Summer Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Exciting opportunity to join state-of-the-art laboratories and discover the world of neuroscience research!
Applications accepted as of December 14, 2015!
Online application>>
Application deadline:
February 1, 2016
Students must currently be enrolled at any college or university in the US (includes US territories).
Please note that the application will request that you list two references (names and contact information). References do not need to send letters at this time. We will contact them if need be.
Underrepresented minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
If you have any questions about the summer fellowship program, please contact the Director, Felix Eckenstein, Ph.D.
Funded by:
National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
UVM College of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion
For 2015, we offer two programs (sponsored by either NINDS or NSF) that run from May 26 – July 31 and offer a substantial stipend, as well as on-campus housing and a supplement for lab supplies.
- Participate in investigations of how the nervous system develops, functions and repairs itself after injury.
- Get hands-on training in molecular, cellular, anatomical, physiological approaches.
- Gain valuable experience before you enter graduate or medical school.
The program supported by NSF is focused on training you to investigate the basic science of neural function and behavior and provides a stipend of $5000. All faculty members participating in our Neuroscience Graduate Program are eligible to serve as your mentors. This program supports up to eight fellows per year and is for undergraduates planning to go to graduate school.
The program supported by NINDS is focused on training you to investigate the neuroscience of neurological disorders and stroke and provides a stipend of $4000. You will be trained by a team of mentors that includes both basic scientists and clinicians. This program is for undergraduates planning to go to medical school, a medical scientist (MD, PhD) program, or a biomedical research graduate program.
You cannot apply to both programs. Please decide which program will benefit you most. Do not consider the difference in stipend level (that difference simply reflects a difference in guidelines between NSF and NINDS). You need to consider which program is more appropriate for your future career.
The Program
As a fellow you will:
- Join a lab (listed below) for ten weeks to work on a research project.
- Attend a series of lectures providing an overview of modern neuroscience and the research conducted at UVM.
- Meet regularly as a group to discuss your projects and relevant scientific articles.
- Present your work in a small and informal symposium during the last week of the program and write a short summary paper of your studies.
- Enjoy group outings to hike, swim, boat, and explore the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain.
Why come to UVM for your summer research experience in Neuroscience?
Neuroscience research has long been a strength at the University of Vermont. In addition, our faculty members are as committed to being mentors as they are to practicing outstanding science. We work together with the faculty to match you to a lab based on your research interests. However, rather than simply scattering you to labs, we also organize group activities in order to encourage you and your fellow summer research students to get to know each other. You will gain confidence in research skills, scientific thinking, and neuroscience concepts. You will enrich the diversity that we embrace and the community that we culture as you grow personally and professionally in curiosity and independence. You will learn about careers in Neuroscience and the impact you can have on people’s lives. The proximity of this intimate, interactive campus to outdoor activities and beautiful surroundings supports a well-rounded lifestyle. Participants often make lasting friendships and connections that persist as they pursue their education and career.
Participating Laboratories
The Neuroscience Graduate Program at UVM has over 50 faculty who will serve as mentors. There is a wide range of exciting projects for the students, including the investigation into the function of nerve cell specific genes, the development and plasticity of neural circuits, the physiological function of select nerve cells, and studies of animal and human behavior. SNURF students have access to a rich array of individual mentor's facilities as well as many interdepartmental core facilities such an imaging core with multiple advanced microscopes, and a molecular core dedicated to the quantitative analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins.
Participating Mentor-teams, NINDS sponsored program:
Project 1: Mentors: Rod C. Scott, MD, PhD and Peter Bingham, MD: The Relationship between epilepsy and cognitive impairment
Project 2: Mentors: Gregory L. Holmes, MD, Chair of the Department of Neurological Sciences, and Sean Flynn, PhD: The relationship between autism and epilepsy.
Project 3: Mentors: Pierre-Pascal Lenck-Santini, PhD and Keith Nagle, MD: Sodium channel mutations and cognitive impairment.
Project 4: Mentors: Gary Mawe, PhD and Angela Applebee, MD: Translational studies of how multiple sclerosis affect GI function.
Project 5: Mentors: George Wellman, PhD and Mark Gorman, MD: Impact of subarachnoid hemorrhage strokes on neurovascular coupling and sensory-motor function.
Project 6: Mentors: Margaret A. Vizzard, PhD and Robert W. Hamill, MD: Unlocking the Centripetal Pathobiology of Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Last modified September 17 2015 09:50 AM