undergraduate research opportunities northwestern

• Research Opportunities

Start your undergraduate research

Undergraduate research is open to every undergraduate in any discipline.

But you can do so much more than conduct research. That's just the starting point for experiences that can connect you to students and faculty around the University, country and world. 

• Attend or present at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Expo
• Apply for an Undergraduate Research Grant
• Publish findings in the Northwestern Undergraduate Research Journal
• Submit your work to the Undergraduate Awards , an international pan-discipline awards program
• Contact the Office of Fellowships to see if you qualify for a fellowship

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

What direction will your research take you?

As an undergraduate at Northwestern, not only do you have the option to engage in scholarly research, regardless of your school, but your options for undergraduate research are almost endless. Here’s where it’s taken six of our undergraduates.

I’m working on a research project to develop the chemical vapor deposition of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for applications in nanoscale photonics and solid-state devices.”

Spencer Park McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science Dual-Degree Program: Trumpet Performance & Materials Science and Engineering; Business Institutions Program minor

I recently had an Undergraduate Research Grant to research indigenous language maintenance within the Lepcha community of India. My research advisor is helping me put my research into the bigger picture of language revitalization work.”

Steffi Brock-Wilson Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Economics major; Certificate in Civic Engagement

I’m working in a lab with Dr. Beverly Wright. I am being considered a peer among faculty members. It's an amazing opportunity to get started on research very early in my undergraduate experience.”

Simran Chadha School of Communication Communication Sciences and Disorders major; Global Health and/or Political Science minor

I worked with a professor to research and edit a textbook on social media. Also, I spent several quarters working with the professor who founded “The Youth Project,” a Medill-run publication centered on issues of social justice.”

Carter Sherman Medill School of Journalism Journalism and International Studies double major

Academic Catalog

2023-2024 Edition

Undergraduate Research

Fellowships.

northwestern.edu/fellowships

Northwestern undergraduates win an array of national and international fellowships. Such awards fund study, research, and service opportunities in the United States and around the globe. The Office of Fellowships works with students in group and individual advising sessions to identify fellowships that fit their educational, professional, and personal goals. The office offers guidance on the preparation of written applications and conducts practice interviews.

Independent Study (399)

Many departments offer seminars and independent studies for qualified undergraduates. An independent study, typically numbered 399, in any department enables a student to engage in individual special study and research, which may involve work in a laboratory or library, fieldwork outside the University, or the creation of a work of art. The maximum credit a student may receive for 399 (or equivalent independent study) during any quarter is 2 units.

Support for Undergraduate Research Endeavors

undergradresearch.northwestern.edu

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) awards more than $1.5 million annually to students pursuing research and creative projects across all fields of study.  OUR uses an advising-centric model that focuses on helping students learn how to get started and how to write successful grant proposals; OUR advisors meet one-on-one with more than 500 students a year, totaling over 1,200 advising appointments.

OUR has three core programs. The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) allows faculty to apply for funding to hire students to help with their own projects in a formal mentoring environment designed to foster rapid development. The program focuses on assisting students just getting started in research and prefers disciplines where funding for undergraduates is hard to get, such as in the humanities or creative arts.  The Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) program funds independent research and creative projects across all disciplines.  The 35+ member faculty review committee is currently charged with offering a strictly merit-based review of grant proposals.  This process means that the committee can fund any and all projects that they feel are worthy.  If a student has a solid idea, works with faculty mentors, and uses the Office’s advising to learn how to write a successful grant proposal, then the competition is not between students, but rather challenges the individual student to discover what is needed in a field and create a project to potentially address this need to gain funding.  These grants regularly transform a student's experience of college and beyond.  Finally, OUR runs the Undergraduate Research and Arts Exposition, an annual showcase of student work through oral presentations, posters, and a Creative Arts Festival.  For all participants, OUR runs workshops designed to help students develop strong and effective communication skills, specifically for an audience that isn’t already familiar with their field of interest. 

