NSF BIT SURE
Opportunity Description:
BIT SURE: BioTechnology-based Sequencing Undergraduaate Researach Opportunity
Advanced sequencing tools are transforming the way modern biologists conduct research. Scientists today require new skills and knowledge to effectively use high-throughput sequencing technologies to analyze their resulting complex data in order to answer important biological questions. BIT SURE is your chance to learn how to tackle these “Big Data” grand challenges of our future.
- 10-week PAID summer work.
- Eligible college students are US citizens or permanent residents.
- Numerous N.C. State faculty research labs to choose from!
- Mentored research focusing on high- throughput or “next-generation” sequencing (NGS).
- NGS short course with bioinformatics sessions.
- Career development workshops
- .Outreach events.
- Research symposium.
- NGS seminar series.
- Biotechnology career panel
The BIT SURE program will fund ten undergraduate students to work on research projects that utilize transformative next-generation sequencing (NGS) tools.
What is NGS? Over a decade ago, the first human genome was sequenced. The project cost $2.7 billion and took over 10 years to complete. Today we can sequence a single human genome in a day for under $1,000 and we have moved way beyond the goal of revealing a single person’s DNA sequence! NGS tools have made this possible and opened a whole new world of scientific investigation. Scientists are using NGS technologies to explore every niche of the life sciences, from the microbiomes of patients with obesity to the cataloging of arthropod diversity in human homes. NGS tools are transforming the way modern biologists conduct research. Our future holds a world where researchers work with “pocket sequencers” that can deliver massive amounts of sequencing data in real-time. Today’s science students require new skills and knowledge to effectively use this technology and its resulting complex data to answer tomorrow’s important biological questions. BIT SURE is your chance to learn how to tackle these “Big Data” grand challenges of our future.
Check out these videos featuring potential research mentors and their projects!
Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled at a university
- U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
Application Process:
To apply, follow the link below to provide demographic information, your major and GPA, and information about your previous research experience. As part of the application, we request that you submit a cover letter describing your interests and qualifications for the NSF BIT SURE program (500-word limit), upload your resume, and a copy of unofficial transcripts. We also request that you include contact information for two references. Recommendations must be emailed directly to the program BIT SURE (nsf-bitsure@ncsu.edu) by referees. Finally, we would like to know about your career goals. Please note that the summer 2021 experience will be entirely virtual.
*NOW RECEIVING 2021 APPLICATIONS* OR, Download a print copy.