The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology regularly gets announcements from organizations outside the University describing opportunities for undergraduates. These include opportunities for research experience (including summer research programs), education, or professional development. This message board lists these announcements as we receive them. For more information, please contact the website or individual listed.
20th Annual Gene F. Lata Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Symposium
The 20th Annual Lata Undergraduate Honors Symposium is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30th, at 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM in 1117 MERF. You are welcome to attend and support the graduating Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors who will be presenting their research.
Presenters include:
- Josiah Power (Mentor: Eric Nuxoll, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering)
- Hasya Joshi (Mentor: Long-Sheng Song, Internal Medicine)
- Jack E.B. Miller (Mentor: Pamela Geyer, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
- Rivers Maw (Mentor: Sheila Baker, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
- Brenna Powers (Mentor: Lori Wallrath, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
The Latham Scientific Engagement Initiative (LSEI) Fellowship Opportunity
The Latham Scientific Engagement Initiative (LSEI) Fellowship is an opportunity for undergraduate student researchers to develop skills in science communication and engagement. Students selected for the Latham Fellows program will complete two courses (LATH:3000 in the Fall and LATH:3001 in the Spring which are 2 s.h. each), design and implement individual and group outreach projects, and participate in a year-end event that will highlight their achievements. Upon completion of the fellowship program requirements, Fellows will receive a $500 award.
Latham Fellows develop real-world project design and implementation process skills as they:
- Communicate science in the public sphere
- Demonstrate the "broader impact" of scientific research
- Work in interdisciplinary settings
- Develop fluency in multiple modes of communication
- Strengthen future career and/or award applications
Eligibility requirements:
- Students must be a Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior when they submit the application
- GPA of 3.0
- Interested in the importance of communicating science in the public sphere
- Have had a minimum of one semester of undergraduate research experience
- Enrolled in a supported major
The application deadline is April 19, 2024. Check the Latham website for deadline updates. For questions, please contact the Iowa Sciences Academy at ui-isa@uiowa.edu or stop by 169 Biology Building.
More information and the application can be found here.
Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis - Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB) at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis invites undergraduate students interested in completing an 8-week research program over the summer of 2024 to apply to our summer research program.
Students will join a lab that matches their interests where they will complete real-life research at the cutting edge of molecular biochemistry and biophysics. Research areas in the department range from single-molecule spectroscopy to molecular simulations to mitochondrial biochemistry. As well as conducting research, students will also attend workshops that cover various important areas in science, including how to design experiments, how to read papers, scientific communication, and guidance on graduate school applications, etc.
No prior research experience is required. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Local travel, housing, and an additional monthly stipend of $3000 will be provided (total of $6000 for the 8-week program). The program will run June 6th – August 4th, 2024. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have completed their sophomore year by June 2024 (but may still apply as a sophomore), and the ideal candidates will be considering applications to graduate school following graduation.
More information can be found here. Please direct any questions to bmbsummerprogram@wustl.edu.
Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences
Summer undergraduate research opportunities are a great way to expand your research skills and gain new experiences in a wide range of disciplines throughout the nation--and in some cases--the world.
Many undergraduate research opportunity applications open in November or December and are due in January or February. Some are paid and some are unpaid. The University of Iowa has competitive funding options for students on campus and off campus. If you are planning to apply for summer research experiences, please plan to apply early.
The list of opportunities here is not an exhaustive list, but should help you get started. If you are looking for something specific, or you know of something we should add, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research (undergraduate-research@uiowa.edu).
Funding Opportunities
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is offering the following grant opportunities to undergraduate students. Please click on the opportunity link to learn more and to apply:
Undergraduate Research Supply Grant - These funds are open for use for purchasing research supply materials as well as traveling to conduct research if the facilities or materials are not available at the U of Iowa. For example, if a student needed to travel to the Field Museum in Chicago to study relevant collections at that facility, these funds would be applicable. Some activities that do not qualify for this funding are travel to conferences or presentations, field schools, internship travel, graduate or professional school interviews, computers, etc.
