BE REU Program Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

02/16/2012

The BE REU Program is no longer accepting applications for Summer 2012.

12/05/2011

The Department of Biological Engineering (BE) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is presently seeking outstanding current junior-year undergraduates to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU) during the summer term of 2012. The BE REU Program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides non-MIT students with the opportunity to participate in the research being conducted in BE. Participants must be either permanent residents or US citizens. Applicants should be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program as a junior with a major in biology, chemistry, or engineering, and have at least some experience with biology. In addition, only applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.60 or greater will be considered (out of 4.00 scale).

This summer research experience is intended for students who are considering graduate school in biological engineering.

Each successful applicant will work closely with an MIT graduate student, post-doctoral candidate, or faculty member on BE research. Specific projects are not be assigned until after the students' arrival. The projects are developed by BE faculty. These faculty, along with their areas of research focus, are listed on this website: http://web.mit.edu/be/people/index.shtml.

A sample list of BE REU project titles from previous summers:

• Neural Prosthetic Implant Device for Electrochemical Stimulation
• Genetic Tool for Inducible Gene Expression in Malaria Parasites
• Optimizing a Direct and Inducible Protein-RNA Interaction to Control Gene Expression Investigating the Mechanical Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
• Role of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in Trail-Induced Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
• Designing a Two Vector System for Inducible Gene Expression in P. Falciparum
• Exploring the Function of Human AlkB Dioxygenase, ABH8
• Biomaterials Engineering for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Attachment
• Physical and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Various Biomaterials
• Conjugation and Selective Release of DNA from Gold Nanorods
• Developing Methods for the Quantification of Components of the Cellular Nucleotide Pool During Inflammation
• Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Unfocused Ultrasound
• Lysine Acetylation and Cell Metabolism
• Design and Prototype of a FRET-Quench Probe Based Multiplexed Protease Sensor
• A Clique Based Approach to Minimizing Clustering Variability for Noisy Datasets
• Linking Short-Term Protrusion with Metastasis
• Investigation of Chronic Inflammation in Hepatocytes: The Effects of Hypoxia and Cytokines
• An Analysis of the Differences in Tissue Culture Polystyrene Dishes Produced by Different Companies
• Mechanical Response of Suspended Cells: Power-Law Rheology and ATP-Dependent Processes
• Optimization of Microfluidic Probe for Single Cell Kinase Assay

REU students will relocate to Cambridge, Massachusetts for the duration of the program, Monday, June 11 through Friday, August 17, 2012. There are no exceptions to these program dates.

Compensation in the form of a $4800 stipend will be provided to all participants, as well as housing and a $1000 food allowance. Some travel expenses will be allowed for those not from the Cambridge area.

All additional application materials should be sent to:
MIT BE REU Program 2012
16-429
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139