Other OUR grants provide support for intensive language study or for conference travel. An annual $9,500 award—the Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant, jointly funded by Northwestern University and the Circumnavigators Club ­Foundation—enables one undergraduate researcher to undertake around-the-world travel during the summer before their senior year.  OUR recently launched the Emerging Scholars Program, a 15-month funded program specifically for students who identify as first generation, lower income, people of color, and/or marginalized.  This grant focuses on providing opportunities for students to get started in research and/or creative activities in the arts, humanities, journalism, and social sciences, and this program is focused on supporting research and creative art that speaks to issues of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, OUR maintains a comprehensive website full of resources for students looking to get started in research.

The Office of Undergraduate Research also collaborates with a variety of student organizations committed to supporting research, including the Northwestern Undergraduate Research Journal (NURJ) , the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) , and TEDx Northwestern . 

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Academic Year Programs

Academic year undergraduate research grants.

Academic Year URGs provide up to $1,000 to pay for your research expenses to do an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. The project must be connected to an independent study or thesis seminar for at least one quarter during the academic year. Independent research grants center around a research question the student seeks to answer through the proposed methodology; the student is involved in multiple aspects of the research process including data collection, analysis, and synthesis of results (regardless of what methodology is used to answer the proposed question).

Academic Year URG Advanced

Academic Year URG Advanced are for students who have already received an Academic Year URG from the Office of Undergraduate Research.  This program mirrors the AYURG program, and simply provides you with an additional funding opportunity.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Program

The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program pairs inexperienced students with faculty who are in need of assistance on their own research projects. In doing so, students who do not have sufficient research experience to design and carry out their own URG project gain first-hand mentored knowledge of research practices in their discipline, while faculty who would not otherwise be able to hire Research Assistants (RAs) get help with their own projects. Faculty can apply with a particular student(s) in mind, or the Office of Undergraduate Research can assist in finding a student for them by running a search. All positions pay $16.00/hour.

Summer Programs

Summer undergraduate research grants.

Summer URGs provide a $4,000 stipend to cover living expenses for eight weeks of full-time research on an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. Independent research grants center around a research question the student seeks to answer through the proposed methodology; the student is involved in multiple aspects of the research process including data collection, analysis, and synthesis of results (regardless of what methodology is used to answer the proposed question).  

Summer URG Advanced

Summer URG Advanced are for students who have already received an Summer URG from the Office of Undergraduate Research.  This program mirrors the Summer URG program, and simply provides you with an additional funding opportunity.

Undergraduate Language Grants

ULGs provide up to $5,000 towards the cost of intensive summer language study either in the US or abroad. The program’s goal is to fund students for whom this language training is central to the achievement of specific academic or professional goals.

Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant

A once-in-a-lifetime $9,500 grant to spend the summer travelling the world, researching a topic of your choice. Only juniors are eligible for this grant.

Hybrid Programs

Conference travel grants.

CTGs fund 50% of your expenses (up to $500) to present your research or original creative work at a conference. CTG applications are accepted on a rolling basis until June 1st.

Emerging Scholars Program

Our most recent grant program focused specifically on serving first year students who identify as first generation, lower income, people of color, and/or marginalized.  This grant focuses on providing opportunities for students to get started in research and/or creative activities in the arts, humanities, journalism, and social sciences – basically, research that doesn’t take place in a lab environment.  The Emerging Scholars Program will provide you with stipend (living expense money) funding for 15 months, starting the summer after your first year and stretching through your sophomore year and summer. There will be personal and professional development workshops throughout the program as well as time to meet and network with faculty and administrators.

DEPARTMENT OF ART HISTORY

• Undergraduate

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research is a vital component of an art history major or minor, and an increasing number of our students are taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad or to conduct individual research projects. Students interested in study-abroad programs should consult the Northwestern Study Abroad website .

Weinberg College Funding Opportunities

Interested students should see the Director of Undergraduate Studies as well as consult the Office of Undergraduate Research .

