SLU Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (IDBI-SPUR) 2024

NOTE:  This positions is only available to enrolled full-time at Saint Louis University as an undergraduate and will still be enrolled full-time at Saint Louis University as an undergraduate in AY 2024/2025

SLU Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (IDBI-SPUR) 2024

Saint Louis University's IDBI Summer Program in Undergraduate Research (IDBI-SPUR) provides paid summer research opportunities and structured training activities for SLU undergraduate students working in IDBI member laboratories.

IDBI-SPUR aims to increase the number of undergraduates who can participate in research by providing stipends for summer research. To enhance the research and educational experience, IDBI-SPUR includes structured cohort activities (e.g. research training activities, mid-summer gatherings) and required participation in the fall IDBI Research Symposium. Additionally, students are encouraged to present their research at research symposia locally, such as the spring SLU Sigma Xi Research Symposium, regionally, and nationally.

All undergraduates working in IDBI Member labs are invited to participate in IDBI-SPUR cohort activities and the IDBI Research Symposium.

IDBI-SPUR has two funding opportunities for undergraduate research stipends:

1. Full-time summer research through the DeNardo IDBI-SPUR program. DeNardo Education and Research Research Foundation IDBI-SPUR Fellows will participate in a 10-week long research fellowship (May 28th - August 2nd) full-time for 40 hours/week. Fellows are paid a $6000 stipend and are awarded $250 to use towards research costs.

2. Part-time summer research through IDBI-SPUR. The part-time positions are for any 8 weeks during the summer (earliest start date May 20th; latest start date June 17th; latest end date August 9th) in which the Fellows work between 10 and 20 hours per week and get paid $15/hour.

About the Fellowships

• Research Period Timeline

o The DeNardo IDBI-SPUR (full-time) will cover a ten-week research period: May 28, 2024 – August 2, 2024

o The IDBI-SPUR (part-time) will cover an eight-week research period that fits best for the Fellow and Faculty Mentor and falls between May 20, 2024 and August 9, 2024

• Description

o The major educational experience for the Fellows will be through the time they spend doing research in the laboratories of IDBI senior members. Faculty mentors will be responsible for supervision of fellows in their laboratory. Although students will be trained in techniques specific to each research project, all students will participate in an authentic research experience that will involve them in designing and carrying out experiments, interpreting results, asking questions, developing hypotheses, and seeking answers.

• Expectations

o Fellows will need to commit fully to the research project and research period timeline

o Fellows are expected to participate in at least two IDBI-SPUR events during the summer: IDBI-SPUR Ice Cream Social (May 29, 2024), IDBI-SPUR Picnic Lunch (June 28, 2024), and IDBI-SPUR Research Blitz Party (July 29, 2024).

o Fellows will be required to present their research at the Annual IDBI Research Symposium in early fall (September 6, 2024). The Fellows can choose to present their research orally or as a poster presentation at the symposium.

o Fellows will be invited to continue to perform research in the mentor’s lab over the academic year, earning academic credit.

o Fellows will be encouraged to attend and present their work at the Sigma Xi research symposium at SLU in the spring and at a national conference in the expertise of their faculty mentor, especially if they choose to continue their research experience beyond the summer.

• Benefits for the Fellows (What can be obtained other than $$)

o To develop experience in research design, scientific methods, and scientific communication: It likely goes without saying that the Fellows will gain hands-on experience conducting original research which supports their understanding of how to design experiments, how to perform different methods and techniques, how to analyze and interpret results, and how to communicate effectively to share their research with others.

o To develop lasting mentoring relationships: Although this is a summer research program, we imagine that the Fellow and faculty mentor will continue their student-mentor relationship during the academic year and beyond.

o To foster lab group community: Many of the IDBI research labs are composed of many different types of researchers in addition to the faculty mentor, such as other undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, lab assistants, and/or lab managers. As such, participation in research can help the Fellows find a niche on campus creating a sense of community to research lab groups.

o To change perspective on failure and ignorance: Many Fellows start out in a research lab thinking that they know very little and think that when experiments fail, it is due to their fault or mistake. Working in a lab helps the Fellow start to think like a researcher and appreciate that not knowing everything and failed experiments are not personal shortcomings but instead opportunities to ask new questions, reframe problems, and to try new approaches.

o To explore career and graduate education options: Undergraduate research develops transferable skills with broad application, including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and independence. Fellows can use these skills in their future careers and education as they decide what their next steps are after graduation.

• Eligibility

o Enrolled full-time at Saint Louis University as an undergraduate and will still be enrolled full-time at Saint Louis University as an undergraduate in AY 2024/2025

o Interested in research with a focus on drug and biotherapeutic discovery for cancer, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, or other medical conditions.

• Application Requirements

For All Applicants:

• Completed application form (see below)

• An up-to-date resume or CV

• A cover letter containing a statement of purpose indicating how the DeNardo IDBI-SPUR (full-time) or the IDBI-SPUR (part-time) Fellowship will help you achieve your goals

For DeNardo IDBI-SPUR Applicants:

• A copy of your transcript (unofficial is fine)

• One letter of recommendation from a science instructor (sent directly from recommender to blythe.janowiakmulligan@slu.edu with subject line: “LOR for DeNardo IDBI-SPUR”)

How IDBI-SPUR Fellows are Selected

Applications will be reviewed by a 3-member committee led by Dr. Blythe Janowiak and include members of the SLU-IDBI Leadership Team and reviewers recruited from the senior members of IDBI. Criteria for selection will include, in no particular order, the strength of statement of purpose, evidence of teamwork & communication skills, and the match to a faculty mentor. Final determinations will be made in consultation with faculty mentors.

How DeNardo IDBI-SPUR Fellows are Selected

Applications will be reviewed by a 5-member committee led by Dr. Blythe Janowiak and include members of the SLU-IDBI Leadership Team and reviewers recruited from the senior members of IDBI. Criteria for selection will include, in no particular order, the applicant’s academic record, strength of statement of purpose, strength of letter of recommendation, and evidence of teamwork & communication skills. Final determinations will be made in consultation with faculty mentors. No more than one DeNardo IDBI-SPUR Fellow will be assigned per faculty mentor.