REU Site: Integrative Cell and Molecular Biology

The program, Integrative Cell and Molecular Biology, will immerse undergraduate students in hands-on research that explores how life works across many levels, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and their environments. This award is important because many of today’s biggest questions in biology require scientists to connect ideas and methods from different fields rather than study one level of life in isolation. By bringing students into an interdisciplinary research community, the program will help prepare the next generation of scientists for careers in research, biotechnology, health, and education. It will also expand access to research experiences for students from across the nation, especially those with limited opportunities at their home institutions. Participants will work closely with faculty mentors, develop research questions, carry out experiments, analyze results, and present their findings to the campus community. Weekly seminars and workshops will strengthen scientific communication, professional skills, and understanding of research careers. The program also encourages engagement with the broader community by providing opportunities for participants to mentor local K–12 students in science activities. Assessment of the program includes participant surveys, mentor evaluations, and long-term tracking of student educational and career outcomes. Students apply to the REU site using NSF ETAP (Education and Training Application: https://etap.nsf.gov). The training students will receive is aligned with the NSF priorities in Quantum Information Science and Biotechnology. The scientific focus of the program is integrative cell and molecular biology, with research opportunities centered in the Department of Biological Sciences and involving faculty from genetics, cell biology, physiology, neuroscience, evolution, ecology, biochemistry, and engineering. The program emphasizes comparative and interdisciplinary approaches that link molecular mechanisms to cellular function, organismal biology, and broader biological systems. Each student will work with a primary mentor and a secondary mentor from a collaborating field to encourage intellectual integration across disciplines. Example projects may examine gene regulation, cell signaling, neural function, metabolism, host-microbe interactions, evolutionary adaptation, or other fundamental biological processes using modern molecular, cellular, imaging, and computational methods. Professional development will include laboratory group meetings, scientific writing, the publication process, graduate school preparation, and training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. Program assessment will evaluate student learning, mentor feedback, research progress, and longer-term persistence in STEM education and research careers. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2548189 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Xuemin Lu | Institution: University of Notre Dame, NOTRE DAME, IN | Award Amount: $416,025 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2548189 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2548189.html