In particular, our majors have an excellent record of receiving Undergraduate Research Grants , which are awarded for amounts of up to $1000 to assist Weinberg undergraduates in pursuing original research or creative work under the close supervision of a faculty member during the academic year.

Our majors are also very successful at winning Summer Undergraduate Research Grants , which offer up to $4000 to cover research and living expense for an eight-week summer period. Normally these are offered to sophomores and juniors.

Other important resources include:

• Conference Travel Grants (CTG) : funding for students presenting at conferences/meetings
• Undergraduate Language Grants (ULG) : funding intensive summer language study
• Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant : $9500 to support an around-the-world travel-study project during the summer between junior and senior year.
• Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) : a new pilot program funding research assistants to work on faculty research projects
• Humanities Research Workshops (HRW) : a new program designed to help students in the humanities and creative arts learn to get involved in research in their fields

In addition, the Office of the Provost runs the  Undergraduate Research Symposium  in which many of our students participate regularly.

For more information or for any specific questions, feel free to contact the Coordinator/Advisors for the various grant programs.

Peter Civetta Director Undergrad Research Office 847-467-0499 [email protected]

Designated Funds and Special Grants

There are also a number of Weinberg College Designated Funds and Special Grants of Interest to Art History Majors, including:

Katherine L. Kreighbaum Scholarships  are awarded by the WCAS Committee on Superior Students and Honors after departmental nomination. For further information, contact Associate Dean  Liz Trubey .

Herskovits Undergraduate Fellowship Program  provides funding for research involving the use of Northwestern's renowned Africana collection. The fellowships are administered by Weinberg College's undergraduate program, the Program of African Studies, and the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies. Contact the Program of African Studies at 847-491-7323 for additional information.

Posner Summer Fellowship Program  provides summer research funds for students from underrepresented groups who are at earlier stages than students eligible for most other funding sources – typically fist-years and sophomores. For more information, contact Associate Dean  Liz Trubey .

Lane Environmental Studies Grants  provide funding for research on environmental issues. Applications for research during the academic year should be submitted on the Weinberg Academic Research Grant form. Applications for research during the summer should be submitted on the Weinberg Summer Research Grant form. Prior application to the URG committee is not required. Forms are submitted to Professor  William Haarlow , Director of Weinberg College Undergraduate Research, with a subject line that says, "Environmental Research" and your last name.

Sion Asia-Related Research Grants  provide funding for research on Asia-related topics. Applications for research during the academic year should be submitted on the Weinberg Academic Research Grant form. Applications for research during the summer should be submitted on the Weinberg Summer Research Grant form. Prior application to the URG committee is not required. Forms are submitted to Professor  William Haarlow , Director of Weinberg College Undergraduate Research, with a subject line that says, "Asia Research" and your last name.

COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROGRAM

• Undergraduate

Research Opportunities

Summer undergraduate research fellowships, get involved in research.

Northwestern is one of the top universities in the world for research, and it's easier than you think to become a part of a lab. Keep in mind that working closely with a lab can lead to independent study credit, a senior thesis, and letters of recommendation from faculty members. Many undergraduate students even publish papers in professional journals based on their work. It's never too early to start. While some labs require that you've taken statistics or research methods, many labs would be happy to accept enthusiastic students in their first year at Northwestern. Labs sometimes advertise research positions , and most wait for students to approach the lab. So be proactive. Go to the Cog Sci faculty page, and click on a few dozen faculty pages. Read their research descriptions, poke around their lab pages, and pick a few that seem most interesting to you. 

For more information or questions, please reach out the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Erin Leddon .

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Undergraduate   /   Research Opportunities Gateway Research Awards for Undergraduates

To encourage first- and second-year students to get involved in the McCormick research enterprise.

Description

This competition will make $1,000 available to students who show clear promise for doing outstanding work as a researcher.

These funds will be available until May 31, 2016 and are to be used for research-related expenses only.

Students are urged to review all the information related to getting started in a research endeavor .

Applicants will use the online application management process through the drop-down menu of the McCormick Undergraduate Opportunities portal where they will up-load their documents.

