This program his program is part of the Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP), which provides students an opportunity to conduct research as well as interact with peers in an interdisciplinary learning community. Participating undergraduate students will spend ten weeks conducting full-time research. Example study areas include microbial conversion of biomass to biofuels, genomics, enzymology, protein structure, molecular biology, plant breeding, and ecological analysis. 

Objectives
The program provides students with the opportunity to test their interests in a scientific or engineering career by becoming engaged in an active research program in a recognized scientific laboratory. Participating students conduct their own research project under the direction of a faculty member, usually in conjunction with a post-doctoral fellow, or graduate student, and work as part of a research team investigating fundamental scientific or engineering problems.

Support
The program provides a stipend of $5,500, full support for travel, housing, health insurance (if needed), and a partial food allowance. Students have access to all campus libraries and facilities. There are no fees or tuition costs. 

Eligibility
Undergraduate students majoring in the sciences or engineering, preferably going into their junior and senior years, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an accredited college or university, are eligible to apply. The applicant should have a strong interest in a career in research. Disabled students, minority students, and students from smaller liberal arts institutions where comparable research facilities are unavailable are particularly encouraged to submit an application.

Selection Process
Criteria for selection are based on qualifications as determined by academic record, prior course work, two letters of recommendation from college science or engineering teachers or advisors, and a statement from applicants regarding their career interests and reasons for applying to this program. Letters of recommendation should address the applicant’s potential for a research career and the opportunities for a meaningful research experience at the student’s home institution. Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors whose primary interests are a research career in the sciences or engineering.

Application
Applications for the summer 2013 program open on November 15, 2012. Please direct any questions to John Greenler at jgreenler@glbrc.wisc.edu.

For more information, view our Flickr set to see of past IBS-SRP classes, and this article about the 2009 program, A Summer in the Lab: Training Future Biofuels Leaders.

 The 2008 IBS-SRP bioenergy subgroup

• IBS-SRP Research Projects from 2012
  • E xamining the Plasticity of Maize Root Hair Length and Density in High and Low Phosphorous and Nitrogen, Sooji Choi, Amherst College, Mentors: Scott Stelpflug & Shawn Kaeppler, Agronomy
  • Secondary Cell Wall to Biofuels, Sally Chu, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Mentors: Sathya Jali & Patrick Masson, Genetics
  • Effects of Fibroacter succinogenes Slime Proteins on Escherichia coli Cellulose Degredation Ability, Megan Earnest, Northern Illinois University, Mentors: Mike Cruse  & Christ Kucharik, Agronomy
  • Analysis of α-Olefins Composition under Varying Physical Conditions in Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002, Joe Villanueva, University of New Mexico Mentors: Daniel Mendez-Perez, Andrew Markley, & Brian Pfleger, Chemical & Biomedical Engineering
  • Identification of Cellulolyric Bacteria from Lower Termite Reticulitermes flavipes, Adrian Lopez, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mentors: Melissa Christopherson & Garret Suen, Bacteriology