Summer research internships at Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Our fantastic local Cleveland Museum of Natural History hosts an annual summer research internship program with opportunities in areas such as invertebrate zoology and paleontology, botany, ornithology, vertebrate zoology and wildlife resources.  This 8-week program typically involves both field and laboratory work, pays $7.85 per hour plus $200 for expenses and is open to rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and those who have graduated within the year.  Applications are due in early March and positions are announced in April.

Alum joins University of Rochester Faculty

Josh Allen (’07 Toxicology & Psychology) recently completed his PhD in Toxicology at the University of Rochester. His dissertation research focused on the effects of concentrated ambient ultrafine air pollution on the developing brain in rodents. His work unveiled persistent and sex-dependent neurotoxicity and behavioral toxicity as a result of developmental exposure to human-relevant levels of concentrated ambient ultrafine particles. During his graduate training, Josh became interested in translating his animal model research into human studies utilizing an epidemiological approach. He has recently accepted a position as a K12 scholar and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and will simultaneously pursue graduate-level training in epidemiology. His upcoming research will continue to examine air-pollutant induced neurotoxicity using both basic neurotoxiclogical and epidemiological approaches.

Summer research in field biology and atmospheric science

This summer research opportunity comes by way of Dr. Patty Saunders, who maintains an active email list serve for students interested in environmental science.  Feel free to contact Dr. Saunders to be added to her email list for future notices.

In the meantime, check out this NSF-funded research opportunity at the University of Michigan's Biological Station, founded in 1909 and encompassing 10,000 acres.  According to the program website:

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) is a competitive program funded by the National Science Foundation. Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions in a Changing Global Environment provides a truly interdisciplinary and hands-on experience in field biology and atmospheric science. Students engage with all phases of research, from hypothesis formulation and data gathering to analysis, interpretation, and communication of scientific findings. During this nine-week program, students will: 

• Work closely with a selected mentor/professor as part of an on-going research project 

• Design, conduct, analyze, and report on a research project of their own 

• Participate in special workshops and group discussions designed to provide the philosophical bases and technical tools needed to carry out scientific research.

This 9-week program comes with a $5,000 stipend, room, board and a travel allowance.  You must be at least a rising junior.  Applications are due February 1st.

Summer research and classes on Lake Erie

There is a fantastic summer research opportunity right in our backyard at Ohio State's Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island in Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie.  Ashland students have taken advantage of both research opportunities and field courses at the oldest freshwater biological field station in the United States.  Applications for summer research internships are due February 21st.  Application for field courses are not until March, but courses can fill up so apply early.  The application deadline for tuition scholarships is March 7th.  Courses this summer include Ecology, Evolution, Field Zoology, Ichthyology, Aquatic Ecosystems, and Current Topics in Environment and Engineering.  Many of these courses will transfer back as credit towards your Ashland major in Biology.

Two biology majors took the Stone Laboratory Field Zoology course this past summer.  Caitlin Duncan (pictured above to the left) wrote:

I had a fantastic experience at Stone Lab! I took a 5 week field zoology class. Every student had to keep a field journal and put together a collection of 100 specimens, which were gathered during various field trips to Green Island, North Bass Island, Middle Bass Island, South Bass Island, and Kelley's Island. Collecting, displaying, and identifying the organisms was the most fun part of the course for me! I even won the 2013 "Mad Collector" award for collecting 150 unique specimens! My class also learned how to electroshock, which was a great experience.

 Life Science Education/Biology major Emily Lundquist (pictured above to the right) wrote that:

Overall, it was one of the most amazing experiences I've had in my life because it was great to be out in nature every day and I met so many new people and enjoyed spending time on an island. I learned so much that I feel will help me later in life with teaching.

The images show a class group shot on the docks at Stone Laboratory and one of the field collections developed in the class.

Plant genomics at Michigan State Unviversity

One place to start your search for a summer research internship is to look through posts on this blog about what AU students have done in past summers.  Josh Allman spent last summer in a 10-week internship in plant genomics at Michigan State University, and the program recently reached out to us asking us to spread the word to current students.

This program's internship goes from May 19th to July 25th, pays a $5000 stipend, and involves molecular botanical research related to agriculture and biofuels.  The program is open to rising juniors and seniors and applications are due February 12th.

