National
Science Foundation REU Site:
Research Experience for Undergraduates in Neuroscience
Summer Program in Neuroscience (SPIN)
More
About SPIN and the Application Process
The
application
for the 2007 cycle is now
available.
All application materials are
due by February 16, 2007.
The Summer Program in Neuroscience (SPIN) at the
University
of
Alabama
at Birmingham (UAB) is supported by a Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) grant from the National Science Foundation.
It is sponsored by the Department of Neurobiology at UAB.
The primary goal of SPIN is to provide motivated undergraduates who
have demonstrated excellent scientific aptitude with the opportunity to
experience independent research in neurobiology under the guidance of a
faculty member. It is designed to increase student interest in graduate
education leading to careers in biomedical research and research
medicine. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students will have
the opportunity to learn the basic skills necessary to contribute to a
research effort while working on a component of a research project.
Students will participate in both the intellectual and practical parts
of laboratory work. Students will receive training in the research
methods applicable to their research plan, analyze their data, attend
lab meetings and journal clubs, and create written and oral
presentations of their results at a research forum at the end of the
summer program (Summer Research Forum).
Research in the Neuroscience at utilizes a variety of tools to study the
molecular, cellular and network bases of the normal structure and
function of the nervous system, including molecular genetics, whole cell
and single channel patch- and voltage-clamp recording, high resolution
imaging, confocal and electron microscopic and X-ray microanalysis,
heterologous protein expression, high performance liquid chromatography
neurochemistry, site-directed mutagenesis, in vivo electrophysiological
analysis, biomedical engineering techniques, computer simulations and
mathematical modeling. Research in the Department also addresses major
issues in neurological health and disease, including epilepsy, primary
brain tumors (gliomas), addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, Alexander disease, brain/spinal cord injury, mental
retardation/developmental disorders, neurodegenerative disorders,
movement disorders, perceptual disorders, stroke, and learning and
memory disorders.
Program
The program is from 8 to 12 weeks long. The official start date will be May 28, 2007 and end date is August 3, 2007. Students may choose to start as early as May 14, 2007 if approved by the assigned mentor. Student recipients of this competitive fellowship receive a stipend of $400/week. Housing will be provided in the new UAB student dorm, and students will be given meal allowance or meal tickets. Travel allowances may also be available.
Students attend weekly group meetings with their mentor's laboratory.
Students also attend the weekly SPIN lunch series in which current
topics in Neuroscience are discussed. At the end of the program, all
students display the results of their research efforts in a poster
presentation at the Summer Research Forum, which is attended by faculty,
fellows, and students. A "Certificate of Merit" is awarded to
all participants upon completion of the program.
Application
SPIN applications can be obtained on-line in the PDF format by
clicking
here, or by emailing a request for an application for SPIN
to Kym Proctor, or by writing:
Kym Proctor
Phone: 205-934-2452
FAX: 205-975-7394
Mailing Address:
Department of Neurobiology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1825 University Blvd., Shel 911
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
Faculty Mentors
Use the
mentors list in the PDF application
to obtain information about
research interests of faculty or
visit the mentor
page. A final list of
mentors will be posted when
available.
The Research Project
The most important factors in selecting a project are enthusiasm for the
project itself and for working with the mentor. Some of the techniques a
student might learn include: cell culture, electrophoresis,
chromatography, immunoassays, animal surgery, electrophysiology,
neurochemical assays, and protein and nucleic acid molecular biology.
SPIN is not "just a summer job;" a project should have
significant intellectual and creative content.
Funding
Funding includes a stipend of
$400/week (before taxes) and is paid on a
monthly basis. Student fellows agree to spend a minimum of 40 work hours
per week in the laboratory. Federal withholding tax, FICA, and State
Disability Insurance may be deducted from a student’s check depending
on his/her tax status. To ensure continuity of the program and the
research project, vacations other than UAB holidays are not permitted.
The title of the summer position is "Graduate Assistant."
Student fellows must provide proof of health insurance coverage prior to
beginning the program.
Housing
Housing will be provided on campus.
Travel allowances may be provided to help cover the cost of
travel to and from Birmingham.
Eligibility
To be eligible for SPIN you must be a continuing undergraduate student
and have completed at least one year of college or university.
Preference is given to students who have a cumulative GPA of at least
3.0. In addition, to be eligible for SPIN you must be a U.S.
citizen or have a visa that allows you to have a permit to work for 40
hours a week.
Under-represented minorities and students from
colleges and universities that do not have research opportunities are
especially encouraged to apply.
Requirements
Upon receiving a SPIN offer, student fellows sign a contract and agree
to fulfill the following requirements:
- To work at his/her SPIN
project at least 40 hours per week during the continuous 8-12 week
period
- To submit a short (2
page, double-spaced) proposal describing the project, due 2 weeks
after the student starts
- To attend the weekly SPIN
lunch series at which topics in Neuroscience are discussed
- To participate in the weekly SPIN
journal club
- To give a poster presentation
at the Summer Research Forum
Specific Program
Goals
SPIN exposes its participants to the culture and issues of research: it
is a "sneak preview" into a world that many students do not
experience as undergraduates. SPIN offers hands-on research experience,
and:
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 | Can help a
student determine if he/she is truly interested in
neuroscience research; |
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| Can help a
student decide what field of research he/she would like to
pursue; |
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| Can allow a
student to have an insider's look at UAB (to which some
students will apply for graduate or medical school); |
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| Can help a
student become a more desirable candidate for graduate school
and medical school search committees; |
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| Can help a
student meet and interact with individuals attending other
universities, perhaps leading to valuable long-term contacts; |
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| Can expose
students to mentors who may have a strong impact on the
student's future academic development; |
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| Allows students
to work in a research area that could eventually become their
thesis topic; |
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| Allows students
exposure to all aspects of research, including planning
experiments, managing their time, writing up their results,
and presenting their work; |
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| Exposes
participants to the ethical issues of research; |
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| Helps students
understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals at
different levels of seniority in the research environment;
and, |
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| Gives students a
chance to experience some of the diversity of the large field
of neuroscience.
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