Undergraduate Summer Research in Molecular Biophysics
June 9 - August 10, 2013 (pending funding approval)
Note regarding Summer 2013
We anticipate running the program in the summer of 2013. Our application for 2013 funding is currently under review by the NSF.
We encourage applications by our closing date of 1/31/2013.
Purpose
The mission of our training program in molecular biophysics is to enable students of the physical and mathematical sciences from colleges with limited research opportunities to address important problems in biology. The summer undergraduate program offers cross-disciplinary research experience in leading laboratories.
Eligibility
The program is open to students who have completed up to three years of studies, focusing on those who have completed their first or second year of study, with majors in chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or physics, among others, and who are in good standing in their home institutions. We do not encourage applications from students majoring in biology. Competitive applicants should have a good GPA, especially in the field of their major. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We welcome applications of students who are from groups that are historically underrepresented in graduate education.
All applications and inquiries are handled through our website:
A note to Princeton University students: The program does not allow us to accept students from Princeton University. Please understand that you are not eligible to apply.
Program
Each student accepted into the program serves as research assistant in the laboratory of a Princeton faculty member who serves as mentor and research advisor. The program directors in consultation with training faculty match student interests to available projects. See the Faculty page for a list of participating faculty members and their research areas. Please direct all inquiries to the program administrator, not to REU faculty.
Regular meetings with the faculty mentor and members of the laboratory team provide guidance about experimental design, methods, and progress. Program participants will give several brief, informal oral reports on their work during the course of the summer. By the end of the program, students must also prepare a formal written report on their research and present an oral summary.
Lunch meetings with the program directors, daily during the first week and weekly thereafter, will provide general guidance and explore related topics including scientific ethics, presentation skills, future opportunities including graduate programs and applications, etc.
Many other summer programs are conducted on campus during the summer period, so there is ample opportunity for meeting a wide cross-section of students from Princeton and elsewhere who are working in a broad range of fields. Students in the molecular biophysics program are integrated with summer students in their respective departments to share additional educational and social activities.
The program requires full-time commitment of summer students (minimum forty hours per week for nine weeks and no additional commitments to part-time jobs, courses, exam reviews, etc.).
Financial support
The program provides a stipend of $500 weekly and a small food allowance. Limited funds are available on a need basis for travel to and from Princeton. Housing on campus is provided, whenever possible in quarters with shared cooking facilities. Students have access to the University's considerable library and computing resources, and to the campus gymnasium facilities.
Future opportunities
Students who complete a summer in the program are eligible to apply for research abroad in the following summer of their undergraduate studies. Competitive students will also be encouraged to submit applications to be reviewed for early admission to graduate study in an appropriate department at Princeton upon completion of their undergraduate degrees and other admission requirements.
Contacts
Professor Jannette Carey, Ph.D.
Program Director
Undergraduate Research in Molecular Biophysics
Chemistry Department
Frick Laboratory
Princeton University
Princeton NJ 08544
Phone: 609-258-1631
Email: jcarey@princeton.edu
Dr. István Pelczer, Ph.D.
Program Director
Undergraduate Research in Molecular Biophysics
Chemistry Department
Frick Laboratory
Princeton University
Princeton NJ 08544
Phone: 609-258-2342
Email: ipelczer@princeton.edu
Corinna Burghardt
Program Administrator
Chemistry Department
Frick Laboratory
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544
Phone: 609-258-4883
Email: corinna@princeton.edu