The University of Wyoming is proud to offer summer research opportunities to external undergraduate students to engage in research in bioinformatics and computational molecular biology in Laramie. The summer research program will last from May 24, 2010 to August 6, 2010 and will include a stipend of $3500 for the period.

The program in 2007-2008 included students from Amherst College, Oberlin College, Grinnell College, Juniata College, SUNY-Buffalo, and CUNY.

Information on the 2009 students and their research can be found here.

The program includes both lectures and educational opportunities as well as a focus on a research experience. Lectures will be given by both University of Wyoming faculty and external speakers. During the summer, Nikolay Dokholyan (University of North Carolina) will give a presentation on protein structure prediction. Keith Crandall (Brigham Young University) will give a presentation on phylogenetic methods.

Several labs that will host bioinformatics/computational molecular biology students include:

• Alex Buerkle: Statistical genetics and models of adaptation and speciation

• Rex Gantenbein: Computational resources for rural health and education

• Mark Gomelsky: Statistical analysis of microarray data; microbiology

• Snehalata Huzurbazar: Birth-death processes in biology

• Jan Kubelka: Protein folding

• David Liberles: Comparative genomics and molecular evolution

• Jessica Siltberg-Liberles: Protein structural bioinformatics

• Anne Sylvester: Comparative genomics of maize

• Dan Wall: Genetics of bacterial motility

• Naomi Ward: Metagenomics and Microbial Genomics

• Cynthia Weinig: Environmental Genetics and Adaptation in Plants

To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and statement of research interests to liberles@uwyo.edu, arrange to have 2 letters of recommendation sent directly by the letter writer to liberles@uwyo.edu, and arrange to have an official transcript sent to:

David Liberles
Department of Molecular Biology
Dept. 3944
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071

Your cover letter should indicate: 1). Any prior experience in computer programming and if none, any interest in a mini-tutorial on programming; 2). Your plans (if known) immediately after graduation and if they include immediately attending graduate or professional school; 3). If your ultimate career plans involve a Ph.D., an M.D., or an M.D./Ph.D., and 4). Your top two choices of research group to work in over the summer.

Applications for Summer, 2010 are now being accepted. Review of applications will begin on February 5, 2010 and continue until the class is filled.