Applications are now closed for the summer of 2009. We will begin accepting applications for summer 2010 on January 1, 2010

Click here to download the REU Flyer! (PDF)

Click to download the Application (PDF) or (DOC)

The REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Montana State University (MSU) is a 10-week summer research program for students with an interest in biological science, but with little or no research experience. Students will learn the joys and challenges of scientific research by working on projects in cell development, cell biology or neurobiology. The program consists of an initial 2 week hands-on lab session that will teach participants important biological research techniques. For the remaining 8 weeks, students will use these newly learned skills by working in the lab of a faculty member on an NSF or NIH-funded research project.

Applications will be accepted starting January 1 for the summer of 2009. 2009 Program dates are Jun 1, 2008 to August 7, 2008. We are not able to accept students who cannot commit to the entire 10 weeks of the program. Students may not take classes or work at other jobs during this time.

Program Compensation Package

NOTE: If you have research experience or are ready to delve into research, check out the "Other Summer Research Opportunities at MSU in Biology/Chemistry" section below.

Program background and focus

The REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience started in the summer of 2005, with 7 participating students from Montana, Kentucky and Massachusetts. Since then we have accepted 10 fellows per summer, from Montana and many other U.S. states. We look forward to accepting 8-10 energetic students for the 2009 program.

The focus of the program is to help students that are interested in exploring research opportunities in biology, but have little or no research experience. Students often have heard that they need research experience to be competitive for jobs, graduate school or professional school when they graduate, but are really unsure about how to get started. This tends to be especially true for students that come from small, rural communities, have one or more parents that didn't graduate from college, or are women or minorities. Although this program is designed to target these students, all students desiring an introduction to research followed by a genuine research experience in a faculty lab are encouraged to apply.

The 2009 program will run from June 1 to August 7, 2009. For abstracts and some pictures from previous years, please click the links below.

Summer 2005 REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience - Photos

Summer 2006 REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience - Abstracts

Summer 2006 REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience - Photos

Summer 2007 REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience - Photos

Summer 2007 REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience - Posters

Program Details

An Introduction to Research

The first week and a half of the research program consists of a number of exciting laboratory exercises that will introduce students to the techniques needed for individual research in a biology lab. Units will be taught by the department faculty that will serve as mentors in the last 8 weeks of the program.

There will also be presentations by faculty about career options in science, and we will have several workshops exploring ethics of science, and the role of science in society. We will also teach scientific poster making, help you make a poster, and prepare you to present your poster at our annual end-of-summer symposium. All students attend a weekly seminar, given by program faculty, that introduces you to research in the biological sciences.

Research and Mentoring

One of the most difficult parts of being a beginning researcher is finding a faculty mentor. We help match students with faculty mentors that do research in an area that the student is interested in. We work closely with the student and the mentor to make sure that the summer experience is productive, educational and fun.

Interactions with other Student Researchers

Montana State has a large number of summer research programs on campus each year, not only in biology and chemistry, but also in physics, transportation engineering, computer science, and the humanities. Many of these program participants stay together in the residence halls. We also have joint research seminars, poster sessions and social activities to make everyone realize their involvement in a campus-wide student research community.

Program participants also meet and work with high-school students that are learning about research on the MSU campus. In this way, our program participants are not only learning about research, but get a chance to be a mentor to a younger student who is considering a career in science.

Presenting your work

Our program will hold a poster workshop and help students prepare their posters for a campus poster presentation to be held at the end of the program. Each student will make a poster about his or her unique research experience to present to the MSU research community. This poster session is well attended by students, faculty, and MSU administration, so it is a great opportunity to show off all your hard work. Plus we have cookies.

Future Possibilities

Scholarships are available for students who arrange to come to their home-town high school science class and talk about their college research experience. This is a great way to share your knowledge with high school students in your own community.

Participation in this program also makes our participants great candidates for more traditional summer research programs that require lab experience for acceptance.

Other Summer Research opportunities at MSU in Biology/Chemistry

If you have more research experience or are ready to plunge into a full 10 weeks of research, you might consider these other summer research programs in biology offered on the MSU campus:

For Montana State Students, these additional resources are available:

National REU Site (search for an REU experience around the country)

The National Science Foundation has a large number of other REU sites around the country, in all areas of science research. To search for an off-campus REU site by geographical location or area of interest, visit NSF's REU Search site

National IGERT site (more summer research sites sponsored by the NSF IGERT program)

The National Science Foundation IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeships) program sponsors graduate training at institutions around the country. Many of these programs offer summer research experiences for undergraduates as part of their mission to help students prepare for science careers and graduate school. To search for these programs, visit the IGERT summer undergraduate research programs page.

WebGURU

This comprehensive Web Guide to undergraduate research programs has program listings and research profiles, plus other resources for undergraduate researchers. Go to the WebGURU Hompage to learn more.

More about the Bozeman Area

Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT, about 80 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman is a Rocky Mountain resort town with easy access to spectacular outdoor recreational activities. Over 200 students participate in various undergraduate research programs on the MSU campus each summer, making MSU an invigorating environment for both recreation and intellectual growth.

Who can apply?

The REU in Cell Biology and Neuroscience at MSU is open to students from around the country who are enrolled undergraduate students at an accredited college or university. The program is aimed particularly at students who have an interest in science but who have little or no research experience. First-generation college students and students who attended high schools in rural areas, women and minority students are especially encouraged to apply. Although this program is designed to target these students, all students desiring an introduction to research followed by a genuine research experience in a faculty lab are encouraged to apply. All applications will be given careful consideration.

How do I apply?

Applications are now closed for the summer of 2009. We will begin accepting applications for summer 2010 on January 1, 2010

Fill out the application form and send with supporting documentation to the program address below. Applications will be accepted starting January 1, 2009. The preferred application deadline is March 1, 2009, but applications will be accepted until all slots are filled. Students will be notified on or before April 15, 2009 of their selection into the program.

Applications are accepted starting January 1 of each year for the summer of that year. The preferred application deadline for 2009 is March 1, although applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until the program is filled.

Choosing a mentor (optional): There is a field on the application form to enter a preferred mentor. You can find mentors for 2009 on the Summer Program Mentor Page. There is also a field where you can give more detail about your mentor preference. Even if you don't have a mentor preference, you can still describe the kind of research you would like to be involved in, if you have any preference.

Personal Statement: The personal statement is your chance to express yourself and describe to the program admissions committee why you are a good choice for this program. You can discuss your high school and college experiences, describe your personal background, and talk about the career options you are considering. In short, talk about how you've come to your interest in science. It should be about 2 pages in length (double spaced).

Transcripts: If your school provides electronic versions of your transcript, you can print it out and attach it to your application. You do not need to have your school send official transcripts.

Letters of Recommendation: Letters of reference are an important part of school, internship and job applications. We prefer that you include two letters with your application. These can be from a high-school teacher who knows you well, a college professor from a class you did well in, or an employer from a job or volunteer position you've held. Have your recommenders send their letters directly to the program address, below.

For more information, please contact Dr. Anneke Metz, (406) 994-7519 or at anneke@montana.edu.

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 12/15/2008