Grants>Molecular/Cellular Biology

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.

Alliance for Lupus Research 2012 Grant Application Announcment

The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) is pleased to announce that the applications for the ALR’s Functional Genomics and Molecular Genetic Pathways in SLE grants are now available online.

Research Grants: Approved grant applications will be eligible to receive a 2-year award for up to $350,000 USD (up to $175,000 USD per year for two years). Research grants must provide evidence of preliminary data.

Pilot Grants: Approved grant applications will be eligible to receive a 1-year award for up to $75,000 USD. Pilot grants are for projects that are not supported by preliminary data. Guidelines for application and submission are also available on the websites listed above.

Deadlines associated with this grant program are as follows:

Grant Applications: Due to ALR by February 15, 2012

Applications submitted should focus on two principal areas: (1) functional validation to determine which candidate genes/variants identified in human lupus have an authentic role in the disease and (2) detailed elucidation of the molecular pathways modulated by these candidate genes/variants identified in human lupus.

There are public resources available to facilitate functional validation of genes/variants involved in lupus. ALR encourages investigators to take advantage of all of these resources. All proposals submitted must be based on information in the public domain.

Responsive applications will propose research to elucidate the functional implications of the genetic variants identified in human lupus studies. Lupus-associated genes studied in animal models that are not among those also identified in human studies are not appropriate topics for this grant mechanism.

ALR will focus support on:

Human Studies: Functional validation studies could use human DNA samples from phenotypically well-characterized individuals to correlate a gene variant with a particular phenotype. Such human studies are particularly encouraged.

Genetic Models: Established genetic models as well as emerging genetic models can be used to look at in vivo gene/variant function.

RNA interference: RNAi depletion of candidate genes in cells, tissues or whole organisms can be used to identify phenotypes.

Imaging strategies: Imaging of cell trafficking in vivo might be useful in characterizing the impact of lupus-associated gene variants on immune responses or inflammation.

Systems-level approaches: Bioinformatic resources (i.e., interactome, gene expression, proteomic, metabolomic, and anatomical databases) can be mined to generate testable hypotheses concerning the function of candidate genes and groups of genes.

Cellular or circuit-level approaches: Studies might compare gene/variant functional consequences at the cellular and circuit levels, especially with respect to a drug challenge.

Epigenetics: Functional validations of epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation in the context of lupus, including potential maternal and paternal imprinting or X chromosome inactivation, are of interest.

Comparison of wild type and gene variant functions: The molecular alteration associated with a gene variant frequently does not reveal whether the function of a particular gene is increased, decreased, or leads to unexpected functional consequences. Approaches using in vivo transgenes, in vitro biochemical assays, or other validation methods that can address these issues will help to identify the most promising molecular targets for therapeutic interventions.

Identification of functionally significant sequences in disease-associated genomic regions: While some genomic regions show strong statistical association with a diagnosis of SLE, in many cases the specific sequences responsible for the association have not yet been identified. Deep sequencing approaches can be used to define the specific regulatory or coding sequences responsible for the association with SLE and their impact on cell function.

Application Requirements

Applications are open to investigators working at established research institutions (both for profit and not-for profit) as well as investigators at state health agencies, the FDA, VA and at intramural divisions of NIH. Applications may be submitted by investigators working anywhere in the world. Non-U.S. applicants whose projects involve human subjects must work at institutions that have human subjects committees that operate in a substantially similar manner to a U.S. Institutional Review Board.

If you have any questions or require any additional information regarding the application process, please contact Diomaris Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Research Administration at (212) 218-2840; 1-800-867-1743 or at research.admin@lupusresearch.org.

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: M.D./Ph.D. Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Goals of the Summer Research Program

The University of Nebraska Medical Center strongly believes that the training of physician-scientists is critical to the future of medicine. Physician-scientists play a unique role in biomedicine by studying patients and their diseases.

To accomplish this, we wish to recruit highly qualified students into medical and research programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The summer research program described here will provide appropriate experience and training to enable students to become competitive for admission into our M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program.

This summer research program is for individuals that are motivated for success in careers combining medicine and research. Although we are especially interested in undergraduate students who are currently in their sophomore year of college, current freshman and juniors are also encouraged to apply. Some research background may be useful in order to maximize your laboratory experience.

This is a great opportunity for students to discover first-hand the broad spectrum of research activities being performed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Not only will students be doing research, but successful applicants will also have the opportunity to shadow physicians. This gives students a chance to not only experience great science but to also experience the doctor/patient relationship side of medicine. We can provide a summer of challenges and exceptional learning experiences.