Summer research internships in Nebraska and New York

We plan to post information about a summer internship opportunity each day of the holiday break.  Consider it the twelve days of summer research internships.  Today we are getting a head start by posting two opportunities:

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosts a diversity of internship opportunities in biology, chemistry and earth sciences.  Applications are due February 1st, but are already being accepted.  The internship pays a stipend and covers room, board and travel expenses.  You can see last summers participants below.

Cornell University and the BTI for Plant Research is hosting a more focused summer internship program in plant genome research, bioinformatics and plant energy education.  Applications are being accepted now through the first Friday in February.  This internship also provides a stipend along with free housing.

Time to find a summer research internship

The National Science Foundation funds paid summer research
internships all over the country

Classes are done, holiday shopping will be coming to an end, and soon family get togethers will be over.  So what else can you do over the holiday break?  This is the perfect time to find summer research internships!  These opportunities are a great way to learn more science, get experience in the lab, get paid, and improve your chances of getting into graduate school, health professional programs, or that first job in the sciences after graduation.

We are fortunate that most summer research internships in the sciences are paid positions, with those at universities also typically offering free room and board.  We have a number of students being accepted into these competitive summer programs each year across the country.  You can read about our students from past summers and their internship experiences using the Summer Research Internship tag on this blog.

Because they are competitive you will want to apply to a number of positions to increase your chance of getting one.  Applications are often due in January and February, so the holiday break is a great time to identify places you would like to go and start the application process.  You will also usually need two faculty references, so contact faculty over the break to ask for those support letters.

In addition to searching through this blog for opportunities posted in the past, you can use this page from the National Science Foundation to find internships funded by the federal government.  Most internship programs at large universities are supported by the NSF.  You can also use Google searches to find internships that match your interests.

We will post summer research internship opportunities in a variety of disciplines here on this blog throughout the break.  Here is one to get you started:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Medicine offers their summer SURE-REU program in molecular biosciences from May 18th to July 25th.  We had AU students take part in this program in 2009 and 2010.  One of those students is now earning his PhD at UNC Chapel Hill.  The other is earning her doctorate at The Ohio State University.  The program pays a $5000 stipend for the 10 weeks and includes room and board.  Review of applications begins February 3rd.  As with all summer programs, get your applications in early and ask a faculty member or advisor to review your personal statement.

Alumni Update and Chemistry Job Opportunity

Three years after graduating from Ashland, Tyson Rowland (’09 Chemistry) obtained a Master’s degree in Bioanalytical and Physical Chemistry from University of the Pacific in California.  He notes, “Ashland’s chemistry program was a key stepping stone for propelling me into my career.  One of my fondest memories while attending Ashland was finally moving to the newly renovated Kettering Hall from Miller Hall.  Being the first group of students to use the brand new labs and explore new equipment enhanced my learning curve and broadened my chemistry experience.  I’d like to give a special thanks to the entire Chemistry Department for all of the extra hours spent passionately helping students develop and grow as young professionals!”

Tyson currently works as the Applications and Demo Lab Manager for Elementar in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.  This is a German-based company that sells elemental analyzers worldwide.  These analyzers most commonly measure carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and hydrogen down to the ppb level.  Applications include the agriculture, petrochemicals, environmental, and geochemical fields.  His primary role with Elementar is to run the applications lab and perform a number of tasks to help support the sales team.  Examples include running customer demo samples, performing instrument demonstrations, and method development.  In his previous role as a Service Engineer at Elementar Tyson had the opportunity to travel to Germany, Equatorial Guinea (Africa), England, and 31 states in the US (still waiting for Hawaii!).

In response to increased business, Elementar is currently looking to fill a field service position.  Recent graduates in chemistry are encouraged to apply for this immediate opening.  Potential candidates are encouraged to contact Tyson directly by email. 

Honors Project Focuses on Polymer Chemistry

Congratulations to senior biochemistry major Anna Falls, who conducted her Honors Capstone Research with Dr. Perry Corbin, Associate Professor of Chemistry.  Anna recently completed a successful defense of her honors thesis, “Synthesis, Characterization, and Degradation of Calixarene-Core Polylactide Star Polymers.”  In addition to completing the requirements of the Honors Program, Anna has been active in the American Chemical Society as well as Ashland’s peer-tutoring program.  She is a College of Arts and Sciences Scholar and a Choose Ohio First Scholar.  Following graduation in December, Anna hopes to attend medical school and to pursue a career as a physician. 

Dr. Perry Corbin and Anna Falls