REU Site: Scripps Structure and Function Summer Institute (SFSI)

This REU Site award to The Scripps Research Institute, located in La Jolla, CA, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026-2028. It is anticipated that a total of 30 students, primarily from schools with limited research opportunities and first-generation college students, will be trained in the program and contribute to development of the US STEM workforce. To compete in today's global, high-tech economy, the US increasingly depends on STEM-trained workers; yet too few students gain the hands-on research experience needed to enter this workforce. This program addresses that gap by providing an immersive summer research experience that enables undergraduates to investigate fundamental biological processes at one of the nation's leading biomedical research institutions. Students are embedded in cutting-edge laboratories and receive structured mentoring and professional development that build their critical thinking, communication skills, and confidence as emerging scientists. In addition to learning how research is conducted, many students will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Assessment of this program will be done through surveying participants and mentors as well as tracking participant 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 priority in Biotechnology. The scientific focus of this REU Site is the investigation of molecular and cellular structure and function using interdisciplinary approaches drawn from chemistry, biology, biophysics, computation, and neuroscience. Students are matched with a laboratory from one of Scripps Research's six academic departments according to their interests and work alongside leading scientists on hypothesis-driven research projects. Active research areas include identifying genes that predispose individuals to immunologic disease; defining the structure and function of key proteins in the innate and acquired immune systems; integrating computational and biophysical techniques to determine protein structure; exploring the molecular basis of brain function; and developing new functional molecules for novel strategies and technologies. In conjunction with their interdisciplinary laboratory research, students participate in skill-building workshops on science communication and responsible conduct of research, professional development seminars, individual and small-group mentorship, and career exploration sessions that support their growth as well-rounded scientists. The program concludes with an institute-wide Summer Intern Symposium at which all participants present their research findings. Program outcomes are assessed through pre- and post-program surveys, including the Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA), and longitudinal tracking of participants' career trajectories. 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: 2548272 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Keary Engle | Institution: The Scripps Research Institute, LA JOLLA, CA | Award Amount: $458,766 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2548272 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2548272.html