Thank you for your interest in our REU program. Unfortunately we did not receive funding for the current year, so there will be no program during the summer of 2009. Please check back next fall as we will continue to pursue additional funding.
SUMMER 2009 DATES
May 18, 2009 - July 24, 2009
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Summer 2008 REU Class
The Department of Genetics & Biochemistry at Clemson University will offer a residential 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for twelve upper-level undergraduate students. Students will be trained on how to apply the scientific process to relevant scientific problems at both the intellectual and practical levels. Participants, recruited nationally, will include those with a background in any of the disciplines considered to be “life sciences”: genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, etc. and will be matched with ongoing research projects that best fit their interests and academic background. Students from institutions with limited research opportunities, women and minorities under-represented in science fields are particularly encouraged to apply.
The diversity of research being conducted in the Department provides unique opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge research projects that highlight the application of many common techniques across different systems. Faculty directly participating in the program are William Marcotte, Jr. (PI), Harry Kurtz, Jr. (PI), Alex Feltus, Julia Frugoli, Amy Lawton-Rauh, Haiying Liang, Hong Luo, Brandon Moore, James Morris, Kimberly Paul (Biological Sciences), Kerry Smith, and Lesly Temesvari (Biological Sciences). The Program offers research in many areas of contemporary genetics and biochemistry including, but not limited to, protein structure-function relationships, basic developmental processes in plant and animal systems, signal transduction, plant and animal pathogens and high-throughput genomics. Potential students are encouraged to use the links above or consult the Departmental Website for details of specific project directions in individual laboratories.
During the course of this NSF-funded program, the students will 1) engage in an intense, hands-on research experience involving interactions with faculty, postdoctoral associates, graduate students and other undergraduates; 2) learn about the application of a large variety of instrumentation and contemporary methodologies in life science research; 3) share their results and experiences with faculty and other students at bi-weekly brown bag lunches; 4) attend seminar presentations by faculty members in the REU program and other active research labs at CU; 5) visit local sites of interest (research entities and biotechnology companies); and 6) present their work both orally and as a poster at a concluding Research Symposium. In addition to the research component of the program, students will participate in workshops and discussions about the ethical conduct of scientific research.
In addition to pursuing a personal, independent research project, REU students will also participate in a workshop about the ethical conduct of scientific research and about ethical concerns and considerations that arise as part of the consequence of current agricultural and biomedical research and technology. The workshop will be provided by the Robert J. Rutland Center for Ethics, Dr. Daniel E. Wueste, Director and delivered by Dr. Kelly C. Smith, the C. Calhoun Lemon Fellow of the Center.
The Ethics Component will consist of a one-day workshop with the following sessions:
- Basic Ethical Concepts
- Ethical issues in the design and execution of research projects
- Ethical issues that arise as science and technology march on
The deadline for full applications [full applications include complete information on the application form and three letters of reference] is February 13, 2009.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.