Summer Research Brings Nearly 200 Students to Campus

 Summer

undergraduate research

opportunities drew nearly 200 students to UC’s campus this year. These programs—many sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—provided undergrads the chance to work one-on-one with faculty and other student researchers in some of UC’s most active laboratories and research facilities.

Participants in summer research programs also learn about UC’s many research and graduate programs and career options.

2006 Program Reports:

NSF Research Experiences for Teachers Project
Director: Anant Kukreti, PhD
Four secondary school teachers worked on research with faculty from the department of civil and environmental engineering on following projects: 

• “health monitoring” of a bridge system
• biotechniques to make more drinking water available
• control of air pollution caused by trucks, buses and machines 
• simulation techniques to address transportation congestion and urban sprawl problems in an urban city. 

In addition, the teachers  were involved in an integrated engineering and education professional development program to successfully transfer their experience into their classroom.

Number of applications:  9. Number of teachers accepted:  4

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chemistry
Director: Bruce Ault, PhD
The REU program in chemistry focuses on the research and the development of research skills of participating students, and the educational development of our these students as emerging professionals. Students are matched with a research advisor and have their own project for the summer. They also attend twice weekly professional development luncheon programs, as well as a variety of social events. Participants are invited to present their results at the spring national meeting of the American Chemical Society. The next meeting is March 2007.

Number of applications:  199. Number of students accepted: 11

Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
Director: Urmila Ghia, PhD
The WISE program engages UC undergraduate women in activities with faculty and peers in order to promote student success in the science and engineering fields. The 12-week program gives each WISE student a chance to work closely with a volunteer faculty member to gain unique research experience in labs throughout the university. Participants attend a series of workshops that discuss reading, presenting and writing scientific papers. Communicating with the media, preparing for graduate school, developing leadership skills and social networking are also important focal points of the interactive workshop program. The program begins with a mentor-mentee workshop to maximize the benefits of the program for both mentors and students. Midway through the program, the participants give a progress report while simultaneously practicing their presentation skills. A final presentation in a conference setting concludes the program. Summative assessment is collected from the mentors as well as the students, with the goal of ongoing program enhancement. WISE is proud to claim 100 percent retention, and so far, all WISE graduates have stayed at UC to complete their undergraduate degree and many have continued to graduate/professional school at UC or other universities.

Number of applications: 41. Number of students accepted: 21

College of Medicine Programs

Department of Molecular Genetics Summer Training in Genetics (STING)
Co-Directors: Iain Cartwright, PhD, and William Miller, PhD
The STING program is designed as a hands-on research experience for talented undergraduate sophomore or junior science majors who are interested in pursuing training in the biomedical sciences at the graduate school level. The department of molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology at UC provides a dynamic research environment for undergraduates to gain laboratory experience during their summer fellowship. The department currently has 25 active research faculty with interests including cancer biology, gene regulation, structural biology, signal transduction, membrane biochemistry and pathogenic mechanisms. The department is also home to more than 50 graduate and postdoctoral students that serve to enrich the experience of the summer undergraduates

Number of applicants: 90. Number of students accepted and placed: 7 

NIH Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Cell Biology and Functional Genomics
Director: Robert Brackenbury, PhD
This NIH-funded REU program aims to attract students with strong backgrounds in physical and computational sciences into biomedical research. The cornerstone of the program is an intensive lab experience with mentors from the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s who bring powerful computational approaches to bear on biomedical research questions. Students also work in teams on two applied problems in wound healing and tumor development. We also offer a series of scientific and social/cultural activities. 

Number of applicants: 164. Number of students accepted and placed: 6

Office of Research and Graduate Education Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Director: Laura Hildreth
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate Education in the College of Medicine places undergraduate students from all over the U.S. into biomedical research laboratories each summer with the goal of encouraging their interest in biomedical research as a career, and UC as their college of choice for graduate study. The SURF program offers exciting research opportunities in our most distinguished laboratories across every department in the College of Medicine.

Number of applicants: 350. Number of students accepted and placed: 20

Physician Scientist Training Program
Director: Les Myatt, PhD
The Summer Intern Program is sponsored by the College of Medicine’s Physician Scientist (MD/PhD) Training Program. It provides outstanding undergraduates from around the U.S. who are interested in becoming physician/scientists with an opportunity to perform biomedical research in an environment that is focused on medical and research training. In addition to hands-on laboratory learning, students are exposed to physician/scientists through “shadowing” experiences in the clinic and/or operating room, seminars and journal clubs. Undergraduates also interact extensively with current College of Medicine MD/PhD students at all levels of their training. Many students who have participated in this program have gone on to pursue MD/PhD training at programs throughout the country. The program utilizes Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as well as UC’s College of Medicine to provide laboratory and clinical experiences.

Number of applicants: 75. Number of students accepted and placed: 10 

Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Cell Biology and Neurobiology
Director: Robert Brackenbury, PhD
This program offers intensive 10-week research experiences for undergraduates with a strong interest in pursuing biomedical research. For UC students, in many cases, the work can be extended throughout the academic year. The summer program also features a series of scientific and social/cultural activities. 

Number of applicants: 104. Number of students accepted and placed: 6

Affiliate Programs

Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation and the Department of Pediatrics—Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Director: Sherry Thornton, PhD
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s is intended to provide clinical and basic science research opportunities for undergraduate students in the laboratories of pediatric faculty. The ultimate goal of this program is to provide students with an excellent research foundation for making career choices in the biomedical sciences.

Number of applicants: 596. Number of students accepted and placed: 78