A wide variety of exciting research projects are available, from studies at the molecular level to patient oriented clinical research and healthcare outcomes research. Cancer Biology, Cardiovascular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Cell Signaling, Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience are some of the programs available to students for their summer research projects.

Why Should You Participate?

Benefits include:

Gaining research training and experience that will make you more competitive for medical school, graduate school, other summer research programs, and M.D./Ph.D. Programs
Becoming familiar with UNMC and its faculty, students and programs
The UNMC faculty will get to know you and your potential
Exploring your personal motivation for a career in medicine and biomedical research
Discovering all of the exciting research going on at UNMC
Participating in a student poster session
Understanding how discoveries made in the laboratory are translated into new methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease
Research is fun and rewarding
AND, we will PAY you to do it. A stipend of $3,000 for approximately 10 weeks of participation.

The Summer Research Program, like the M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program, is highly competitive, and candidates that are successful in securing a slot in the summer program will have outstanding academic records.

You can apply online to participate in this program. In addition to the application, the student must send the following information to the address below:

A one- to two-page essay describing their interest in medicine and research. Be sure to indicate your general (or specific) area of research interest in your essay.
A current transcript (also include a high school transcript if currently a freshman).
SAT or ACT scores (required for all applicants).
At least one letter of reference from a faculty member at your current college or university.

The goal would be to place students in the areas that interest them the most.

Students in the program will be required to participate in a Summer Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Students, with the help of their faculty advisor, will develop a poster for the session

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1.

Additional information may be obtained by calling (402) 559-8242 or (877) 269-0029. Feel free to e-mail Sonja Cox with any questions at sacox@unmc.edu

Application materials should be sent to:

Sonja Cox
University of Nebraska Medical Center
985520 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5520
fax: (402) 559-8266

International Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology

The International Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology is awarded annually to one young scientist for the most outstanding neurobiological research based on methods of molecular and cell biology conducted by him/her during the past three years.

Prize money: US$ 25,000

Application deadline: June 15, 2012

The Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology is an international research prize.
Entrants must be a neurobiologist with an advanced degree received in the last 10 years and not older than 35 years of age.
The research described in the entrant's essay must be in neurobiology.
The entrant must have performed or directed the work described in the essay.
The research must have been performed during the previous three years.
Employees of Eppendorf AG, Science and AAAS and their relatives are not eligible for the prize.

Contact information

Selection Committee for the Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology Science
Attention: Maryrose Madrid, Rm. 1049B
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Email address: eppendorfscienceprize@aaas.org

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Modeling and Simulation in Systems Biology

2012 Program Dates: May 30 - August 3

The Application Deadline is February 6, 2012

Are you a student majoring in a mathematical or computational science, interested in biomathematics? Are you thinking about graduate school in this field?

This great summer opportunity is for you! Be a part of this exciting state-of-the-art research experience.

What is modeling and simulation of biological networks?

Molecular biology has undergone a dramatic revolution during the second half of the twentieth century, beginning with the discovery of the structure of DNA. Since then a series of technological advances has given experimentalists the ability to make ever-more detailed measurements of an increasing number of molecular components of the cell. DNA microarrays, for instance, are small silicon chips spotted with short segments of DNA that can be used to measure the activity levels of thousands of different genes in tissue samples simultaneously.

Soon it might be possible to make large-scale quantitative measurements in a single cell. Being able to take such global snapshots of molecular processes has opened up the possibility of studying the changes that are constantly going on in cells as a coherent dynamical system with intricately interacting parts, rather than studying the parts in isolation. Similar developments in other fields of biology have revolutionized the availability of system wide data. Thus, the new field of systems biology has emerged. It makes heavy use of mathematical tools for modeling and simulation.

The approximate total monetary value is $6,000 (this is including scholarship reimbursement, lodging & food)

• Scholarship reimbursement - $3,500
• On-campus housing and meals are included
• Access and use of the library, and public transportation
• Social activities, scientific ethics workshop, workshops on giving presentations, and more

If you have any questions, or if you would like additional information, please contact:

Biomath Program Coordinator
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute
Washington Street (0477)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
email: biomath@vbi.vt.edu

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 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 Cellular Engineering at Rice University

May 30 - August 3, 2012

This Institute hosts the NSF REU-funded summer undergraduate internship in Cellular Engineering. This program is open to undergraduates from all disciplines of science and engineering who are interested in cellular engineering. This goal of this program is to expose students to cutting-edge technologies and approaches in metabolic and tissue engineering. The program dates for 2012 are 5/30/12-8/3/12. The deadline for all application materials to be received is February 10th, 2012.

