Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in Virology

Nebraska Center for Virology

http://www.unl.edu/virologycenter

The faculty of the Nebraska Center for Virology (NCV) research topics are challenging and meritorious exploring problems of epidemic proportions facing mankind including AIDS and HIV replication and pathogenesis, herpesvirus latency and cancer, human papilloma virus and cancers, and chlorellavirus biology. Our goals include designing novel vaccines and therapeutic strategies to block disease.

Each year, NCV invites applications for our Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in Virology (USREV) program from students, enrolled at institutions in Nebraska as well as other states, who are interested in exploring the many exciting and rewarding options for careers as scientists in biomedical research that exist through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate programs while working with our experienced research faculty along side current graduate students and postdoctoral research associates in their labs.

As a selected student, you will design and implement a tailor-made research project according to your interests. You will then determine and conduct exciting and challenging experiments to test hypotheses under the guidance and mentoring of our expert faculty. As you are being trained in biomedical research, you will have the opportunity to explore cutting edge techniques and gain knowledge of the latest instrumentation by utilizing the equipment in our labs and the core facilities that provide support to our entire NCV faculty.

You will also be exposed to the research of others and have the opportunity to attend weekly lab meetings and seminars with other students and scientists where new ideas are exchanged and explored. NCV and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Graduate Studies, offer many additional rewarding, enjoyable opportunities for our students including social and recreational activities, musical and cultural events in the community, as well as self-help seminars that will prepare you in all aspects of graduate school life and beyond including resume writing, test taking, social skills, grant writing and more.

This ten-week-long summer research experience is culminated in a research fair that will provide an opportunity for you to prepare and present a poster showcasing your research project findings and progress.

In addition, after receiving a BS degree, our students have the opportunity to apply for graduate school fellowships through a nationally competitive, prestigious program offered at the Nebraska Center for Virology that selects and prepares individuals with exceptional potential and academic credentials for careers that will have a significant impact on the nation's biomedical research agenda through our federally funded National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.