The goals of the program are to provide research experiences for Deaf and hard of hearing (D/hh) students, to improve awareness of Deaf culture, and to provide training in deaf education practices to the scientific community. Hearing students who know American Sign Language (ASL) or are interested in learning more about the Deaf culture are encouraged to apply too. Students will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed career choices, be competitive in graduate research programs, and succeed in other STEM careers. They will be trained to develop and test hypotheses, gather and analyze the data, problem-solve and troubleshoot, review original literature, and convey their research findings to a scientific audience. This site will provide research opportunities to students interested in genetics and cellular and molecular biology. A team of mentors from the Biochemistry & Cell and Molecular Biology department will guide students through projects that explore signal transduction mechanisms in a variety of organisms. Students in this program will study interactions between organisms and their environment, cell-to-cell communications, and mechanisms of signal transduction. Projects will be available using a variety of organisms, including bacteria, yeast, plants, mice, and human cells. In addition to learning basic molecular, biochemical, and cell biology methods such as cloning, genetic analysis, and microbial cultivation, students will have an opportunity to use state-of-the-art techniques, including single-molecule and live-cell fluorescence microscopy, intra-cranial injection of viral vectors, computational analysis of genomic datasets, and flow cytometry. A special workshop will discuss unique challenges and opportunities in STEM careers for D/hh individuals.
biology, molecular signaling, genetics, signal transduction, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, plant biology, neuroscience, biophysics, computational biology, development, deaf, hard of hearing
Highly motivated Deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, or other Physical Sciences majors who are interested in molecular and cellular biological research and a career in STEM. Highly motivated hearing undergraduate students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, and/or Deaf Studies/Education who are interested in biological research and a career in STEM, as well as developing or refining skills in American Sign Language (ASL). No prior research experience is required. However, priority will be given to students who have completed at least one course in biology and/or chemistry. Undergraduates who will be attending a college or university in the fall of 2026 to work toward a Bachelor’s degree. (Graduating seniors are not eligible) United States citizens or permanent residents (required by NSF guidelines).
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