Program descriptions

Molecular genetics & proteomics program

This National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) funded program begins with an intensive laboratory course at Itasca Biological Station & Laboratories followed by a workshop in proteomics on the Twin Cities campus.

The laboratory course in molecular genetics introduces students to basic techniques used in gene cloning, expression, and analysis and provides the background in molecular approaches used in this high-profile discipline. The proteomics workshop gives students the theoretical background and practical experience in whole organism protein analysis. The remaining seven weeks of this program are spent on the Twin Cities campus in a faculty member’s laboratory participating in a research project that uses molecular genetics and proteomics approaches to address important biological questions.

Neuroscience program

This program begins with an intensive for-credit course covering the basics of cellular/molecular and developmental biology in preparation for your Neuroscience laboratory experiences. The course is taught at Itasca Biological Station & Laboratories which provides a secluded retreat-like atmosphere in which faculty and students can work closely, admist the beauty of Itasca State Park at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The remainder of this program embeds students in research labs on the Twin Cities campus matching student interests to those of over 90 faculty engaging in neuroscience research.

Heart, lung, & blood program

Students in this National Institute of Health (NIH) funded program spend ten weeks in clinical or basic research projects designed to understand the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic disorders.

Global change ecology

This Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site is designed to introduce undergraduate students to research into global change ecology and teach them how to deal with large and/or multiple scales and data sets. Students participating in this program will conduct independent research with a faculty mentor at the University of Minnesota’s Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories (IBSL). Students will have access to continuously downloaded climate and limnological data from Lake Itasca and these data along with other databases will be used to train students to analyze and interpret large data sets.

Microbiology: From atoms to ecosystems

This new National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program seeks to recruit talented undergraduates from across the country to engage in cutting-edge independent research experiences in Microbiology on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The ten-week summer program will include a variety of activities, including a 5-day mini-course to refresh basic laboratory skills, workshops and field trips to foster effective scientific communication and explore research career options, and a final University-wide summer research symposium and poster session. The core of the experience will be an independent research project, mentored by one of more than 25 faculty members within the Department of Microbiology who study fundamental problems, ranging from the subatomic analysis of virus structure to the influence of microbial communities on entire ecosystems. The program will prepare students for research careers by linking explicit training in scientific communication with career planning and laboratory opportunities in some of the most exciting areas of contemporary Microbiology. Because the projects take advantage of many levels and modes of inquiry, they can also serve to underpin future research and careers in other natural sciences.

IGERT: Risk analysis for introduced species and genotypes

This NSF-funded research experience is designed to introduce undergraduates to the ecological risk accompanying Introduced Species and Genotypes. Next to habitat loss, introduced species that become invasive are the world’s largest contributor to loss of biodiversity. The summer undergraduate program prepares students for graduate work and careers that will improve Ecological Risk Analysis and contribute practical solutions to the many policy challenges surrounding the management of introduced species and genotypes. Each student is paired with a faculty-mentor to conduct a research project on either introduced species or genetically modified organisms. The program has a strong commitment to diversity.

Poster symposia - research by past participants