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OUR Weekly: August 21

2023

Hi Hokies!

In this week’s newsletter:

Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Resources

1. Check out the OUR website

The OUR website has many resources to support you at any stage in your undergraduate research journey. Some pages of particular relevance:

2. Drop-in hours with OUR Ambassadors

The OUR Ambassadors will be holding drop-in office hours every Monday from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in 220 Gilbert Street room 2101. Stop by and ask your research questions!

3. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Databases

4. Registering for Undergraduate Research Credits

If you are planning to complete undergraduate research for credit you must submit college-specific digital forms to your College Dean’s Office, typically within the first week of classes each semester. This form must be signed and approved by your research mentor (faculty member). Every college has their own procedure and deadline so check your college website for more information. Links to individual college pages are available on the OUR webpage.

5. Undergraduate Research Excellence Program (UREP)

The Undergraduate Research Excellence Program is designed to recognize students for their engagement in undergraduate research. It is open to any student, any major, and any academic year. You will track your journey through undergraduate research, from training and engaging to disseminating and reflecting. You will receive recognition at graduation with a specialty designed cord, and are eligible to receive awards at the Spring Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research Conference hosted annually by Virginia Tech.

6. Apply to become an OUR Ambassador

Are you passionate about undergraduate research? Do you want to share that passion and help other students get involved in research? The OUR is accepting applications to the OUR Student Ambassador Program. Students from any discipline are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, applicants must have prior research experience in any field. OUR Ambassadors are the face of the office and help advise and guide students interested in research. They interact with students through office hours, conduct information sessions, and help with outreach events. Apply to be an OUR Ambassador!

Virginia Tech Research Opportunities 

1. Translational Plant Sciences Center Research Opportunities

There are several opportunities available for paid or academic credit research with the Translational Plant Sciences Center.

  • Bargmann Lab
    • Seeking undergraduate research assistants to work with wheat tissue culture
    • $15/hr, 10 hrs per week
    • Email bastiaan@vt.edu
  • Jelesko Lab
    • Seeking undergraduate research assistants to work with wheat tissue culture
    • 9-12 hrs for academic credit
    • $10/hr for extensive genomics experience
    • Email jelesko@vt.edu
  • Williams Lab
    • Microbiome diversity and soy bean/corn characterization of nitrogen fixing bacteria as well as microbial activity in plants and soils- soil organic matter
    • Internships and paid positions
    • Email markwill@vt.edu
  • McDowell Lab
    • Seeking an undergraduate research assistant to help the group understand how plants and pathogens fight each other at the molecular level, and to examine new approaches for disease control in crops
    • $15/hr, 5-10 hrs/week during Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, and 20-40 hrs/week during Summer 2024
    • Will provide training in molecular lab techniques in the context of plant and microbial biology, based on broadly applicable principles of host-pathogen interactions.
    • Email johnmcd@vt.edu
  • Join our community

Conferences and Journal Submissions

1. Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia

The Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa) is a consortium of Virginia colleges and universities dedicated to supporting undergraduate research and creative activity throughout the state.

The NURVa conference is an opportunity for undergraduates in all disciplines to present their research and creative work at the 4th annual statewide conference. The conference will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA.

Conference registration, which includes lunch, will be free as the conference has been completely underwritten by a generous grant from the 4-VA Foundation.

NURVa invites submissions from undergraduates in all disciplines in the categories of oral presentation (12-minute), poster, or performance.

Submit abstracts (750 words maximum) with one letter of support from a faculty mentor endorsing the presentation of the project. Submission deadline for students and for faculty letters is midnight, October 15, 2023. No more than two submissions are permitted per student. See the NURVa Submission Form. Email Dr. David A. Salomon with any questions.

2. Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Undergraduate Scholarship

The 25th annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Undergraduate Scholarship (MARCUS) will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023. MARCUS is a presentation venue for undergraduate scholarship in all disciplines. This event will take place entirely in person on the Randolph College campus.