A faculty endorsement will need to be entered, too.

The deadline for submission is Friday, November 13, 2015.

Judging & Selection Process

A panel of three faculty will serve as the jury for the applications. Final award decisions will be made by the dean of undergraduate studies.

How to Apply

Complete the Online Application

With their application, applicants must submit the following as a PDF file:

• The project title
• Project abstract (150 words or less)
• Description of proposed work (500 words or less)
• Statement on importance or impact of project (150 words or less)
• The name of the faculty mentor for the project
• Personal resume (300 words or less)

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Undergraduate Study   /   Core Curriculum Social Science / Humanities Theme Requirement

To ensure they become well-rounded engineers, all McCormick students must complete the Social Science / Humanities Theme Requirement (or “Theme”) in which they develop an area of competency related to humanities.

To fulfill the requirement, each student selects a set of seven related courses built around a central “theme” or topic of interest to the student.

How to Fulfill the Social Science / Humanities Theme Requirement

What is Social Science?

The social sciences relate to the study of human behavior in terms of interpersonal, institutional, societal relationships, and social change. Social scientists connect human behavior to the larger social, cultural, economic, and political framework of the world in which we live.

What Are the Humanities?

Human culture has created art, language, and literature, constructed and studied philosophical systems, and in these works debated how people function as individuals and within society.

Study of the humanities directly addresses human endeavors, imparting a deeper sense of what it means to be fully human, both an individual and as citizens in a complex modern world with a rich cultural history.

Note: Some language has been taken from Wikipedia and from the documents “Social Sciences at Northwestern” and “Humanities at Northwestern” by Dean Mary Finn of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

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Arnold Ventures’s Building Evidence: Support for Causal Studies to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies, LOI due June 1, 2024

Posted May 6, 2024 by tvp0603

The Arnold Ventures’s Building Evidence RFP aims to identify and evaluate evidence-based solutions targeting the nation’s most pressing social problems. The program will fund researchers to conduct rigorous, causal research that aligns with key AV policy areas, including higher education, infrastructure, contraceptive choice and access, and public finance. Proposals should address policy relevance, study design, and implementation feasibility. OFR Contact: Chloe Taft Kang . Amount: Not specified. Deadline: 6/1/24 (LOI).

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Fostering research, careers, and community in materials science

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Gabrielle Wood, a junior at Howard University majoring in chemical engineering, is on a mission to improve the sustainability and life cycles of natural resources and materials. Her work in the Materials Initiative for Comprehensive Research Opportunity (MICRO) program has given her hands-on experience with many different aspects of research, including MATLAB programming, experimental design, data analysis, figure-making, and scientific writing.

Wood is also one of 10 undergraduates from 10 universities around the United States to participate in the first MICRO Summit earlier this year. The internship program, developed by the MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE), first launched in fall 2021. Now in its third year, the program continues to grow, providing even more opportunities for non-MIT undergraduate students — including the MICRO Summit and the program’s expansion to include Northwestern University.

“I think one of the most valuable aspects of the MICRO program is the ability to do research long term with an experienced professor in materials science and engineering,” says Wood. “My school has limited opportunities for undergraduate research in sustainable polymers, so the MICRO program allowed me to gain valuable experience in this field, which I would not otherwise have.”

Like Wood, Griheydi Garcia, a senior chemistry major at Manhattan College, values the exposure to materials science, especially since she is not able to learn as much about it at her home institution.

“I learned a lot about crystallography and defects in materials through the MICRO curriculum, especially through videos,” says Garcia. “The research itself is very valuable, as well, because we get to apply what we’ve learned through the videos in the research we do remotely.” Expanding research opportunities

From the beginning, the MICRO program was designed as a fully remote, rigorous education and mentoring program targeted toward students from underserved backgrounds interested in pursuing graduate school in materials science or related fields. Interns are matched with faculty to work on their specific research interests.

