Sequestration hurts undergraduate research

Per a report that queried university leaders on the impact of sequestration on various institutional functions,

"Thirty percent of respondents said sequestration had led to a reduction in research opportunities for undergraduate students." Read on @ InsideHigherEd

Image via InsideHigherEd

ATLANTA SCIENCE FESTIVAL: Information Sessions

The Atlanta Science Festival is a weeklong celebration of science and technology that will be held at venues all across the Atlanta area, March 22-29, 2014. There are several opportunities for Emory undergraduates and graduate students to get involved:

• Attend awesome Festival events: science films, molecular flashmob, comedy nights, trivia, science of beer, and more!
• Share your passion for science with K-12 students in special classroom visits.
• Propose an activity, demo, performance, or workshop for the science carnival at Centennial Olympic Park. Special funding is available for Emory students, staff, and faculty to participate (Click here).
• Volunteer to help promote and produce the festival.

For more information about the Atlanta Science Festival and how to get involved, attend one of two information sessions to be held at Emory University:

Thursday, November 14, 5-6pm in Chemistry 316 

Friday, November 15, 1-2pm in Whitehead 600

Contact: darcie@atlantasciencefestival.org

visit www.atlantasciencefestival.org 

sign up for our mailing list

like us on Facebook (AtlantaScienceFestival)

follow us on Twitter (@ATLSciFest)

STEM Internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Research Opportunities at National Laboratories for Undergraduate, Post-Baccalaureates, Graduate Students, and Faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math areas.

Please contact Amanda VanOver at Amanda.VanOver@orau.org for additional questions on the Higher Education Research Experiences (HERE) or Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis Programs (NESLS)

Want to complete a hands-on research project?
Want to gain a competitive advantage?
Want to be mentored by top nationally acclaimed scientists?
Want to use state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
Want to interact with a national community of peers?

General Information: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has a long history and interest in providing hands-on research experiences to students at all academic levels.  Over the years, these research experience programs have enhanced students' academic curricula and at the same time have helped the Laboratory (1) develop its own workforce and (2) contribute to the national vision for excellence in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ORNL is a multi-program science and technology laboratory managed for the U.S. Department (DOE) by UT-Battelle, LLC.  Scientists and engineers at ORNL conduct basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions that strengthen the nation's leadership in key areas of sciences, engineering, mathematics, and technology.  ORNL scientists are also fully supportive of their responsibility to help mentor the next generation of scientists.

Eligibility: You must meet the qualifications of all programs if you would like to complete an application.  You can find the eligibility requirements on the program postings.

Selection: Applicants are selected based on academic achievements, scientific interests, and career goals.

Stipend: Participants will receive a stipend based on academic level.  Plus some programs provide a housing allowance, and one round trip to and from the lab from your university or home.  Certain eligibility requirements will need to be met in order to be eligible for the housing and travel.  See information provided on web site.

Application: Please visit http://www.orau.org/ornl and click on your academic level to learn more about educational programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Complete your profile in the Talent and Opportunity System (TOppS) system and then apply to one or all of the program postings. Applications must be submitted visa the TOppS system.  See the programs web sites for suggested deadline dates.

Emory's 2nd STEM Research and Career Symposium [March 26-28, 2014]

Please join us next March at Emory's second STEM Research and Career Symposium!

Convened and organized by Laney Graduate School, the symposium will bring faculty advisors and their students from diverse backgrounds to the Emory campus for two days of shared research presentations and for networking, mentoring, and recruitment. Participants will include outstanding undergraduates intending to pursue the PhD or MD/PhD degree and graduate students seeking postdoctoral opportunities. Faculty advisors are also encouraged to attend and learn about the opportunities Emory offers.

Ten students will be selected to give oral presentations and the other students will present their research in a poster session. There will be ample opportunity to visit with faculty and students of the participating programs, including training grant programs (see list to the right). Breakout sessions will cover topics relevant to students at this stage of their career and advisors of such students.

Trainees from diverse backgrounds (to include ethnicity, race, economic status, disability, educational experience, first generation status, and in some cases, gender) are eligible to apply for diversity travel awards that will provide for travel and housing for the student and possibly her/his advisor.

