board allowance, and non-Caltech students will receive reimbursements for their travel to and from Pasadena.

Funding
Amgen Scholar stipends are funded from a generous grant from the Amgen Foundation. Mentors pay all research-related costs and provide space.

Amgen Scholar Summer Activities
To enrich the research experience, Amgen Scholars may participate in the following activities:

Amgen Scholars weekly lunch meetings to bring participants together for discussions, special programs, and to meet faculty
Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty—lunch is provided
A professional development series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, and other topics of interest to future researchers
Social and cultural activities
Weekly small student-faculty dinners
Special field trips

Housing
Non-Caltech Amgen Scholars will live in Caltech housing during the ten-week summer period, and they can move into rooms on the first day of the summer program.

General Inquiries
amgenscholars@caltech.edu
626.395.2885

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University

The National Science Foundation, who makes REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) possible, gives undergraduates the opportunity to join research projects for the summer. This allows students to experience first-hand how basic research is carried out, and to contribute consequentially.

2012 Session Information: June 4, 2012 - August 10, 2012 Syracuse University - Syracuse, New York

Stipend: Each participant will receive a summer scholarship of $4,500.

Benefits: All participants will receive university housing at no additional expense in addition to a travel and conference reimbursement (if applicable).

Research Areas: Students have the opportunity to do research in any of the following areas: Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Solid-State Science, Chemical Physics, Surface Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Materials Science, X-ray Diffraction, and others.

Eligibility: The program is open to all students who have completed their first year of study and who have a serious interest in chemistry. Most students will have completed their junior years, although talented students with less experience will also be considered for acceptance in the program.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Loyola University Chicago

May 29 to August 3, 2012

Undergraduates interested in research are invited to apply for our 2012 NSF-REU program in Chemistry and Biochemistry. The REU student participants will work closely with a faculty mentor, while interacting with other faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, other undergraduate research students and each other. The research projects span a wide range of disciplines across the Chemistry Department, including bio-inorganic, bio-analytical and biochemistry, computational chemistry, physical chemistry, organic synthesis and environmental studies. The faculty mentors treat the student participants as research colleagues, with the expectation that the summer research project will lead to a publication and be presented at scientific meetings.

Since oral and written communication skills are vital, the REU program will conclude with a Student Symposium in which each student will give a poster presentation and also submit a written report describing their results. Weekly presentations by faculty will introduce the students to a wide range of research areas, expanding their understanding of the relevance of chemistry to real-world problems. Other topics for the weekly seminars will include the graduate school application process, employment opportunities in chemical industry and how industrial research differs from an academic setting. The overall goal is to develop a vibrant intellectual community of chemistry scholars that provides a network of support for their continued involvement in research.

Undergraduate researchers will receive a stipend of $4,500 plus a $2,000 housing allowance for the 10-week program. In addition there is a $500 travel allowance to attend a scientific meeting within the next academic year.

Applications will be due March 1, with students notified of their acceptance by late March. You should select your preferred mentor(s) at the time of application. The 10-week REU program will start on late May.

A number of non-research activities will also be available, including trips to the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History and the Taste of Chicago food festival. Other social events will be scheduled according to student interests, such as a Chicago Cubs baseball game or a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the Chem-SURF Program at the University of California, Irvine

Program Dates: June 21, 2012 - August 24, 2012
Application Deadline: March 15, 2012

The Chem-SURF Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), provides a 10-week summer research opportunity for undergraduates to become fully immersed in challenging, cutting-edge, exciting, and transformative interdisciplinary research projects in the fields of chemical biology, chemical physics, computer science, molecular biology, nanoscience, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and analytical, atmospheric, biochemistry, bioinorganic, bioorganic, computational, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, physical, polymer, surface and theoretical chemistry.

Benefits Include:
$4000 Stipend; Faculty seminars, Cultural events and social activities; Faculty Mentors; Free on-campus housing; Graduate school preparation seminars; Local industry field trips; Post-program support; Travel allowance; UCI library and recreational facilities.

