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Duke University | Howard Hughes Undergraduate Program

Vertically Integrated Partners (VIP) Program

May 25-July 31, 2009


The Vertical Integration Partners (VIP) Program is a 10 week program that provides up to ten Duke undergraduates with support for a summer of research in Systems Biology. 

The 2009 Howard Hughes VIP application can be found here.

 

The Vertical Integration Partners (VIP) Program is a new addition to Hughes-funded initiatives at Duke. The program provides advanced opportunities for systems-level summer research for rising Duke juniors and seniors. In this annual 10-week program, undergraduate partners from different disciplines (biology, mathematics, computer science and engineering) join interdisciplinary teams with two graduate students and together, they are guided by two faculty members.

There will be five VIP research teams in summer 2009:
• Cell Systems,
• Cell Signaling,
• Information Signaling and Processing,
• Modeling Biological Systems,
• Models for Genetics and Evolution of Complex Systems

Each team will accept two undergraduates, one majoring in a biological science (biology, biomedical engineering, etc.) and one majoring in a quantitative discipline (mathematics, computer science or engineering). Students whose majors are not in these areas, but who have a substantial background in one, e.g., multiple upper level courses and research experience, will also be considered. Priority will be given to rising juniors and seniors; students may not participate in this program after graduation.

Application to the VIP Program for undergraduate students requires an on-line application, and two letters of recommendation.  Please see the VIP application site.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning February 1; interviews may be required.   This web page will be updated periodically to show the number of positions open for each team.