Educating tomorrow’s biochemists through new summer research program
What’s happening
A new Biochemistry Undergraduate Research Program (BSRP) for promising young Iowa State University biochemists was initiated in 2022 by the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. During its inaugural year, BSRP supported nine undergraduate biochemistry students to conduct full-time research with a faculty mentor over nine weeks in the summer, plus an additional two-week fall prep session and research showcase.
In addition to engaging deeply in their research, the selected students attended weekly workshops focused on professional skill-building and communications. The program concluded with a forum where the students presented lightning talks about their summer projects. Based on feedback from both the students and mentors who participated, the department considered the BSRP a resounding success and plan to continue it into the future as funding allows.
CALS Team
- Kristen Johansen, professor, BBMB
- Claire Kruesel, undergraduate program coordinator and associate teaching professor, BBMB
- Mark Hargrove, Morrill Professor and BBMB department chair
- Eric Underbakke, associate professor, BBMB
- Dipali Sashital, associate professor, BBMB
- Erik Goodale, graduate student, Department of English
Funders/Other Partners
Private alumni contributors and mentors’ research project funds