Jessica Sandland ’99, PhD ’05, principal lecturer in DMSE and co-founder of MICRO, says that research projects for the interns are designed to be work that they can do remotely, such as developing a machine-learning algorithm or a data analysis approach.

“It’s important to note that it’s not just about what the program and faculty are bringing to the student interns,” says Sandland, a member of the MIT Digital Learning Lab , a joint program between MIT Open Learning and the Institute’s academic departments. “The students are doing real research and work, and creating things of real value. It’s very much an exchange.” Cécile Chazot PhD ’22, now an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern University, had helped to establish MICRO at MIT from the very beginning. Once at Northwestern, she quickly realized that expanding MICRO to Northwestern would offer even more research opportunities to interns than by relying on MIT alone — leveraging the university’s strong materials science and engineering department, as well as offering resources for biomaterials research through Northwestern’s medical school. The program received funding from 3M and officially launched at Northwestern in fall 2023. Approximately half of the MICRO interns are now in the program with MIT and half are with Northwestern. Wood and Garcia both participate in the program via Northwestern. “By expanding to another school, we’ve been able to have interns work with a much broader range of research projects,” says Chazot. “It has become easier for us to place students with faculty and research that match their interests.”

Building community

The MICRO program received a Higher Education Innovation grant from the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab , part of MIT Open Learning, to develop an in-person summit. In January 2024, interns visited MIT for three days of presentations, workshops, and campus tours — including a tour of the MIT.nano building — as well as various community-building activities.

“A big part of MICRO is the community,” says Chazot. “A highlight of the summit was just seeing the students come together.”

The summit also included panel discussions that allowed interns to gain insights and advice from graduate students and professionals. The graduate panel discussion included MIT graduate students Sam Figueroa (mechanical engineering), Isabella Caruso (DMSE), and Eliana Feygin (DMSE). The career panel was led by Chazot and included Jatin Patil PhD ’23, head of product at SiTration; Maureen Reitman ’90, ScD ’93, group vice president and principal engineer at Exponent; Lucas Caretta PhD ’19, assistant professor of engineering at Brown University; Raquel D’Oyen ’90, who holds a PhD from Northwestern University and is a senior engineer at Raytheon; and Ashley Kaiser MS ’19, PhD ’21, senior process engineer at 6K.

Students also had an opportunity to share their work with each other through research presentations. Their presentations covered a wide range of topics, including: developing a computer program to calculate solubility parameters for polymers used in textile manufacturing; performing a life-cycle analysis of a photonic chip and evaluating its environmental impact in comparison to a standard silicon microchip; and applying machine learning algorithms to scanning transmission electron microscopy images of CrSBr, a two-dimensional magnetic material. 

“The summit was wonderful and the best academic experience I have had as a first-year college student,” says MICRO intern Gabriella La Cour, who is pursuing a major in chemistry and dual degree biomedical engineering at Spelman College and participates in MICRO through MIT. “I got to meet so many students who were all in grades above me … and I learned a little about how to navigate college as an upperclassman.” 

“I actually have an extremely close friendship with one of the students, and we keep in touch regularly,” adds La Cour. “Professor Chazot gave valuable advice about applications and recommendation letters that will be useful when I apply to REUs [Research Experiences for Undergraduates] and graduate schools.”

Looking to the future, MICRO organizers hope to continue to grow the program’s reach.

“We would love to see other schools taking on this model,” says Sandland. “There are a lot of opportunities out there. The more departments, research groups, and mentors that get involved with this program, the more impact it can have.”

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Related links.

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• Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab
• Digital Learning Lab
• MIT Open Learning
• Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• MICRO Mentoring Resources And Materials Science Curriculum

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Academics   /   Courses   /   Course Descriptions MECH_ENG 395: Design and Manufacturing of Medical Devices Keys

Description.