Apply to Attend

To apply, you will be asked to submit an abstract, a CV and one recommendation from a program or research advisor.

The application deadline is January 7, 2014

Applicants will be notified by February 7, 2014

To apply and view the meeting agenda, visit the STEM Research and Career Symposium website at http://www.gs.emory.edu/about/special/stem_rc_symposium.html

Compete in TechTalks 2014

Science is as much a way of communicating, as it is a body of knowledge. TechTalks is a presentation competition that gives students the opportunity to express their passion about science to general audiences. 

The TechTalks competition was created by graduate and undergraduate students from the Georgia Tech School of Physics. It is funded by the Atlanta Science Festival, and will culminate in the spring of 2014. Our goal is to give students an opportunity to practice the important skill of communicating science to general audiences.

This science communication competition has a November 4th registration deadline for the qualifying round.

For questions or comments, contact us at techtalks13@gmail.com, visit our Facebook page, or check out our website at techtalks.gatech.edu. 

Southeast Medical Scientist Symposium welcomes undergraduate posters and presentations

SEMSS (Southeast Medical Scientist Symposium) is a scientific conference organized by MD/PhD students at UAB and Vanderbilt. The goal of the symposium is to bring together faculty, medical students, graduate students, and undergrads in the southeast to foster discussions on science and medicine. SEMSS is a great opportunity to present research, network, and interact with other young scientists in the region. Please note the following important information and dates:

Website: http://www.southeasternmdphd.org/semss-registration/ 
To submit an abstract: http://www.southeasternmdphd.org/abstract-submission

Abstract deadline for oral presentations: Oct. 7, 2013
Abstract deadline for poster presentations: Oct. 18, 2013
Registration: Before Oc. 7th - $10 After Oct. 7th - $15
Hotel Deal: Oct. 11th - $119 (can be split )

Research Career Paths: MD-PhD and PhD Admissions and Training Workshop [Sept 18]

Click to enlarge.

Research Career Paths: MD-PhD and PhD Admissions and Training Workshop


Wednesday, September 18, 2013
4:00–6:30 pm National Center for Primary Care Auditorium, Morehouse School of Medicine

Sign up online.

CDC: intern to develop mobile phone apps

A computational toxicology team at CDC/ATSDR is seeking a summer intern capable of developing mobile phone applications. Individuals with a record in iOS apps programming are preferred. The internship is available immediately after the paperwork is processed. The stipend is awarded commensurate with degree and experience based on the federal pay schedule. Interested individuals should send resume with description of skills to edemchuk@cdc.gov.

Emory University Annual Spring Research and Clinical Careers Fair [Apr 25]

Graduating seniors... mark your calendars

http://hr.emory.edu/research_fair/

Emory University's Annual Spring Research and Clinical Careers Fair

Date:   Thursday, April 25, 2013
Time:   9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Place:  Student Activity and Academic Center (SAAC)

One of our goals at Emory is to create a world community by engaging society through research. This goal is achieved by recruiting and retaining the best research employees possible.

The Research and Clinical Careers Fair is designed to provide professionals within the research community an opportunity to learn more about research careers at Emory. Applicants are able to meet face-to-face with representatives from various Emory research departments. While applicants may not get to meet and interview with all Faculty and Primary Investigators, they may still apply for research positions through [ http://www.hr.emory.edu/careers/index.html ]www.emory.jobs.

If you are a Primary Investigator wanting to submit your research needs, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2PWL22W

If you are a Research or Clinical professional wanting to register for the Research and Clinical Careers go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25DN3X3

Neuroscience in Atlanta

Atlanta's Neuroscience Education & Training (NET/work) Program provides a two-year research assistantship for sophomore/second-year undergraduates from under-represented demographic groups at Agnes Scott, Emory, Georgia State, and Spelman.  The program begins with a summer in BRAIN (10-week, full-time, mentored research at Emory or Georgia State) and continues through the junior academic year with a part-time assistantship, followed by a second summer away doing research at a partner institution (15 partners nationwide), and culminating with the senior year back in the home lab (Emory or Georgia State).