Student Travel Awards - OUR offers one-time grants to UI undergraduate researchers who are traveling to a professional conference or professional development event. Students are able to request up to $500 per application, and will not be granted any more than $500 total across applications. OUR is unable to offer larger amounts or additional funds, and may only be able to offer a portion of the requested amount. OUR Travel Awards are disbursed via U-Bill.
Assistance for Pursuing National Fellowships and Funding Opportunities
The Office of Scholar Development (OSD) assists University of Iowa undergraduates and alumni in their pursuit of national fellowship and funding opportunities.
What kinds of support does OSD offer?
If it is a part of an application process, OSD can help with it, including opportunity exploration, pre-writing exercises, essay development, application strategy, recommender support, draft review, and post-graduate planning.
What kinds of opportunities does the office support?
OSD manages the institutional nomination processes for the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, Gaither Jr. Fellows, Goldwater, Truman, Udall, and Beinecke scholarships, but can provide guidance and support for many other fellowships and grants. Check out our website at https://scholardev.sites.uiowa.edu/ to find out more about university, national, and international funding sources or schedule an appointment at https://calendly.com/scholar-dev-uiowa
Introducing Connecting Science to Society (CSTS)!
Ever wondered how to make the intricacies of science more relatable, engaging, and understandable to the public?
Ever struggled explaining your research to family, friends, and neighbors?
Introducing Connecting Science to Society (CSTS) – your gateway to science communication at the University of Iowa! We are on a mission to bridge the gap between scientists, policy makers, and the public. As a proud member of the National Science Policy Network (NSPN), we serve as the official student chapter for the Central States region.
Here’s why you should join us:
- Become a Sci-Comm Champion! With field-specific jargon often getting in the way, the need for effective science communication is more vital than ever. Join us and gain the confidence to share your findings and their broader implications without the jargon.
- Dive into Diverse Platforms: From comic books on PCBs and stage plays (like our renowned “Toxic Relationships”), to poems on cell organelles, we believe in exploring every medium to make science less complicated.
- Explore Career Opportunities: Ever thought about a career in science policy or science communication? We’re here to help you explore, learn, and hone the necessary skills for your dream career.
- Engage & Advocate: Participate in workshops dedicated to science policy and advocacy. Plus, have a chance to contribute to SciPolBites in NSPN!
- Be Part of an Inclusive Community: At CSTS, we pride ourselves on creating a space where every voice is valued. Engage with peers, the community, and policymakers, all while nurturing a shared passion for science.
Check out our official page for more information.
STEM scholarships & fellowships | PathwaysToScience.org
PathwaysToScience.org has over 65 portable scholarships and fellowships posted on their site. These include undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc level funding opportunities with an emphasis on increasing diversity in STEM.
Undergraduate scholarships and tips and resources for applying: https://pathwaystoscience.org/Undergrads.aspx
Graduate fellowships and resources for applying: https://pathwaystoscience.org/Grad.aspx
Postdoc funding and resources: https://pathwaystoscience.org/Postdocs_Portal.aspx
A quick video tutorial on using their advanced search functions to find funding opportunities can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKsAGk8dAw&t=16s
Students who would like assistance in searching their database of funding opportunities can email Liv Detrick (ldetrick@ibparticipation.org) with your level of study, disciplinary interests, and any other relevant requirements.
Join the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club!
Join the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club! We are a community of Biochemistry majors at the University of Iowa here to help you succeed. We have events throughout the year geared towards academic success and support, professional development, fostering valuable relationships with department faculty, and much more!
Some of our events include:
- Picnic with Graduate Students
- Undergraduate Research Poster Sessions
- Professor Presentations and Q&A
- Undergraduate Researcher Shadowing
- Study Groups and Tutoring
- Science Movie Night/Game Night
If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to our club officers! Contact information can be found on our webpage.
Postings on this website are not necessarily endorsed by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department or the University of Iowa. They are intended for the use of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors at the University of Iowa.