Medical devices play an essential role in improving the quality of human life. Consequently, their design poses unique engineering challenges. Designers must address high standards of reliability, risk-mitigation, and biocompatibility necessary to perform these essential life-supporting functions. In this course, students will learn how to translate these requirements into design specifications, manufacturing processes, and quality controls necessary for the mass production of medical devices. This course will cover:

• case studies on the design and manufacturing of medical devices currently on the market
• analysis of differing economic and user-centered needs of medical device stakeholders (especially healthcare providers, clinicians, and patients)
• a review of FDA standards (and other global regulations) on medical device manufacturing and testing
• development and analysis of plans for clinical trials
• strategies for the selection of biocompatible materials

Students will synthesize these learnings into a project where they will work in teams to design, manufacture, and test a tool set for performing an orthopedic surgical procedure.

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Undergraduate Students find research offers a learning experience unlike anything else

Understanding the benefits of undergraduate research.

Undergraduate research opportunities can open doors for students as they take the next step in their journey. For students considering graduate school, a research experience can help make that decision by giving the student a taste of what’s to come. Students who have never even considered graduate school might realize they have an affinity for research. Even students who don’t plan to continue with a graduate education, can gain a huge edge in the job market from having a experience with research. As students begin to enter the job market, they are realizing that employers are looking for potential employees who have real-world experience and an understanding of the research process. Research gives students a greater understanding of the concepts and ideas they study as part of their coursework and working through an individual research project forces students to look for answers beyond their textbooks and navigate through issues, developing essential critical thinking skills.  

Although the majority of the students working at the Institute are graduate students, we take every opportunity to support undergraduate research for interested students. We offer research experience for wage payroll students, students enrolled in the senior research-focused Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering (EGEE) 494 or the industrial-oriented capstone energy design course (EGEE) 464 as well as for students completing independent coursework or honors thesis projects. The students that work at the Institute benefit from working along side faculty, research staff, and graduate students. They receive guidance and training, but are pushed to think for themselves through processes and outcomes.

Educating Students on Research Opportunities

As part of our outreach and recruitment efforts, the EMS Energy Institute participates each year in the Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition (EMEX). Sharon Falcone Miller, director of the Office of Student Development at the Institute, coordinates the effort. She is usually joined by one or two students currently working on research projects at the Institute who are able to discuss their work and answer questions on their experience. Dr. Miller spends the day talking to attendees and providing an overview of the opportunities available through the Institute in one of our nine research focus areas with the goal of educating potential students on the benefits of having a research Institute available to them. Many students are unaware of the option to complete research as an undergraduate and how that experience can benefit them in the future.

EMEX is the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences annual open house. All high school students, current Penn State students, and transfer students who are considering an EMS major are invited to attend. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni answer questions and talk to attendees about EMS majors, curriculum requirements, career opportunities, student life, and special features of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. This year the event was held on March 16 and over 425 prospective students and their families participated.  

"The opportunity to participate in undergraduate research at the EMS Energy Institute was a way for me to apply the knowledge I learned in my classes to real world problems. My research experience taught me more about designing and building experimental set-ups, data collection, and data analysis than any of my classes because instead of following a set of prescribed lab procedures, I was challenged to collaborate with my colleagues and solve open ended problems. My mentors taught me a wide range of skills from how to approach research problems, to giving presentations to collaborators, to using Swagelok fittings. I was very fortunate to be able to publish a first author paper on my work, as well as present my project at two technical conferences. My work at the Institute motivated me to seek new research opportunities and to apply to graduate school." -- Laura Bradley (‘11) is a PhD candiate at the University of Southern California.

“ Participating in research projects as an undergraduate student helped me to develop many skills that are difficult to attain through regular classwork . EMS Energy Institute research projects were an opportunity to work with a team of students to design, construct and operate experimental systems under the guidance of talented researchers.” -- Derek Hall (‘12) is a graduate student working at the EMS Energy Institute.

“Unlike the normal classroom atmosphere where a certain curriculum must be followed, the senior research project is chosen by each student to focus on their strengths in addition to interest in the field of engineering. [Offering] a choice [for students] to research a topic that the student has fully chosen on their own, creates a learning experience unlike others. The experience teaches long term self-reliance and time management which complement the skills required in the working field of today’s industries. ” -- Ken Meagher’s (‘13) project examined the properties of the coal-derived jet fuel JP 900 as they relate to transportation and miliary diesel fuel needs. He plans to work in combustion analysis in the transportation industry.

