BCHM Undergraduate Research Labs & Desired Qualifications

If you are interested in pursuing independent research, please contact the Undergraduate Program Manager to discuss your interests: bchmundergrad@colorado.edu

Faculty listed here are interested in having undergraduates undertake independent research in their groups. A brief description of their research is included, but a more elaborate description of the research activities for each can be found on their lab website by clicking on their name below.

Please note that the appearance of the name of a faculty member on the list below is no guarantee that he/she has a space available for you at a particular time. Conversely, faculty members who are not listed occasionally accept undergraduates in their research groups. In general, faculty members are usually willing to discuss the nature of their research with interested individuals.

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Design and evolution of RNA biosensors; in vitro evolution of novel RNA genetic regulators, applied biology for creating of novel enzymes; mechanisms of genetic regulation by RNA in bacteria; atomic-level determination of RNA structure; RNA structure and function

3.2 or higher GPA; CHEM 1113/1114, or 1251; minimum time commitment of 12 hours per week for at least 4 semesters; prefer students interested in pursuing an honors thesis Interested students Should submit vita and unofficial transcript.

JSCBB B314
(303)735-2157
robert.batey@colorado.edu

Biochemical and biophysical studies of sensory receptors and signaling proteins; protein engineering; protein chemistry; spectroscopy

Ìý3.5 or higher GPA, willingness to complete an Honors Thesis, and availability to work at least 12 hours/week and one full summer (paid). Interested students should submit (via email): vita; unofficial transcript

JSCBB B218
(303)492-3503
joseph.falke@colorado.edu

Gene expression, mammalian transcriptional regulation, functional RNAs

Ìý3.5 or higher GPA, interest in completing an honors thesis. Minimum time commitment of at least 12 hours per week for at least 3 semesters. Interested students should submit vita and unofficial transcript

JSCBB B321
(303)492-3273
james.goodrich@colorado.edu

Structural and computational biology; mechanisms driving heterochromatin formation and transcriptional repression using Cryo-EM, Cryo-ET, X-ray and NMR)

Desired qualifications: 3.3 or higher GPA; beginning sophmore or junior year; willingness to commit 12 hours per week for at least two semesters;Ìýinterest in completing an honors thesis is preferred, but not necessary. Interested students should submit unofficial transcript, CV and a cover letter indicating research interests.

JSCBB E132
(303)492-4297
vignesh@colorado.edu

Inhibition of DxpaNA replication; mechanisms of proteins involved in replication; synthesis of novel nucleotide analogs

JSCBB C222
(303)492-7027
robert.kuchta@colorado.edu

Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in mammalian systems

3.2 or higher GPA; minimum commitment of 3 semesters or 2 semesters and a summer. Interested students should submit: unofficial transcript; vita; a brief statement of why they are interested in research

JSCBB B320
(303)492-3596
jennifer.kugel@colorado.edu

TGF-beta signaling transduction mechanism and retroviral mediated expression cloning

JSCBB C318
(303)735-6161
xuedong.liu@colorado.edu

Chromatin structure and function; transcription, replication, DNA repair in a chromatin context; structural biology and biophysics of nucleosomes and associated protein factors; Cryo-EM, crystallography, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, live-cell imaging; functional assays

3.2 or higher GPA, minimum time commitment of 12 hours per week for at least two semesters. Interested students should submit: vita, references

JSCBB A223
(303)735-6689
karolin.luger@colorado.edu

Protein design and evolution to create fluorescent biosensors; biophysical characterization of biosensors; use of sensors for live cell imaging of signal transduction; investigation into cellular mechanism of disease

3.0 or higher GPA; minimum time commitment of 12 hours per week for at least 2 semesters Interested students should submit: vita; references Additional Information: prefers interested students to contact her in their sophomore or junior year, requires interview


JSCBB C317
(303)492-1945
amy.palmer@colorado.edu

Analysis of RNP granule assembly in cells and in vitro. Single molecule imaging

3.2 or higher GPA; minimum time commitment of 12 hours per week for at least 4 semesters; prefer students interested in pursuing an honors thesis Interested students should submit vita; unofficial transcript

JSCBB B414
(303)735-7780
roy.parker@colorado.edu

Our research bridges computational and experimental sciences to discover new regulatory aspects in the human genome - - Specifically how long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes regulate numerous biological processes. We have continually applied and developed many technologies such as single-molecule RNA imaging, RNA-sequencing, Single Cell RNA-sequencing, CRISPR-Display and SNP-CLING. This multifaceted and cross-disciplinary approach is focused on unraveling the molecular modalities underlying RNA biology and in turn how it regulates cell state.Ìý

3.0 or higher GPA; minimum time commitment of 12 hours per week for at least 2 semesters. Interested students should submit: <1pg cover letter/statement of purpose, vitae Additional Information: Interview required

JSCBB B417
John.rinn@colorado.edu

Definition and characterization of novel antibiotic targets. Study of human pathogen proteins that confer antibiotic resistance. Molecular mechanisms of proteins regulated by conformational changes.

Desired qualifications: GPA 3.2 or higher. Strong interest in developing an independent project to complete an honors thesis. Interested Students should submit: transcript and request an interview. Additional Information: Requires interview

JSCBB A417
(303)735-4341
marcelo.sousa@colorado.edu

Biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based methods used to study the basic mechanisms of transcription regulation in human cells. Our research has direct implications for human development and disease. Common methods we employ include in vitro enzymatic assays, protein purification, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, molecular cloning, sequencing and computational biology.

Desired qualifications: GPA 3.0 or higher. Strong interest in developing an independent project after initial training. Interested Students should submit: transcript and request an interview. Additional Information: Requires interview

JSCBB B319
(303)492-6929
dylan.taatjes@colorado.edu

Microbiology; innate immunity; bacterial pathogenesis; phage resistance; nucleotide second messengers.

Desired qualifications: ≥3.0 GPA; time commitment of >10 hrs per week in ≥3 hr blocks; enthusiasm and curiosity! Undergraduates should contact Aaron by email: include (1) a cover letter describing your motivations/academic background and (2)Ìýyour CV

Protein homeostasis and degradation in cancer and neurodegenerative disease; neuronal protein degradation and differentiation of neurons from stem cell precursors

Desired qualifications:3.2 or higher GPA and willingness to complete an Honors Thesis. Minimum time commitment is at least 12 hours per week for at least one semester. Interested students should submit an unofficial transcript, a curriculum vita (cv), and a cover letter indicating why interested in research.

Structural and biochemical studies of telomere proteins; single-stranded DNA recognition; structural biology (X-ray and NMR); ncRNAs

Desired qualifications:3.3 or higher GPA; minimum 3 credit hours per semester for at least 2 semesters plus a summer Interested students should submit: vita; unofficial transcript

JSCBB B222
(303)492-4576
deborah.wuttke@colorado.edu