We plan to post Summer 2010 information by December 8th, so be sure to check this page again later.
http://plantsciences.unl.edu/summer_research.html
http://microbiology.unl.edu/
The Research
One of the greatest challenges facing 21st-century society is finding a sustainable energy supply. Energy is ultimately the basis for a large part of the global economy but today we are mostly dependent on nonrenewable fossil fuels, whose reserves are dwindling, and their use contributes significantly to pollution and climate change.
Biomass from plants and algae represents an abundant carbon-neutral renewable resource for the production of energy and biomaterials, whereas microbes offer efficient and sustainable ways to convert this biomass into liquid fuels or chemical feedstock currently derived from fossil fuels.
With adequate research and proper implementation, plants, algae, and microorganisms can help address the energy crisis. However, the emerging ethanol and biodiesel industries are presently a coproduct from crops, such as corn and soybeans, grown as a food source. This poses problems of competition for land usage, expansion of crops into agriculturally marginal areas, deforestation, and potential threats to food security. Furthermore, traditional agricultural crops cannot provide, with current technologies for biomass conversion, the large quantities of liquid biofuels that will be necessary to displace petroleum-derived transportation fuels.
To achieve sustainability, next generation biofuels may need to derive from nonedible sources such as microalgae and lignocellulosic plants. In fact, achieving a sustainable biofuels strategy will ultimately depend on basic research in many aspects of nonmedical microbiology, plant biology, genetics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemistry and engineering. Our future will depend on students willing to take on these challenges.
The Program
The laboratories involved in our summer program cover a wide spectrum of bioenergy research topics such as the study of nonfood crops for biomass production, metabolic engineering of oilseed biosynthesis, green algae as liquid biofuel production systems, microbial carbon sequestration, biochemical pathways of lignocellulose conversion, and system engineering of microorganisms for biomass conversion. Students with a background in Biology as well as those with training in Mathematics or Computer Science who would like to gain research experience in Biology are strongly encouraged to apply.
Participating undergraduate students will have a 10-week hands-on research experience in 1 of 12 laboratories under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor. Students will receive a $4,500 stipend for the summer experience (June 1 to August 7). On-campus housing, travel to and from the REU site; full access to the Campus Recreation Center, University Health Center, and campus library system; as well as other minor costs are covered expenses for participants.
Research will be coordinated with seminars, lunches, career guidance, industrial exposure, group activities, and a research symposium. Students will get training in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and the physiology of selected model systems. They will engage in a debate on how to achieve a sustainable energy supply for meeting a key national challenge. Upon completion of the REU, students will be fully prepared for future opportunities as researchers in bioenergy, including graduate education.
The program is open to all undergraduate students in biology, chemistry, engineering, or who are interested in pursuing careers in science that are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Women, underrepresented minorities, and students from colleges with limited research opportunities are encouraged to apply. Lincoln is a safe, midsized city with diverse and inexpensive entertainment, extensive bike paths, and over 100 parks. The application period will remain open, but review and selection will begin in March.
