2023 RNA Institute Summer Fellowship Program

Note: After the Project 2 plan presentations small group sessions change to 2-3 times a week until end of the program - dates/time decided by group leaders

Bioinformatics Program (2023)

Below is a summary of the summer bioinformatics program.

• You must be a citizen of the United States, or on an F1 or J1 Visa, to participate and receive the stipend. If you don't meet this requirement you are still able to audit the course without receiving the stipend
• You do not need to have a mentor decided prior to applying to the fellowship
• 9 weeks in length, starts June 12th, ends Aug 11th
• Competitive stipends will be available based on the successful completion of the program
• After being selected to the program, students will receive packet of information, including some pre-course work and administrative paperwork, by the end of May
• The pre-course work develops basic programming skills and these short online courses should be completed prior to the start date of June 12th
• Participants are expected to be available at 11am for morning lectures and 4pm for small group meetings (small group meeting times may be adjusted depending on group leaders)
• The summer bioinformatics program is separated into two projects:
  • Project 1 is the same for all students and is used to teach a pipeline for analysis of RNA sequencing data
  • Participants will complete Project 1 by July 7th
  • Project 2 is based on data from or relevant to research in their mentor’s lab
  • Participants are expected to have a plan for Project 2 and access to data for Project 2 by July 14th
• All participants will present their Project 2 at the Summer Fellowship Symposium on August 9-11th 

Laboratory Research (2023)

Below is a summary of the summer laboratory research.

• You must be a citizen of the United States, or on an F1 or J1 Visa, to participate and receive the stipend
• You must contact and have a mentor prior to applying to the fellowship
• The length of the program and weekly hours depends upon your mentor but is typically about 20 hours/week from June to August
• Students will receive financial support based on the agreement with your mentor.
• Students will receive a packet of information, including administrative paperwork, by the end of May
• From June 12th to July 7th there will be weekly general interest science lectures. Participants must attend these lectures.
• From July 10th to August 11th there will be weekly research seminars or professional development workshops. Participants must attend these workshops.
• All participants will present their Research at the Summer Fellowship Symposium on August 10-12th

Group 1: Muscular dystrophies, Neurodegenerative diseases

Group Leaders: Victoria DeMeo, Claudia Lennon

Group 2: Computational Modeling

Group Leaders: Sweta Vangaveti, Caroline Pritchard

Group 3: Muscular dystrophies, Neurodegenerative diseases

Group Leaders: Cecilia Legare, Lori Planco 

Group 4: Translation/modified amino acids

Group Leaders: Jacob Schroader, Sharon Shaughnessy

Group 5: Developmental Biology

Group Leaders: Gaby Baniulyte, Joey Tavarez

Group 6: Microbiology, Developmental Biology

Group Leaders: Stephanie DeSouza, James Kenney