REU Site: Summer Research at the University at Albany's RNA Institute

This REU Site award to the State University of New York at Albany’s RNA Institute, located in Albany, NY, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026–2028. Students will participate in high quality, hands on research that contributes to scientific discovery in the broad field of ribonucleic acid (RNA) science and RNA based technologies. This work is important because RNA plays a central role in nearly all biological processes and advances in RNA research help transform biotechnology, medicine, and our understanding of life. The program benefits society by cultivating a skilled and diverse scientific workforce, expanding technological capacity, and encouraging innovation in fields that underpin national competitiveness. A key goal of this REU Site is to broaden participation in STEM, especially among students with limited access to research opportunities. Students will learn how research is conducted, receive mentoring from faculty and staff, and many will present their work at scientific conferences. Program assessment will include both in person and online qualitative and quantitative surveys. Students should apply to the REU Site using the NSF Education and Training Application (ETAP) at https://etap.nsf.gov. The training students will receive is aligned with the NSF priorities in Biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence. The REU in RNA focuses on how the structure and function of RNA governs cellular processes and can be leveraged to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of complex biological systems and develop new RNA based technologies. Students will work alongside faculty affiliated with the RNA Institute and a range of departments including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, and Bionanosciences. Each student will conduct an individual research project in an Institute laboratory under the guidance of a faculty mentor, while also participating as part of a cohort in professional development activities that introduce post graduate educational and career pathways. Training will include hands on experimental work, one on one mentoring, structured career guidance, and instruction in the ethical and responsible conduct of research. Example student projects include predicting RNA structures through analysis of RNA folding, studying transcriptional regulation by ribosomes, examining the roles of RNA modifications in cellular stress responses, designing nucleic acid nanotechnology, investigating mechanisms in developmental biology, and exploring the pathogenesis of toxic RNA. Through these research experiences, the program aims to advance fundamental RNA science, prepare the next generation of RNA researchers, and promote positive societal impacts through RNA driven innovation. 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: 2548380 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Andy Berglund | Institution: SUNY at Albany, ALBANY, NY | Award Amount: $435,260 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2548380 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2548380.html