“Participating in a research project as part of my undergraduate degree helped me connect with other students and professors who share similar interests. The challenges associated with working on a project helped further develop skills in solving complex problems. ” -- Eric LaRow is an undergradaute student in the Penn State Schreyer Honors College. His research at the Institute focuses on characterizing and improving the performance of a CuCl electrolyzer as part of the CuCl hybrid thermochemical cycle.

“I was able to learn more about a topic that was directly relevant to my interests, and I had the freedom to take an in-depth look at something that I am passionate about. It wasn’t always easy along the way, and there was a good deal of problem solving and troubleshooting I had to do to get things to work; sometimes a reaction would go wrong, or scheduling proved more difficult than I expected. In the end, I was able to work things out and accomplish what I set out to do. I learned how to adapt and shape my project into something meaningful, something that I’m proud of . I have no doubt the experience will be valuable to me when I begin to work in the alternative energy field.”

-- Karl Koerner (’13) completed a project on the economic viability of converting waste fryer oil into biodiesel in the State College area. He plans to work in the alternative energy field and eventually pursue an advanced degree in order to teach.

For more information on student research or the opportunities available through the EMS Energy Institute, visit the Office of Student Development website, www.energy.psu.edu/osd/index.html , or contact Sharon Falcone Miller, [email protected] .

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Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Translational Brain Tumor Research

The Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University is seeking outstanding postdoctoral scholars for expansion of basic and translational studies related to modulation of the blood-brain barrier to enhance passage of drugs, biologicals and cells for treatment of neurological diseases and brain cancer, precision medicine-based approaches to cancer drugs for gliomas, and the study of the effects of ultrasound therapy on the brain across species.  

This position offers an opportunity to work in the NIH-funded lab of Dr. Adam Sonabend , a neurosurgeon-scientist with a background in translational brain tumor research, the study of glioma progression, and regulation of transcription. The Sonabend Lab has a strong translational emphasis and relies on patient tumor specimens and clinical data, transgenic mouse glioma models, next-generation sequencing data (ChIP-seq, exome sequencing, RNA-seq), and cutting-edge technologies such as whole genome CRISPR screens for advancing our projects. Most projects involve analysis of clinical-trial related specimens, where biological questions are investigated.

The lab has strong collaborations with expert groups in complementary fields including Dr. Maciej Lesniak’s lab (Northwestern University) for tumor immunology, Dr. Ali Shilatifard (Northwestern University) for epigenetics, and Dr. Raul Rabadan’s lab (Columbia University) for computational and systems biology. The department offers a nurturing environment for career development, a stimulating community of several brain tumor research labs, weekly conferences and seminars of interest.

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to build a publication record including submissions to leading cancer biology journals; supervise rotating undergraduate, graduate and medical students; apply for internal and/or extramural funding; and attend national meetings that will help to build an international reputation.  

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer biology, gene therapy or neuroscience.  

Required Competencies:  

• Experience working with small animal models and mammalian cell culture.
• Ability to design and conduct experiments, maintain accurate GLP style recordkeeping, and collaborate effectively within a team environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare and present research at meetings and write scientific manuscripts in fluent English.

Preferred Competencies:  

• Expertise in immunology and flow cytometry techniques.
• Cloning, western blot, immunofluorescence, qPCR.
• Familiarity with next generation sequencing data and gene expression analysis.
• CRISPR, gene silencing and over-expression techniques.
• Assembly of viral vectors.  
• Basic coding and next-generation sequencing analysis.  

Interested applicants must send a current curriculum vitae, a cover letter containing a short summary of research experience and aspirations, and names and contact information for at least three professional references to Dawn Rose  via email at  [email protected] . Applicant must be able to begin employment no later than August 1, 2024 .  

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.