NET/work is funded by an R25 in the BP-ENDURE Program at NIH.  Students can check eligibility, preview the online application, and request application login through the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience website:  http://www.cbn-atl.org/education/NETwork.shtml.

The application deadline has recently been extended to MARCH 8, 2013.

Which NIH training program fits your needs?

The NIH Training page has a nifty tool to help you identify which of their programs are a good fit based on your background and eligibility, see

https://www.training.nih.gov/eligibility_wizard

or visit NIH's Training Programs Page.

Long-term ecological research in New Mexico

The Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) is seeking applicants for our 2013 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. Application deadline is March 11, 2013.

This interdisciplinary REU Site Program at the Sevilleta LTER in central New Mexico will train up to 10 undergraduate students who will conduct independent research under the guidance of a University of NM faculty mentor from Biology and/or Earth and Planetary Sciences. The summer program includes a seminar series, journal club, an annual symposium, professional development workshops, ethics training, and field trips. Students will conduct independent research on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and present results at a research symposium at the end of the summer. The program includes faculty mentors in ecology, evolution, behavior, geology, and meteorology. Working at the LTER site invites close interactions among students, faculty, and graduate students.

Students will have numerous opportunities to share ideas and explore issues within and across disciplines. A goal is to increase the number of students, particularly under-represented minorities, pursuing careers in bio-geosciences. Students will be exposed to a large, multidisciplinary research program, encouraged to continue into professional careers, and prepared for the rigors of graduate school, professional research, and responsible citizenship. The REU program exemplifies the integration of research and education.

Lodging and laboratory space for REU students will be provided by the UNM Sevilleta Field Station at NO COST. In addition, candidates chosen will receive a stipend of $5000 during the 11-week summer program (May 27 - August 9).  We will also refund travel costs to and from the UNM Sevilleta Field Station up to $500.

Applications will be accepted from students at any stage of their undergraduate program (freshman to senior) and any discipline, so long as the applicant is interested in the biosciences. Students are not eligible if they have completed an undergraduate degree by summer 2013. We welcome applications from students at four year colleges, students that are the first member of their family to attend college, non-traditional students, and students from traditionally underrepresented groups.  Students must be U.S. Citizens.

Application information can be found at http://sev.lternet.edu/REU or you can contact the REU Coordinator, Amaris Swann, at reu2013@sevilleta.unm.edu.

Email: amswann@sevilleta.unm.edu

Endometriosis Research -- Atlanta-area students

The Atlanta Center for Translational Research in Endometriosis (ACTRE) welcomes applications for its two-year appointments for undergraduate researchers. Eligibility is limited to underrepresented groups, and is open to students attending Atlanta-area institutions due to proximity issues (the program requires 10 hours/week of research during the academic year). Campus housing is available during the summer program portion.


Additional details:

• 2-year mentored research experience
• Commitment of 40 hours/wk for 10 weeks each summer & 10 hours/wk during the academic year to a research project
• Receive training in translational research principles and reproductive science topics, laboratory techniques
• Participate in program seminars, laboratory meetings, journal clubs, safety training, workshops, and discussion groups
• Create a professional development plan
• Shadow specialists in Gynecologic Surgery and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility who care for women with endometriosis
• Present findings at regional and/or national venues

For more information, visit http://www.msm.edu/ACTREhomepage.aspx

Chemistry summer research at NCSU

The NCSU Dept. of Chemistry Summer Internship Program is now accepting applications for the Summer 2013 term! Take the next step in your chemistry career with our research-intensive program for undergraduate students. We welcome all U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply to become part of our cutting-edge research laboratories. For information on the program and how to apply, see the attached flyer and please visit "http://www.ncsu.edu/chemistry/chemreu/".

NC State is located near the Research Triangle Park, one of the world’s leading research areas and home to GlaxoSmithKline, Environmental Protection Agency, Syngenta, Du Pont, and BASF, to name just a few.

