Dear Researchers:
Nine years ago, mcbUSA, a UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology student
organization, started a program called the "Summer Undergraduate Research Program"
(SURP). Last summer, with over 200 student applications and the participation of over
25 faculty researchers throughout the Bay Area, the program was again, incredibly
successful. The program's objective is to provide undergraduates with the opportunity to
begin work in a research laboratory during the summer term with the possibility of
continuing throughout the following academic year. These efforts are designed to enrich
academic experience by allowing eager students to explore laboratory research under the
tutelage of willing professors/research professionals. To achieve this, the program
requires the participation of UCB faculty and other life science researchers in the Bay
Area.
Procedure
● Faculty mentors/Researchers submit to us descriptions of available summer research
opportunities in their lab.
● We distribute the descriptions and applications to the student population.
● We collect these applications and return them to the appropriate faculty.
● Decisions and interviews will be at the faculty member's discretion.
This program is open to all departments and students of any major, though you may
specify any qualifications you deem necessary.
Timeline
●
●
Interested researchers will submit their projects by FEBRUARY 14th.
The projects and applications will be displayed on our web page and
distributed in hard copy beginning FEBRUARY 15th.
● Applications are due from the students by MARCH 7th.
● Applications will be delivered to faculty by MARCH 21st.
● Faculty will arrange interviews and start dates with the student(s) they
select; selected students should be notified by APRIL 18th.
Once you have chosen your student, please send the name to mcbusa@gmail.com for
statistical, journalistic purposes.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete and submit the form
below by FEBRUARY 14th to mcbusa@gmail.com.
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Faculty Project Proposal Submission
Project Submission deadline: February 14, 2014
Faculty Name: Manfred Auer, Ph.D. (Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley
National Lab, Donner Lab – on campus)
Email: mauer@lbl.gov
Phone Number: 510-457-5233
Department/Organization Affiliation:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Preferred Method of Contact: email
Project Name(s): Structural Cell Biology: Neurobiology, Cancer Biology &
Microbiology
General Topic (Keywords): architectural 3D organization of cells and
tissues/microbial communities
Project Description(s):
As can be seen from our group webpage:
http://www.lbl.gov/lsd/People_&_Organization/Scientific_Staff_Directory/Auer_Lab.ht
ml
http://auerlab.lbl.gov
http://auerlab.lbl.gov/research/
our research is fairly diverse and ranges from the molecular mechanisms of hearing,
over breast cancer, plant cell walls and biofuels to microbial communities/biofilms:
We excel in ultrastructural characterization of a variety of biological samples, using
ultrarapid freezing samples preparation, scanning and transmission electron microscopic
imaging (2D and 3D) at macromolecular resolution, involving state-of-the-art computer
graphics-assisted 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of complex cellular 3D
volumes.
There are a number of possible projects, depending on the exact need at the time of the
internship and preference of the student.
Mission
Our mission is to gain fundamental insight into biology, in part by visualizing molecular
machines at molecular resolution, and to identify their protein composition through novel
labeling approaches. While 2D electron microscopy and 3D electron tomography
continue to be the major tools for the analysis of macromolecular machines in their native
cellular environment, our tomographic studies are often complemented by biochemical,
cell biological, biophysical and high-end optical and TEM and SEM imaging techniques,
as well as computational data analysis including sophisticated visualization, segmentation
and quantitative analysis. Although the task of studying supramolecular complexes in
their native cellular environment is challenging, we feel rewarded by the discovery of the
fascinating complexity of molecular machines. The models derived from our structural
studies then often serve as a platform for further neurobiological, cell biological,
pharmacological or microbiological testing. Where we do not possess the expertise in our
own laboratory, we do collaborate with a variety of experts, both on the biological as well
as the technical side.
The Lab's Philosophy
Our efforts are fueled by the excitement of scientific discovery, and we believe that
studying important biological problems requires an atmosphere of true team spirit where
everybody's contribution is important and welcome. We consider a true passion for
science as the most important ingredient for doing good science, but also aim keep a
healthy balance between work and life outside the lab.
Desired Skills or Experience: no specific experience needed
Time Commitment: Must be serious about research, be able to commit full time for
first summer, part time during the year and ideally full time for the second summer.
This lab is ideal for students who know that they want to do research, are driven
and willing to join a diverse dedicated and fun team of young scientists. While we do
not expect you to know much (and will thus teach you), you must be self-motivated
and serious
Preferred Starting Date: We will conduct an orientation session where we will tell
you more about the lab, as well as two ~30 min interviews (one with the me, the
other with members of my lab), after which we will offer internships to a total of ~35 candidates. Once you are part of the “Auer lab family”, we decide together what
is a good starting date.