This is a one-week course for undergraduates interested in learning about interdisciplinary approaches to biomedical research. Students will be introduced to concepts and tools that will help them work together across disciplines. Using these resources, small teams of students will tackle a complex problem in biomedicine, developing goals, strategies, and solutions around it. In addition, they will learn how these concepts and tools will be essential for navigating successful biomedical and bioengineering careers in the 21st century.
During the course, students will rotate through one or more research laboratories working with animal models to discover underlying mechanisms of regeneration, tissue repair, or wound healing. Students will learn how research in these areas is essential to solving complex problems in biomedicine like cardiac disease, complications of diabetes, and cancer treatment.
Students will have the opportunity to present the results of their team challenge to a panel of interdisciplinary experts who will provide feedback on their work, as well as insight on the future of interdisciplinary research in biomedicine and other fields.
Interdisciplinary teamwork is the hallmark of “Bridging Disciplines: Navigating successful 21st-century careers in biomedical science”
This opportunity is tuition-free. Accepted students are provided with room and board at no cost.
Sunday: Arrival and Orientation
Monday: Students will work with communications researchers to practice skills important for conversing in ideas and languages of other fields. They will use a case-study based approach to identifying emerging needs for bridging disciplines to solve complex problems.
Tuesday through Wednesday morning: Students will rotate through three research labs at MDI Biological Laboratory, learning about the animal models systems used to understand the underlying mechanisms of regeneration, tissue repair, and wound healing and the complex problems that remain to be solved in these areas of research.
Wednesday afternoon through Thursday: Small groups of students will meet to choose a complex problem and develop goals and strategies in addressing that problem and prepare to present their ideas.
Friday: Students will engage with a panel of interdisciplinary experts to discuss methods, approaches, and strategies to accomplish their interdisciplinary research goals, receiving critical feedback on their interdisciplinary endeavors as well as insight on the future of interdisciplinary research.
On campus housing will be assigned.