The Nebraska Redox Biology Center at the University of Nebraska Lincoln offers qualified undergraduates an opportunity to pursue independent research projects in redox biochemistry. Research areas range from molecular medicine to environmental biochemistry and plant biochemistry. Students will participate in exciting projects at the cutting edge of research in redox biology. They will formulate and test hypotheses, develop experimental problem-solving skills, and receive training in biochemical, biophysical and molecular biology techniques.

The ten-week summer program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and will place the student with a faculty mentor in whose lab the student's research project will be pursued. The student will participate fully in the life of the mentor's lab. In addition, there will be informal meetings of all program participants to exchange information on the research being done and to discuss areas of biochemistry/redox biology that are of particular interest and excitement. There will also be weekly meetings in which various scientists describe the latest advances in their own research or career opportunities in biomedical or biotechnology fields.

Redox Biology REU students at the end-of-the-summer banquet.

Social, recreational and cultural events with program participants and faculty will further enhance informal interactions. The summer experience will be capped by a luncheon and poster presentation session in which program participants will present a poster on their project and receive certificates of completion.

Benefits

Competitive stipend: $5,750
Suite-style room and meal plan
Travel expenses to and from Lincoln
Campus parking and/or bus pass
Full access to the Campus Recreation Center and campus library system
Wireless internet access

Learn more about academic and financial benefits.

Events

Department orientation
Department seminars and presentations
Professional development workshops (e.g., applying to graduate school, taking the GRE)
Welcome picnic
Day trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Outdoor adventures
Research symposium

Mentors and Projects

Dr. Donald F. Becker Department of Biochemistry

Redox regulatory mechanisms

Redox regulatory mechanisms, protein structure-function relationships and proline metabolism.

Dr. Rodrigo Franco-Cruz Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

Neurodegenerative diseases

Oxidative stress and neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Oleh Khalimonchuk Department of Biochemistry

Mitochondrial Homeostasis

Mitochondrial Homeostasis: Biogenesis of Redox-Active Compounds and Mechanisms of Quality Control and Protection.

Dr. Jaekwon Lee Department of Biochemistry

Metal ion transporters, implication of trace elements in metabolic and degenerative disease, cellular stress response

Dr. N R Jayagopala Reddy Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of human autoimmune diseases

Dr. Xinghui Sun Biochemistry

Role of long noncoding RNAs in regulating cell function

Our research seeks to decipher the hidden layer of biological complexity that can determine cellular responses, metabolism, and cell fate. The approaches employed in our study include systems biology, bioinformatics, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, next generation sequencing (RNA-seq), microarray, and mass spectrometry.

Dr. Mark Wilson Department of Biochemistry

Structural biology of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases

The Wilson lab uses structural biology and biochemistry to explore the molecular basis of disease as well as fundamental questions in structural enzymology. One focus of the lab’s research is the structure and function of proteins in the DJ-1 superfamily. These proteins are involved in diverse processes including Parkinson’s disease, cancer, antibiotic defense, and stress response. A second area of research in the Wilson group is using recent advances in time-resolved X-ray crystallography to observe enzyme catalysis and non-equilibrium protein motion in real time and at atomic resolution.

Dr. Limei Zhang Department of Biochemistry

Structure-function relationships of proteins

Structure-function relationships of proteins involved in antibiotic resistance and stress response.