REU Program
Funded by the National Science Foundation, REU students participate in a 10-week summer research program under the direction of the Biochemistry and Biophysics faculty. Research projects span multiple disciplines including bioinformatics, biofuels, biophysics, agricultural technologies, cell biology, genomics, RNA biology, structural biology, and telomere biology. To learn more about potential research projects explore our faculty research interests pages. In addition to a research project, students will attend weekly seminars on professional development opportunities, science ethics, and effective oral and written communication.
The BCBP Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program is funded by the National Science Foundation. Selected students will work full time in a research lab for 10 weeks over the summer. The program has a generous stipend and cost-of-living allowance.
For two decades we have welcomed exceptional undergraduate students into our laboratories. In our 10-week program, you will engage in hands-on research, gain confidence in your scientific skillset, and learn to effectively communicate your work. You will also participate in professional development activities and network with BCBP faculty, staff, and current students.
The Summer 2024 NSF REU Site in Biochemistry program will run from Tuesday, May 26 – Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
“I wanted more experience working in a research lab before applying to graduate school. My undergrad institution was a small liberal arts college, which meant I didn’t have access to graduate-level research. Even though I had completed an REU program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017, I knew doing another REU would strengthen my graduate school applications and help me learn about more research areas. I worked in Dr. Kaplan’s lab in 2018 and he knew I wanted to go to graduate school, so he treated me like a grad student and gave me a project that no one else in the lab was working on. This was challenging but helped me become independent and resourceful. The REU program helped me receive good scientific training. And during the REU I worked in a yeast lab, which I now do as a graduate student here in Dr. Polymenis’ lab.”
Staci Hammer, REU Alumni
About the Program
Eligibility
The program is open to undergraduate students majoring in biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, biology, or any life science. All outstanding students will be considered, however, preference will be given to candidates who have finished their second year and have taken Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry course sequences. NSF funds can only be used to support U.S. citizens and permanent residents. This program is committed to providing research opportunities to students from groups that are underrepresented in the life sciences.
Requirements
- Completed application form, including a statement of purpose and goals
- Two letters of recommendation
- Transcript from your undergraduate institution; an unofficial transcript is acceptable for initial review
- Resume
How to Apply
Application deadline for summer 2025: February 15, 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Margy Glasner at [email protected] or Mary Bryk at [email protected]
Complete our online application to apply to our program!
Competitive Compensation
You are awarded an all-expenses-paid research experience including:
- A competitive $6,000 stipend
- Housing
- Stipends to defray the cost of food ($1,750)
- Transportation to and from College Station ( Up to $800 reimbursement)
- Coverage of all instructional costs
Benefits of the Program
- Work alongside leaders in the fields of biochemistry, biophysics, and genetics
- Interact with faculty and mentors across the university
- Cover a curriculum on critical perspectives on research and the ethics of science
- Receive guidance on career paths
- Join the vast network of TAMU Biochemistry faculty, students, and alumni
Past Participants
2021 Participants
Row 1:
Elizabeth Barrois, Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering, Spring Hill College
“Fragment-based drug design in optimization of the inhibitor of PptT raltitrexed for Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Inna Kreiger, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Christina Rivera, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University
“The Endometriosis Treatment applications of Chrysin as a Function Inhibitor of Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A (NR4A1)”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Stephen Safe, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology
Stefanie Rodriguez, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Denison University
“Using A Forward Genetic Approach to Identify New Genes Involved in RNA Silencing”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Xiuren Zhang, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Row 2:
Sierra Hathaway, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Mercer University
“19F NMR reveals structural perturbations in cancer associated mutants of Pin1”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Tatyana Igumenova, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Stefanie Assakawa, Department of Biology, University of Florida
“Solving the Deceptive PITP Sec14 Mechanism”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Vytas Bankaitis, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Claudia Gonzalez, Department of Biology, Florida Atlantic University
“Inhibition of Cysteine Proteases by Peptidomimetic Aldehydes”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Tom Meek, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Anika Chand, Department of Chemistry, Austin College
“The Construction of a CRIPSR/dCas9 interference system in Streptomyces venezuelae”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Paul Straight, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Row 3:
Alexa Beathard, Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma City University
“Characterization of RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase of SARS-CoV-2”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Jim Sacchettini, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Eddy Pineda, Department of Chemistry, Emory University
“Phospholipid Requirements of the Mitochondrial Magnesium Channel”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Vishal Gohil, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Gabriel Jiménez-Pagan, Industrial Biotechnology Program, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus
“The Effect of Genomic Manipulation on ssRNA Bacteriophage MS2”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Junjie Zhang, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Bryan Zuniga, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester
“Molecular Mechanism of Strain-Specific Interactions between the NS1 of Four Influenza A Strains and Host p85β”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Jae-Hyun Cho, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Caroline Cushman, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University
“Unintended Consequences of a Genetic Mutation in the MYBPC3 gene Intended to Prevent Myocardial Phosphorylation Exhibited Severe Cardiac Dysfunction”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Carl Tong, Department of Biochemical Medical Physiology
Row 4:
David Curtis, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University
“Evolution of Oxidative Stress Response Regulatory Function in Telomere-Associated Protein POT1b”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Dorothy Shippen, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Ari Aviles, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University
“SGG_ESXA from Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. Gallolyticus increases colorectal cancer proliferation in colonic organoids”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. David Threadgill, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Andrew Spletter, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University
“Biochemical and genetic dissection of the role of prohibitins in the biogenesis of mitochondrial ion channels”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Vishal Gohil, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Addison Frese, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
“Identification of genetic variation that contributes to PFOS tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Ping He, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Row 5:
Vedejenne Meza, Department of Biochemistry, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. J-P. Pellois, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Edward Steven Briceno, Department of Chemistry, Sam Houston State University
“The engineering of phosphotriesterase for the kinetic resolution of
organophosphate molecular probes.”
TAMU Research Laboratory: Dr. Frank Raushel, Department of Chemistry