Program Details (subject to minor changes):

- Application deadline, March 1st
- 10 week program, June 1 to Aug 10- Generous stipend (typically $4000 depending on funding availability)
- Free on-campus housing
- Travel assistance available
- Projects are interdisciplinary and can include organic, chemical biology, inorganic, theoretical and physical chemistry
- Take part in a number of training workshops and seminars
- Includes visits to local government agencies and industrial partners
- Get trained with state-of-the-art equipment (NMR, Mass Spec, Laser Facilities, Biological Instrumental Facilities etc.)
- Present your research at a campus wide poster symposium
- Gain valuable communication experience
- In the Summer of 2012 we had participants from a wide range of locales, including Puerto Rico and Guam.

Gastroenterology research

The American Gastroenterologist Association announces several research opportunity for undergraduates:

AGA Investing in the Future (IITF) Student Research Fellowship [for underrepresented minorities]:
http://www.gastro.org/aga-foundation/grants/aga-investing-in-the-future-iitf-student-research-fellowship

AGA Student Research Fellowship Awards/AGA-Eli and Edythe Broad Student Research Fellowship(s):
http://www.gastro.org/aga-foundation/grants/student-awards/student-research-fellowship-awards

Travel Award: http://www.gastro.org/aga-foundation/grants/student-awards/aga-horizon-pharma-student-abstract-prizes

WebGuru

Visit WebGuru for advice on undergraduate research, and don't miss their summer research program listing.

The website has a lot of helpful information, from how to find a lab and maintain a lab notebook, to advice about graduate school.

Two Emory students awarded HHMI EXROP summer internships

A hearty congratulation is due to Kristoffer Leon and Kerry-Ann Pinard for being selected to participate in the HHMI-EXROP summer program! This competitive, by-nomination-only program matches successful applicants to HHMI researchers for an off-campus summer research opportunity. Per the EXROP page,

EXROP students also attend meetings at HHMI headquarters where they present their research in a poster session, network with their peers and HHMI scientists, and hear from scientists from various backgrounds and stages in their careers. 

EXROP students are eligible for continued support in their doctoral education via HHMI's Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study (www.hhmi.org/gilliam.)

As incoming first-year students, Kerry-Ann and and Kristoffer both participated in HUES. Later, they did academic-year research via the SIRE program, and summertime research via SURE. Kerry-Ann and Kristoffer are also active around campus as peer mentors to the above programs; additionally, Kristoffer is a chemistry mentor and Kerry-Ann started the Emory AWISE chapter. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures this summer.

Kerry-Ann Pinard (left) and Kristoffer Leon (right) presented as part of their SURE Program experience.

Math summer research 2013

Math majors, here's a treasure trove of program links brought to you by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

On the value of undergraduate research

A snippet from http://walterwendler.com/2012/12/our-universities-undergraduate-research/

In our forward-looking universities, good undergraduate students contribute to faculty insight every day. The best faculty members crave the chance to work with engaged undergraduates. They know the secret: In enlivened teaching, you always get more than you give. And that is good for everyone.

STEM Symposium at Emory University

Emory University STEM Research and Career SymposiumOpen to students interested in a PhD or MD/PhD, PREP, or Postdoctoral Fellow positions.

April 3-5, 2013
Emory Conference Center 

Convened and organized by Laney Graduate School, the symposium will bring faculty advisors and their students from diverse backgrounds to the Emory campus for two days of shared research presentations and for networking, mentoring, and recruitment. Participants will include outstanding undergraduates intending to pursue the PhD or MD/PhD degree and graduate students seeking postdoctoral opportunities. Faculty Advisors are also encouraged to attend and learn about the opportunities Emory offers. 

Eight students will be selected to give oral presentations and the other students will present their research in a poster session. There will be ample opportunity to visit with faculty and students of the participating programs, including over 25 training grant programs (see list to the right). Breakout sessions will cover topics relevant to students at this stage of their career and advisors of such students. 

Trainees from diverse backgrounds (to include ethnicity, race, economic status, disability, educational experience, first generation status, and in some cases, gender) are eligible to apply for diversity travel awards that will provide for travel and housing for the student and possibly her/his advisor.  See instructions below for eligibility.

For full details, see http://gs.emory.edu/about/special/stem_rc_symposium.html