Neurodegenerative Undergraduate Research Experience (NURE)
Monday, May 23 to Friday, July 29, 2022
Summer 2022 NURE application deadline is February 25, 2022 for external applicants and Duquesne University Students. (Note - If you are a Duquesne Student, you can still apply to the general URP program with the March 14, 2022 due date.)
We welcome undergraduate biology, pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, psychology and health science majors interested in neuroscience and neurodegenerative research to apply to the Neurodegenerative Undergraduate Research Experience (NURE) summer program. Applicants should apply through the application button below which is specific to the NURE (and PURE) programs. This program is currently funded through a National Institutes of Health NINDS R25 Summer Research Experience Grant and has been funded previously by the generous support of the Duquesne University Charles Henry Leach II Fund.
APPLY HERE
Program Objectives
The innovation of this program centers on involving students in basic science and clinical neuroscience research at the undergraduate level. The objectives of this program are to:
- Provide a means for students interested in biomedical research to participate in a full-time mentored research experience.
- Connect undergraduate students with faculty mentors working on neuroscience-specific basic science questions.
- Stimulate neuroscience and neurodegenerative research at Duquesne University by bringing together experts in the neurobiology, chemistry, drug discovery and clinical fields with excellent undergraduate researchers.
- Explore the physiological, chemical and psychological components of neuroscience disorders, treatments and research.
- Aid in the professional growth of undergraduate students and faculty mentors through interactions with individuals who are currently living with neurodegenerative disorders.
- Provide effective and meaningful discussions and training in ethics related to both the treatment and study of neurodegenerative disorders.
Program Details
Each undergraduate fellow will be paired with a faculty mentor for the summer. This faculty mentor will help guide the student through a summer research topic that will explore a timely and important question in the field of neuroscience. Students will work in the research lab for the majority of their time in the summer. In addition, students will:
- Participate in a 6-week long ethics mini-course with the rest of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
- Attend a once per month journal club where they will discuss primary literature with faculty, students and clinicians.
- Have the opportunity to interact with individuals that are currently living with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. These interactions will help students understand the personal and practical aspects of managing neurodegenerative disease.
- Use a "neuroscience empathy kit" developed here at Duquesne that simulates some of the sensations experienced by individuals living with neurodegenerative disorders.
- Receive a competitive summer stipend (typically >$4,000) and free on-campus housing. Meal plans may also be available depending on funding.
Contacts
NURE Co-Directors - Dr. Michael Casio and Dr. Rita Mihailescu
PURE Co-Directors - Dr. Kevin Tidgewell and Dr. Benedict Kolber
All undergraduate science major students are eligible to apply for the NURE. You will be asked to list up to three potential research mentors who you are interested in working with on the application. A list of researchers at Duquesne University that are involved in neuroscience research can be found in the tab to the right. We encourage you to discuss why those researchers interest you in your Statement of Goals.
We particular encourage both internal and external applicants from under-represented groups in science. No prior experience in research is necessary but a specific interest in neuroscience must be clear. See application requirements below or click to apply by February 7, 2020.
Application Requirements:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (preferred): Describe your educational background, extracurricular activities, previous research experience, and publications/presentations (if any). No page limit.
- Statement of Goals : In 2 pages or less (1) describe your interest in scientific research (2) describe your interest in neuroscience or neurodegenerative research and (3) tell us about your future scientific and career goals and how the program will help you achieve those goals.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Most recent official transcript (transcript must be mailed)
Application to the NURE program does not exclude students from being considered for the main 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Program or the Pain Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE).
Please identify up to three faculty prior to submitting your application. You are welcome (but not required) to contact faculty prior to submitting your application.
