Paul Savage, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Academic Objectives
The primary objective of this project was to provide a research experience for as many undergraduate students as possible in a laboratory involved in research in fields spanning chemical, immunological and microbiological disciplines. By working closely with senior graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate researchers learned how research is conducted in academic laboratories and were able to contribute to this research.
Mentoring Environment
During the funded period, my research group included eleven or twelve full-time researchers (technicians (2), postdoctoral researchers (4), and graduate students (5-6)) and between 10 and 15 undergraduate researchers. Each undergraduate researcher was assigned to work with a fulltime researcher. Weekly group meetings were held in which undergraduates presented their research methods and findings. A second weekly meeting was held in which undergraduates presented published research related to their own.
Undergraduates Mentored
During the period of the MEG grant, the following undergraduates were mentored. These undergraduate researchers worked as volunteers for at least three months before they were paid for their time in the laboratory. Pay came from the MEG grant, external funding and from Undergraduate Research Awards.
- John Allen
- Stephen Atkinson
- Paul Belnap
- Kristen Bikhazi
- Laura Bradley
- Zachary Cardon
- Sheridan Conde
- Cy Credille
- Richard Cutts
- Tallan DePriest
- Samuel Dudley
- Nicolas Edwards
- Bobby Geiss
- Aaron Johnson
- Chris King
- Chris Lew
- Kenneth McGary
- Matthew Nielsen
- Tyler Olson
- Katie Peacock
- Dylan Pratt
- Michael Rosenberg
- Mark Sederberg
- Hannah Shaw
- Stephen Shumpert
- Caleb Shumway
- Felix Shun Yi Wan
- Jaewon Song
Results
From 2011 to 2013, 34 manuscripts were published from work involving my laboratory. Many of these publications were in top journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Medicine, and Journal of Experimental Medicine. Undergraduate researchers were included as authors on four of these manuscripts.
Budget
With a few minor exceptions, budget was spent on hourly wages for undergraduate students.