Research in the Biological Sciences

Application Deadline: May 15

Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) is a four-week intensive training program designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research laboratories. Students are immersed in the research experience, giving them a taste of "life at the bench".

Using a project-based approach, the course progresses from a survey of basic lab techniques to the application of current molecular techniques in developmental biology and microbiology. Most of a typical RIBS day is spent in lab. We do not have a formal lecture schedule. Instead, lectures will be presented when needed to provide background and to introduce new concepts. Since communication skills are important in science, students will keep lab notebooks and they will make several group presentations. Notebooks are graded weekly to give the students feedback throughout the course.

During the first two weeks of the course, students will learn basic lab techniques applicable in many research labs. Lectures during this period will focus mostly on basic molecular biology - what is the structure of a gene, how are genes regulated, how can you study genes in the lab. We will also read original research articles, learning not just the science but also how scientists present results in written versus oral formats.

By the second week, we will begin working on two main projects. One project will focus on mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The other will focus on the genetic regulation of development. Both projects will use many of the tools of molecular biology to address the questions we are asking. The course ends with a research forum in which the students will present the results of their projects.

Successful completion of the course will give participants the experience and confidence to work in a research laboratory. On a space available basis, several students will be invited back the following year to work in the lab of a University of Chicago research scientist.




Application Deadline: May 15 Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) is a four-week intensive training program designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research laboratories. Students are immersed in the research experience, giving them a taste of "life at the bench". Using a project-based approach, the course progresses from a survey of basic lab techniques to the application of current molecular techniques in developmental biology and microbiology. Most of a typical RIBS day is spent in lab. We do not have a formal lecture schedule. Instead, lectures will be presented when needed to provide background and to introduce new concepts. Since communication skills are important in science, students will keep lab notebooks and they will make several group presentations. Notebooks are graded weekly to give the students feedback throughout the course. During the first two weeks of the course, students will learn basic lab techniques applicable in many research labs. Lectures during this period will focus mostly on basic molecular biology - what is the structure of a gene, how are genes regulated, how can you study genes in the lab. We will also read original research articles, learning not just the science but also how scientists present results in written versus oral formats. By the second week, we will begin working on two main projects. One project will focus on mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The other will focus on the genetic regulation of development. Both projects will use many of the tools of molecular biology to address the questions we are asking. The course ends with a research forum in which the students will present the results of their projects. Successful completion of the course will give participants the experience and confidence to work in a research laboratory. On a space available basis, several students will be invited back the following year to work in the lab of a University of Chicago research scientist.