2022 Programmable Plant System Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Internship Program
Programmable Plant Systems
(NSF Funded REU with CROPPS Science and Technology Center)
About this Job
The Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) at Cornell University unites plant scientists, engineers, computer scientists, and social scientists to develop technologies that will enable seamless, bidirectional communication between humans and plants. The relevant technologies fuse synthetic biology, nanotechnology, optics, and computing to gain access to the internal biological processes of plants and their associated organisms such as, soil microbes. The Center aims for these technologies to give new access to the biological processes that connect genes to traits, to guide the process of plant selection, engineering, and editing for improved crops, and to enable sophisticated management of crops in the field for improved sustainability and productivity.
Summer undergraduates in this program will be hosted and mentored by interdisciplinary teams that include expertise in both plant science and technology development. Undergraduate applicants with backgrounds in biology, engineering, or computing are encouraged to apply and should select projects from the “CROPPS” section within in the BTI application form.
The program will be hosted in Ithaca, NY through the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), which is located on Cornell University’s campus as an independent organization. BTI has been offering summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) to enrolled students interested in biological research, engineering, and bioinformatics for over 20 years. As world leaders in plant research, Cornell University, BTI, and the USDA have facilities built on Cornell’s long tradition of research in genetics, breeding, and engineering to develop novel technologies which improve the scientific understanding of plant systems.
Our undergraduate research internships, funded by the NSF and USDA, provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a laboratory setting, prepare for graduate studies and explore future scientific careers.
Visit our website through the external application link on Handshake to learn more, see available projects, view past interns, and apply here: https://btiscience.org/education-outreach/research-internships/
Selected Undergraduate Research Interns will have the opportunity to:
• Work closely with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and scientists on a supervised independent project within the framework of the mentor's research program
• Attend weekly plant science seminars with scientists from BTI, Cornell University and the USDA and take a customized bioinformatics course
• Learn about graduate school, scientific careers, communication, outreach, research ethics, and work in an international research environment
• Present research to the other students, scientists, and mentors at our annual Scientific Symposium
• Learn if a career in research is right for you!
Duration: May 31, 2022 – August 5, 2022
Application Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2022
Selected Undergraduate Research Interns Will Receive:
Work experience in an international community of scientists who come together in research to protect the environment, enhance human health, and improve agriculture around the world.
Housing, Travel and Meals: Undergraduate interns receive free group housing on Cornell campus, travel reimbursement up to $500, and a 10-week meal allowance of $850.
Stipend: Selected undergraduates will receive a $6,000 stipend over 10 weeks.
Who should apply?
Enrolled undergraduate students interested in:
• Biology
• Plant Science
• Engineering
• Biochemistry
• Biotechnology
• Bioinformatics & Computer Science
• Genetics & Genomics
• Agriculture
• Digital Agriculture
• Botany
• Ecology
Students who identify as under-represented* in STEM, first generation college students, persons with a disability, veterans, and students from small schools (two and four-year colleges, Primarily Undergraduate Institutions, and Minority Serving Institutions) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Who is Eligible?
• Applicants must be either US citizens or permanent US residents. This is an NSF & USDA funded program.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a college/university and at least 18 at the start of the program.
• Applicants cannot have graduated college/university before the program start date.
• Applicants must be available for the full 10 weeks, from May 31, 2022 - August 5, 2022.
Application Requirements:
• Online Application from our portal
• Copy of Unofficial Transcript
• Resume
• Two Letters of Recommendation
Only online applications from our portal will be accepted. To find the application link to apply online please click on the green "Apply Externally" button.
Contact for questions: internships@btiscience.org
* Under-represented groups include: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are American Indian, First Nations, Alaskan Native, Black, African American, Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Pacific Islander, or other racial or ethnic group underrepresented in science and engineering.
About Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research
To advance and communicate scientific knowledge in plant biology to improve agriculture, protect the environment, and enhance human health.
Working from a sincere interest in issues of social justice, William Boyce Thompson founded The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) in 1924, believing that basic plant research could lead to real societal benefit. BTI’s 17 faculty-run laboratories and greenhouse facilities are staffed by more than 110 researchers from over 40 countries. The research out of these laboratories has the potential to improve important food crops, to demystify plant and human immune systems, and to reveal alternative, sustainable sources of energy. Along with its research, BTI prioritizes environmental stewardship, and outreach to teachers, students, and community members.