Cellular engineering is a field with enormous potential to make truly significant contributions to mankind in both medical and non-medical fields over the next decades. We believe the next generation of therapeutics (following recombinant proteins and peptides) will utilize cells and tissues. Many new technologies in fields such as environmental engineering and chemical production will also be based on advances in cellular engineering. Interdisciplinary scientists and engineers with skills in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, and engineering will be necessary for U.S. industrial competitiveness and will be crucial for translating our world leadership in the scientific aspects of biotechnology into cost-effective, environmentally benign, industrial and product applications.

Some examples of ongoing metabolic and tissue engineering research that will be included in the summer program are:

•engineering of hard and soft tissue formation
•cardiovascular tissue engineering
•engineering cell surface interactions
•metabolic engineering
•development and motility.

Symposium & Tissue Engineering
The capstone of the program will be a symposium where students will present posters on their work, and students are eligible to attend a short course in tissue engineering.

Housing, Stipends, & Travel Assistance
Students will receive on-campus housing at Rice. In addition, students will receive a $4,300 stipend and up to $500 in travel support.

Mentoring, Field Trips and More
Each REU student will mentor a high school student and then participate in a round table discussion on their undergraduate experiences.

Contact Us

Mailing Address
Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, MS-144
Rice University
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892

Physical Address
Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, MS-144
Suite 170 BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC)
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77005-1827

Email: ibb@rice.edu

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in BioNetworks at Rice University

Application Deadline: February 10, 2012

Actual Program Dates: May 30 – August 3, 2012

NSF REU Summer Research Experience in Multi-Scale Biomolecular Networks (BioNetworks)

This Institute hosts the NSF REU-funded summer undergraduate internship in BioNetworks. The goal of this program is to provide students first hand experience with cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that is needed to predict biological functions sufficiently to reprogram cells to avoid diseases or to perform new tasks. The program dates for 2012 are 5/30/12-8/3/12. The deadline for all required application materials to be received is February 10th, 2012.

This award, made to Rice University by the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences, will provide research training for 10 weeks for 30 students for summers 2010-2012. The focus of this NSF REU program is biological networks, complex interactions among biomolecules that give rise to the diverse biological phenotypes observed in nature.

In this summer REU, students will work on research projects under faculty mentors that draw from a range of approaches (classical biochemical and genetic to non-trivial theoretical models that require computation) to study naturally-occurring genetic networks, artificial genetic and metabolic networks, and biomolecular structure, function, and evolution.

This program will also provide: a creative opportunity for students to develop innovative biotechnological ideas; leadership, mentorship and social retreats; special seminars and career development workshops; stipend and travel support; on-campus housing; a capstone research poster symposium; and an ethics and responsible conduct of research discussion seminar.

Students will be recruited nationwide, with particular emphasis on recruiting women and under-represented minorities, and selection of students will be done based on the faculty steering committee’s evaluation of each applicant’s transcript and recommendation letters.

Rice’s Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) administers this NSF REU Program and maintains a database of all the alumni for this program with tracking information on their career progression. Each year, IBB publishes a “Class Notes” newsletter of the NSF REU alumni and features news on their current academic or professional status and accomplishments. Assessment of this program is done via pre- and post-questionnaires as well by using the NSF’s common assessment tool. More information on this program can be obtained by contacting Dr. Joff Silberg or Dr. George Bennett (Principal Investigators).

Any student with a science and/or engineering background who will be a university undergraduate during the time of their internship may apply. Applicants must have graduated high school and be enrolled fulltime in a college or university, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

No experience is required. The program is designed to introduce students who are interested in science and engineering to the research lab. Much focus will be given towards learning how to do laboratory research.

Applications are done online. Materials that will need to be sent via email include a resume, and two letters of recommendation (personal statements are NOT required). Official transcripts are required and should be sent directly from your institution to: NSF REU Summer Internship in BioNetworks, Rice University, IBB, MS-144, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005.

Students are housed on campus (2-4 students per suite) and the program covers the cost of housing.

Stipend: $4,300

Students will be allowed up to $500 for travel expenses incurred from a one-time trip to and from the Rice campus.