Who Should Apply?
Applicants should be highly motivated and high-achieving science majors with sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the start of the Chem-SURF program. They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have health insurance coverage. Our program is committed to promoting diversity in the fields of science. Women, underrepresented groups, individuals from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Contact Information:

Professor Fillmore Freeman, Ph.D.
UCI NSF REU Chem-SURF Program
Department of Chemistry
1102 Natural Sciences II
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-2025

chemsurf@chem.uci.edu

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech

Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate majors are invited to apply for a ten-week (May 21- July 27, 2012) research program sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF-REU) and 3M Corporation. Program participants will receive a stipend of $5,000, a travel allowance, and housing.* Participants supported by NSF and 3M must be US citizens or permanent residents of the US.

Each research student carries out a research project under the direction of a faculty member in School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech. Projects are available in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical, and polymer chemistry. Contributions by undergraduate participants often result in publication of papers in the peer-reviewed literature with the student listed as an author.

*Pending funding from the National Science Foundation and 3M Corporation

Deadline for applications is Feb. 15, 2012.  But early submissions are encouraged!

Notification of awards will be made by March 30, 2012.

Call for Applications From Undergraduates: Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program at the Institute for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Program: May 29th- August 4th, 2012 Application Deadline: February 15th, 2012

The Institute for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites junior and senior undergraduate students interested in research careers in the biological sciences to participate in the Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP). As part of the program, students do full-time research for 10 weeks with a faculty member in one of eight disciplinary areas:

Biochemistry/Biophysics
Bioenergy
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Computational Biology & Biostatistics
Ecology, Plants, and Environmental Systems
Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
Neurobiology
Virology

The eight disciplinary areas are connected through a seminar series highlighting major themes in biology, science writing, preparation for graduate school, and biological sciences careers. The major themes are:

• evolution
• pathways and transformations of energy and matter in biological systems
• information flow, exchange and storage in biological systems
• structure and function
• systems biology

At the end of the program, students give an oral presentation of their research results and write a final research report that is published in a program journal.

Eligibility

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents between their sophomore and senior years who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and strong interest in a career in biological research. Students who are African American, Hispanic, Native American, Southeast Asian, Native Alaskan or Native Pacific Islander OR who are from low-income homes OR who are the first in their family to attend college OR who attend small liberal arts institutions without broad research facilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Procedure

All application materials are due on February 15, 2012!

Financial Support

There are no fees or tuition costs. The program provides a $5,250 stipend, full support for travel, housing, health insurance (if needed), and a partial food allowance. Students also have access to campus libraries and facilities.
Research Areas

The range of biological research areas in which students may participate is quite extensive. Applicants are encouraged to learn about faculty doing research in their areas of interest, and identify their top choices for potential mentors in the application.

Selection and Placement

Selection and laboratory placement of students will take place in January, February, and March. Applicants who are not placed will be notified by the end of April.

Contact

Program Coordinator
Brian Asen
ibs@biology.wisc.edu
(608) 262-5267

Program Director
Dr. Janet Branchaw

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Ohio State University

The departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Ohio State University will host a Research Experience for Undergraduates sponsored by The National Science Foundation during the summer of 2012.

Official Program Dates: June 11th through August 10th, 2012

Application Deadline: March 1st, 2012

Program Overview:

Laboratory safety training and laboratory procedure workshops
Full-time research activities
Weekly seminars and scientific meetings
Social activities

Eligibility:

U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency
Current full-time enrollment in a U.S. college or university
Completion of basic course work in chemistry, biology and physics
Persons from groups underrepresented in science are strongly encouraged to apply
Sophomores and Juniors
Seniors who will be graduating in the next academic year are also eligible
Freshmen are not eligible to apply (even those with sophomore or higher standing)

Benefits:

Stipend of $4,500
Housing in university dormitory or area apartments
Meal allowance

Students are expected to be on site full time during the program.

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program at the Nebraska Redox Biology Center at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Program Dates: June 4, 2012 - August 8, 2012 inclusive

The Nebraska Redox Biology Center at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, offers qualified undergraduates an opportunity to pursue independent research projects in redox biochemistry. Research areas range from molecular medicine to environmental biochemistry and plant biochemistry.

