 |
Biochemistry & Cell Biology Summer Research Experience
in the IBB Summer Research Institute
(Apply Here) |
The 2012 Summer Research Institute.
Rice undergraduates who are interested in summer research in the Department of Biochemistry
& Cell Biology may apply for the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Summer Research Institute (SRI). The SRI provides intensive, mentored, research experiences for Rice undergraduates who are interested in pursuing
graduate level education after graduation. The goal of
this program is to give undergraduate students the
opportunity to carry out an individual mentored research project to prepare
them for becoming a more independent graduate level investigator. In addition
to the primary research project, the scientific program includes research and
career development seminars, a student journal club, and a concluding symposium
in which all students give presentations about their research. Students must have sponsorship from a Rice faculty member for their stipend, there are no program stipends available.
Program dates:10 weeks starting on the Tuesday following Memorial day.
There is a short orientation meeting and group photo on May 20, because journal club starts the first week and there is some preparation required. First official day of the program is Tuesday, May 28, and the final date is August 2. Students may start research in their laboratory prior to May 20 and may continue past August 2, subject to advisor approval. The poster session is generally held the last week of the program.
Through the research and activities of the SRI program, we prepare students for the experimental, ethical and critical thinking skills required for success in graduate education in the biomedical sciences. Rice University provides all necessary resources for conducting research, including faculty advisors, and laboratory resources. Students must recruit a faculty sponsor who will provide the summer research stipend. Additional professional and social events are shared with the Rice Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering HHMI and NSF summer intern programs, providing SRI participants the opportunity to interact with visiting students from outside universities.
Criteria
for participation in the Rice SRI:
- Letter of support from sponsoring faculty member who will provide a summer research stipend
- GPA 3.0 or greater
- Participation in at least 240 hours of research
during the summer
- Participation in the IBB Summer Research Poster Symposium
Students
with one year of experience in the sponsoring lab and a GPA of 3.5 or above may
be selected for the Advanced SRI program.
Program Description:
The
summer program features:
- A
mentored research project in cutting-edge research laboratories in
biochemistry, cell and developmental biology, molecular genetics, biophysics
and structural biology, microbiology, neurobiology, signal transduction, cancer
biology, plant biology, synthetic and systems biology, and metabolic
engineering.
- A
final symposium where student participants present their
research in a joint session with interns from other summer programs.
- Lunch meetings that feature seminars and a student journal club.
- A short course in Ethics to introduce students to the principles required for the responsible conduct of research.
A select number of students may be chosen
for our Advanced SRI program. The
criteria for the advanced program include one year of experience in the
sponsoring lab and a minimum 3.5 GPA.
The advanced program differs from the standard program in that these
students will organize and present in the student journal club, and their
symposium presentations will be oral, instead of poster presentations. Mentoring will be provided to assist
students in preparing for both poster and oral presentations.
The 2010 SRI program was supported by an HHMI Professor's Grant to Bonnie Bartel.
The 2011 Summer Research Institute.