All attendees (presenters, faculty, mentors, and guests) need to register to attend MARCUS via the Simpletix portal. The early bird rate ends on September 22, 2023.

All student presenters must complete this Application to Submit a Presentation (deadline October 6, 2023) to be approved, scheduled for MARCUS, and included in the program. They reserve the right to edit abstracts, and/or request abstracts to be rewritten and resubmitted.

Additional details are available at the MARCUS site.

3. GYNECA

GYNECA, The Columbia Undergraduate Journal of Gynecology & Women’s Health, is reaching out to share a new publication opportunity for undergraduate students.

GYNECA is an open-access, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed publication that is supported by Columbia professors. They are looking to not only fill the knowledge gap on the role that sex and gender differences play in health and disease but also promote undergraduate student research in the discourse on healthcare.

While the inaugural issue sought to explore gynecology and gender minority health through a journalistic lens, featuring essays and editorials, they are looking to incorporate scientific research in our Spring 2023 issue.

They are currently accepting publications based on their originality, importance, and interdisciplinary interest from any field of research that is relevant to our journal’s aim and scope that includes but is not limited to reproductive health, mental health, global health, family planning, breast/ovarian cancer, prenatal health, menstrual health, medical sociology, or another type of science. Each paper published in the GYNECA undergoes a double-blind peer review process and a faculty review by the GYNECA Faculty Advisory Board. As a newer journal, they are interested in publishing research of a preliminary, introductory, and supplementary nature. This would not only be a great opportunity for students to get their work published, but also ensures that data/results of larger projects would NOT be compromised by publishing with them.

All manuscript submissions are due by September 8, 2023 for full consideration in the Fall 2023 issue. Note that additional opportunities for submissions in the future will be posted to their website.

Review the Guidelines for Original Research Submissions, visit the GYNECA website, or email mr4159@columbia.edu and tek2118@columbia.edu for more information or to direct any questions. We are excited to work with you!

Other Opportunities

1. WEGE Prize

The Wege Prize is an annual team-based student competition focused on the circular economy and regenerative design. Applications are now open through October 8.

Program highlights are as follows:

  • Open to all full-time college/university students around the world, at all degree levels.
  • Phase 1 (Application): Students independently form teams of 5 and apply with a basic research plan that identifies a wicked problem and proposes a circular design solution.
  • Phase 2: Accepted teams refine their ideas and submit a full project summary, which is then reviewed by a panel of core judges: seasoned professionals in the fields of biodesign and materials, the circular economy, sustainable business, and more. All submissions will receive valuable feedback on their project summaries, regardless if they move forward in the competition!
  • Phase 3: After receiving feedback from the judges, the pool is narrowed down to a set of semifinalist teams who will then continue to work on their project summary.
  • Phase 4: Selected finalist teams present their project/ideas to a live audience in May (travel is reimbursed up to $3k) and compete for a portion of a $65k cash prize pool. Award funds can be used at the individual team members' discretion.

Visit wegeprize.org to learn more or email wicked@wegeprize.org with questions!

They will be hosting a few informational webinars that anyone can attend/view! Registration links for each date are below:

2. Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH) Fall Open House - October 20-21

Apply to join the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH) Fall Open House! The application deadline is October 1, 2023. Learn about the exciting opportunities available within TBMH, tour state of the art facilities and labs, hear about the wide range of cutting edge research happening at Virginia Tech, get to know TBMH students, faculty, leadership, and more! The open house is for prospective students intending to apply to research-intensive Ph.D. programs, looking to enroll in Fall 2024. For students invited to attend, TBMH will provide lodging and travel expenses, for those living outside of the Blacksburg/Roanoke area. Note international travel will not be covered.

Looking for general information about TBMH? Connect with the program through a virtual information session. Learn about the program, the admissions process, hear from current students and more.

  • Friday, September 8, 2023
  • Friday, October 6, 2023
  • Friday, December 8, 2023