Students will participate in exciting projects at the cutting edge of research in redox biology. They will formulate and test hypotheses, develop experimental problem-solving skills, and receive training in biochemical, biophysical and molecular biology techniques. Students will also be exposed to a variety of instrumentation such as HPLC and FPLC systems, EPR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and microscopy which are located in the Beadle Center.

The ten-week summer program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Department of Defense and will place the student with a faculty mentor in whose lab the student’s research project will be pursued. The student will participate fully in the life of the mentor’s lab. In addition, there will be informal meetings of all program participants to exchange information on the research being done and to discuss areas of biochemistry/redox biology that are of particular interest and excitement. There will also be weekly meetings in which various scientists describe the latest advances in their own research or career opportunities in biomedical or biotechnology fields. Social, recreational and cultural events with program participants and faculty will further enhance informal interactions. The summer experience will be capped by a luncheon and poster presentation session in which program participants will present a poster on their project and receive certificates of completion.

REQUIREMENTS FOR AND METHOD OF APPLICATIONS

Students seeking a summer research fellowship should have completed, at a minimum, college chemistry through organic chemistry and one year of college biology by the end of the Spring 2012 term. Students with a strong interest in graduate programs are particularly encouraged to apply. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required. Students who will graduate at the end of the Spring 2012 term are not eligible for this program. Applicants must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the US or its possessions. Students who will help the University of Nebraska achieve its mission of excellence through diversity are encouraged to apply.

To apply for the fellowship, complete the on-line application form by March 1, 2012. The on-line application form is available at our web site at http://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/apply.shtml. If you have questions call Hannah at 402-472-3173 or Donald Becker at 402-472-9652 or email at redox2@unl.edu. You may also send materials to:

Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Nebraska Redox Biology Center
Attn: Hannah Kahler
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
E247 Beadle Center
Lincoln, NE 68588-0662

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The primary requirement for the program is ten weeks of full-time work in a research laboratory at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Students must attend the entire program (June 4 - August 8, 2012). In addition, students will attend/complete:

Orientation and safety training (June 6). All of the participants will start their research programs the afternoon of June 6.

Evening workshops/seminars on preparation for postgraduate studies – writing resumes and personal statements and preparing applications for graduate and/or professional schools.

Weekly Seminars – the seminars are hosted by faculty members of the Redox Biology Center will focus on research in their laboratories.

Biweekly luncheon seminars on ethical and social issues in science, careers in the life sciences and other interdisciplinary topics.

Poster symposium and farewell luncheon (August 8).

Voluntary participation in scheduled social events including a program picnic, tours, sporting events and other activities.

PARTICIPATION SELECTION AND LABORATORY PLACEMENT PROCESSES

Evidence of academic achievement is important. Candidates are also evaluated on the strength of their personal statement and letters of recommendation. Preference is given to students who will have completed three years of full-time undergraduate study by the summer of 2012.

Other basic selection criteria include evidence of preparation to carry out research in areas of interest; evidence of communication and teamwork skills; strong interest in postgraduate studies in the life sciences; academic credentials in keeping with requirements for admission to graduate programs; and breadth of interest as evidenced by the student’s course of study and extracurricular activities, hobbies or life experiences.

Every effort is made to ensure that students accepted into the NSF/DOD-REU are placed in a research laboratory whose interests match those of the student. Applicants should bear in mind that the University of Nebraska faculty mentor makes the final placement decision. It is not always possible to place everyone with the mentor of their choice.

All students accepted into the NSF/DOD-REU will be offered placement in a residence hall on the Lincoln campus. Students may decline this offer and make separate arrangements to live off campus. Students are cautioned that while there are program funds available to cover housing costs, these are restricted to dorm expenses and will not be provided for any off-campus living arrangements.

STIPENDS, TRAVEL AND LIVING ALLOWANCE

Students will receive a stipend of $5,000 for the ten-week summer program. In addition, the program will provide double-occupancy modern dormitory accommodations, a full meals program, parking on campus (as needed), and access to the University Health Care and Recreation Centers. A travel allowance may be available for those students who are not able to drive to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln campus.