Faculty Member | Department | Research Area |
Erica Beidler, Ph.D., M.Ed. | Athletic Training | Impact of concussions on cognition |
Jane Cavanaugh, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Age-related neurodegeneration |
Michael Cascio, Ph.D. | Chemistry and Biochemistry | Structural characterization of ion channels and transporters |
Jill Dembowski, Ph.D. | Biological Sciences | Mechanisms of viral pathology in the nervous system |
Elena V. Donoso Brown, Ph.D., OTR/L | Occupational Therapy | Assessment of impairments in neurological populations including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson's disease |
Linda Garand, Ph.D., GCNS-BC | Nursing | Promoting the mental health and quality of life of older adults; design and conduct of randomized clinical trials of psycho educational interventions |
Jelena M. Janjic, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Nanoparticles and neuroinflammation |
Matthew Kostek, Ph.D. | Physical Therapy | Treatment therapy to reduce inflammation, increase utrophin and improve function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy |
Rebecca Kronk, Ph.D., MSN, CRNP | Nursing | Investigate sleep in children with fragile X syndrome |
Alexander Kranjec, Ph.D. | Psychology | Behavioral methods, neuroimaging (fMRI) and non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS) in normal participants, and lesion analysis methods in patients with focal brain damage |
David Lapinsky, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Rational design and synthesis of clickable covalent ligands for CNS drug target discovery |
Rehana K. Leak, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Study mechanisms underlying the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders and test potential therapies |
Devica S, Manickam, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Nanoparticle carriers for safe and efficient delivery of biotherapeutic drugs to the central nervous system |
Rita Mihailescu, Ph.D. | Chemistry and Biochemistry | Protein-RNA interactions in Fragile X syndrome and ALS/FTD |
Rachael Neilan, Ph.D. | Mathematics and Computer Science | Computational modeling of neuronal responses in chronic pain |
Lauren A. O'Donnell, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Study how the anti-viral immune response impacts on development of neural cells during CNS infections |
Kyle Selcer, Ph.D. | Biological Sciences | Role of estrogens and androgens |
Kim Szucs, Ph.D. | Occupational Therapy | Shoulder injury, anatomy, and pain |
Kevin J. Tidgewell, Ph.D. | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Drug discovery from marine cyanobacteria for CNS disorders |
Sarah E. Wallace, M.A., Ph.D. | Speech Language Pathology | Research on compensatory strategies for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders (e.g. stroke or TBI) |
Sarah Woodley, Ph.D. | Biological Sciences | Mechanisms of environmental stressors on amphibian neuroplasticity |
2019
Student Name | Home Institution | Faculty Mentor |
Ruben Cano Rodriguez | University of Texas El Paso | Dr. Rehana Leak (Pharmacy) |
Madison Crago | Gannon University | Dr. Rita Mihailescu (Chemistry) |
David Gomez | East Los Angeles College | Dr. Kevin Tidgewell (Medicinal Chemistry) |
Katie Hoover | Mansfield University | Dr. Devika Manickam (Pharmacy) |
Jordan Martin | Florida Southern College | Dr. Jane Cavanaugh (Pharmacy) |
Jeff Montoya | Vassar College | Dr. Elena Donoso Brown (Occupational Therapy) |
Natasha Morales | Boston University | Dr. Sarah Wallace (Speech and Language Pathology) |
Kimberly Taylor | Waynesburg University | Dr. Patrick Flaherty (Medicinal Chemistry) |
Austin Gregg | Duquesne University | Dr. Mike Cascio (Chemistry) |
Sage Templeton | University of California Berkeley | Dr. David Lapinsky (Medicinal Chemistry) |
Kayla Widenhofer | Duquesne University | Dr. Rehana Leak (Pharmacy) |
2018
Student Name | Home Institution | Faculy Mentor |
Mikaela Cadiz | University of Minnesota - Morris | Dr. Lauren O'Donnell (Pharmacy) |
Lisa Cha | University of California - Berkeley | Dr. Sarah Woodley (Biology) |
Elizabeth Eckoff | Duquesne University | Dr. Rehana Leak (Pharmacy) |
Sydney Graves | Saginaw Valley State University | Dr. Devika Manickam (Pharmacy) |
Seraina Schottland | George Washington University | Dr. Jane Cavanaugh (Pharmacy) |
McKenna Then | Duquesne University | Dr. Rita Mihailescu (Chemistry) |
Justina Warnick | Dickinson College | Dr. Allyson O'Donnell (Biology) |
Marie Weckesser | University of Dayton | Dr. Michael Cascio (Chemistry) |
2017
Student Name (major) | Home Institution | Faculty Mentor |
Josh Baktay (Math and CS) | Duquesne University | Dr. Rachael Neilan (Math and CS) |
Abigail Cox (Biology) | Duquesne University | Dr. Benedict Kolber (Biology) |
Jordan Allen (Biochemistry) | Hamilton College | Dr. Matthew Kostek (Physical Therapy) |
Linedia Masson (Biology) | Florida Memorial University | Dr. Kevin Tidgewell (Pharmacy) |
Brionna Nelson (Biology) | Duquesne University | Dr. Jan Janecka (Biology) |
Janique Miller (Biology) | Florida Memorial University | Dr. Michael Cascio (Chemistry) |
Makenzie Woltz (Biology) | Clarion University | Dr. Lauren O'Donnell (Pharmacy) |
Paul Zakutansky (Biochemistry) | Duquesne University | Dr. Rita Mihailescu (Chemistry) |