Research Experience for Undergraduates in Biology at the University of Texas at El Paso

University Of Texas At El Paso, El Paso TX

Investigators

Abstract

The University of Texas at El Paso will be offering ten Undergraduate Research Positions for ten weeks during June and July beginning 2002. These positions will be funded through the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in biological research. The main goal of this program is to provide an exciting and nurturing research experience for students, one that will encourage them to pursue careers as research scientists. Each student is paired with a faculty advisor, who is often supported by interested graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Students are required to engage in a 10-week research project. Areas of research conducted by our faculty include: host-parasite interactions, DNA repair, toxicology, lipid metabolism, autoimmunity, neurobiology, systematics, desert ecology, behavioral ecology, and many others. In addition to the work with their faculty advisors, students attend several weekly meetings: lab meetings with their mentor and fellow lab colleagues, a faculty lecture series on research opportunities in biology, and a journal club to discuss cutting-edge science that is followed by an informal gathering with current UTEP undergraduate and graduate students to discuss questions, issues and concerns. Students will also have the opportunity to visit a national research laboratory so as to expand student exposure to biology beyond the campus. Towards the end of the program, students are asked to give a short talk at the Undergraduate Summer Research symposium and to provide a written summary of their summer research. As recognition for student achievement, two of the ten students will be selected to attend a national meeting with their REU mentor based on their overall performance. Several social activities are also organized throughout the summer to help students get acquainted with each other, with the University, and with the surrounding area.