Undergraduate Training Program

APPLICATION FOR FALL 2024 IS CLOSED!

As agencies increasingly demand a workforce that can apply genomics techniques in management practices; education and training in this multi-disciplinary field must begin at the undergraduate level. 

Following a successful interview, undergraduate students will begin working with graduate student mentors and two host laboratories (O’Neill and Wegrzyn) to select a species of local conservation concern.  The selected species will be analyzed through the entire workflow - genome assembly/annotation, variant detection, and population genetics. The rotations will be hosted during the academic year and will include financial support over winter break. During this time, each student will be specifically mentored in developing a proposal, such as SURF, to continue their research during the summer.  In addition to the skill development associated with proposal writing, these applications will be co-reviewed before submission with government and NGO partners responsible for conservation management.

2024 Internship Schedule:

Current Intern Testimonials:

“Working with the conservation genomics team has helped me immensely, especially when it comes to personal goals. Beyond learning wet and dry bench skills, I feel that our team creates a great support system that is preparing me for graduate school, helping me write grant proposals, and expanding my skills. And it doesn't hurt that everyone is friendly!”

"Being a part of the Conservation Genomics Center has been a well-rounded opportunity for me to dive into research and propel my bioinformatics skills. The cohesion of working collaboratively within the team and working independently on the project allowed me to advance skills beyond science, in areas such as communication, critical thinking, and time management. The projects are relevant to our current biodiversity crisis and feel impactful outside of the University which is a fulfilling experience!"

“As a member of the conservation genomics team, working with my colleagues has been an incredible experience! Not only have they helped me develop my technical skills, but I've also gained a network of amazing friends and mentors. Learning from experienced researchers has been especially helpful in preparing for my future academic pursuits, like graduate school and job opportunities. On top of that, my colleagues and mentors have taught me so much about complex scientific ideas, how to ask insightful questions, and even allowed me to develop my creativity. I've also gained valuable experience in genome assembly and annotation, among other highly in-demand technical skills. But what sets our team apart is the supportive and collaborative atmosphere we've created. Coming to work every day is not only productive, but it's also a lot of fun!”

Questions?

Contact Us

Conservation Genomics Seminar

Both technological and analytic advances have allowed the use of genomic tools to address questions in conservation. We can now examine thousand of markers, examine gene expression profiles, and assess epigenetic signals to identify loci with adaptive potential (and understand their regulation).

In this seminar, we discuss some of the challenges, study designs, and analytic tools used in conservation genomics. These discussions will be focused around a weekly paper - we welcome advanced undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty!

2024

Spring 2024 Schedule

• Location: ESB 121 (Storrs) or Zoom
• Time: Tuesdays 5-6pm

2022

Fall 2022 Schedule