Program Overview

Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CPB-SURP)

The Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CPB-SURP) is a 9-week summer internship designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on training in innovative research in the disciplines of chemical biology, biochemistry, structural biology, and physiology. The program is conducted at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, and aims to engage students in state-of-the-art techniques in biomedical discovery, leading to uncovering the fundamental mechanisms of health and disease.

Program Details

• The program starts on June 16 and participants will engage in the full 9-weeks.
• Participants will receive a stipend of $5,742 for the summer to cover travel, accommodations, and incidental expenses.
• Interns will present their research at an intern research poster symposium.
• The program includes career development activities to provide students with the skills and knowledge to assess and plan their future careers in science.

Eligibility

1. Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
2. Completed at least four semesters or six quarters of undergraduate study.
3. Has a desire to explore advanced education and a career in biomedical research.
4. Must participate in the entire 9-week summer program.
5. Be available to participate in the internship poster symposium on August 15.

• International students currently studying in the U.S. on a valid VISA are eligible to apply, pending the terms of their VISA and approval by their designated school official.

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to daily research activities, students will also participate in:

1. Journal talks
2. An intern poster symposium to present summer research
3. Sessions on scientific and professional development
4. Social and culture events

Accommodations and Local Transportation

• Out-of-town interns in need of housing are encouraged to explore intern housing through Portland State University (PSU).
• The program will provide Tri-Met passes for Portland's bus and light-rail system for interested interns.

Application Requirements

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Personal statement: a brief description (1 page) of your most meaningful research experience and future career goals.
3. A list of up to three CPB faculty members you are interested in working with, along with a short paragraph describing your interests in their labs.
4. Unofficial college transcript
5. 2 letters of recommendation addressing your research and science experience.

Research Areas

The following labs have summer internship opportunities available:

• Benjamin Barad: Uses cryo-electron tomography to understand how cells reorganize themselves in response to bacterial infection.
• Michael Cohen: Interested in uncovering new roles for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) regulation in cells and elucidating the function of ADP-ribosylation.
• Beth Habecker: Studying nerves that control the heart and how neuron-heart interactions during injury and disease contribute to bad outcomes.
• Meghna Gupta: Focuses on delineating the role of membrane proteins in human health and disease using biochemistry, biophysics, and assay development.
• Braden Lobingier: Studies a family of signaling receptors, called GPCRs, involved in drug abuse and mental health.
• Show-Ling Shyng: Interested in understanding how a class of ion channels called KATP channels sense metabolic changes to control physiological processes.