WUSTL ENDURE

undergraduate research experience in neuroscience

May 26, 2020 - Aug. 7, 2020

The Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) ENDURE summer research program prepares undergraduates from diverse backgrounds for neuroscience PhD programs. We combine outstanding research training, a rigorous curriculum and an empowering support system so participants thrive on their path to graduate school and beyond. With support from the NIH Blueprint ENDURE initiative and Washington University, accepted students are funded for up to two summers and trips to the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. Overall, the program embeds students in a network of neuroscientists and enhances the success of trainees towards our goal of increasing diversity in neuroscience.

Program

Each component of the WUSTL ENDURE program is designed to provide trainees a solid foundation for future success. This begins with hypothesis-driven research in a world-class Washington University lab where students gain research skills and a taste of life as a graduate student. A summer curriculum focused on professional development hones critical thinking and communication abilities. Students also participate in an online workshop series and attend and present at the Society for Neuroscience meeting to sustain and strengthen skills during the academic year. Combined with personalized advising and an empowering community, WUSTL ENDURE offers holistic training budding neuroscientists will use for years to come.

Cortical astrocyte image by Olivia Gautier, 2017 Cohort (Lab: Karen O’Malley).

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Research

Independent research is the core of the WUSTL ENDURE experience. Summer scholars work full-time in a lab matching their interests. They encounter the thrill of creating new knowledge and contribute to the advancement of neuroscience. The experience culminates with the presentation of a research poster at the university’s Summer Research Symposium and again at the Society for Neuroscience conference.

Once accepted, students work with the Program Director to find a lab that offers both exciting research and a good learning environment. With over 100 WUSTL neuroscience faculty, students can choose from a wide range of research areas from molecules to cognition to behavior.

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Academic & Professional Development

Outside the lab, our intensive curriculum focuses on neuroscience knowledge, scientific communication and graduate school preparation. Students gain skills essential to entering and succeeding in PhD or MD/PhD programs.

Neuroscience Knowledge
Science Communication
Graduate School Preparation
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Community

As part of a cohort, WUSTL ENDURE scholars are surrounded and motivated by peers who share their interests and goals. Coupled with committed faculty and staff, the program produces the ideal environment to help students reach those goals.

Participants are also integrated into a larger scholarly community that they can access for years to come. The Program and University sponsor several activities to foster these personal and professional networks:

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Benefits

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Current Students

2019 Cohort

Maya Bluitt

Maya's pic

Current Institution
University of Kansas (Senior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Lex Kravitz

Project Title
Investigating discrete aspects of effortful output in mice

Olumide Fagboyegun

Olu's pic

Current Institution
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Junior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. John Cirrito

Project Title
GABA-B receptor mediated regulation of amyloid-beta metabolism

Yesenia Garcia

David's pic

Current Institution
Vassar College (Senior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Robert Gereau

Project Title
Evaluation of somatic and aversive withdrawal behaviors following chronic cannabinoid administration

Julia Gorman

Julia G's pic

Current Institution
Seattle University (Senior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Raman Barani

Project Title
Decoding primary olfaction circuits in Drosophila Melanogaster with Flywalk behavioral assay

Scott Lee

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Current Institution
Saint Louis University (Senior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Joseph Dougherty

Project Title
Localization of a SPARC 3'UTR mutant in astrocytes

Maria Rivera-Santana

Maria R-S's pic

Current Institution
University of Puerto Rico (Junior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Tamara Hershey

Project Title
Atrophy across thalamic nuclei in Wolfram Syndrome

Ro Sandoval

Ro's pic

Current Institution
Saint Louis University (Junior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Jose Morón-Concepcion

Project Title
Assessing the role of dorsal hippocampal circuits in reinforcement and expression of opioid-induced contextual memory

Sierra Williams-McLeod

Sierra's pic

Current Institution
Hampton University (Junior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Gilbert Gallardo

Project Title
Investigating the role of α-Na/K ATPase in the neurotoxic response of LPS in a neuron-astrocyte co-culture system

Hunter Yamada

Hunter's pic

Current Institution
Brown University (Junior)

ENDURE Lab
Dr. Mayssa Mokalled

Project Title
Exploring glial bridging factors involved in spinal cord repair

2018 Cohort

Kia Barclay

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Undergraduate Institution
Wellesley College (2019)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Ream Al-Hasani

Project Title
Determining the neurochemical profile of endogenous opioids during withdrawal

Sneha Chaturvedi

Sneha's pic

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Erik Herzog

Project Title
Sex differences in circadian rhythmicity arise outside the hypothalamus

Sarah Hunter

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Current Institution
Emory University (Senior)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Jordan McCall

Project Title
Activation of ventral tegmental area glutamatergic inputs to the locus coeruleus drive negative affective behaviors in mice

Michael Kanan

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Undergraduate Institution
Saint Louis University (2019)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Erik Musiek

Project Title
Circadian clock disruption influences alpha synuclein spreading and dopaminergic neuron loss in vivo

Denye Mickens

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Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (Junior)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Jeanne Nerbonne

Project Title
Intracellular fibroblast growth factors and the modulation of cardiac Kv channels

Luis Ruiz

Luis's pic

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (Senior)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Matthew MacEwan

Project Title
Behaviorally characterizing sensory percepts elicited by macrosieve stimulation in a rat sciatic model

Vanessa Serrano

Vanessa's pic

Current Institution
San Diego State University (Senior)

ENDURE Lab (2018)
Dr. Denise Head

Project Title
Working memory and processing speed as moderators of age effects on allocentric processing

ENDURE Lab (2019)
Dr. David Moore (UCSD)

Project Title (2019)
The Relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment among older adults living with HIV

Samanda Valente Soto

Samanda's pic

Current Institution
Carnegie Mellon University (Senior)

ENDURE Lab (2018, 2019)
Dr. Harrison Gabel

Project Title
Functional effects of Topoisomerase IIB mutation in neurodevelopmental disease

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Alumni

2017 Cohort

Bruce Ramphal

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Undergraduate Institution
Brown University (2019)

Current Institution
Columbia University (Research Assistant)

ENDURE Lab (2017, 2018)
Dr. Chad Sylvester

Project Title
Relations between socioeconomic status, brain connectivity at birth, and psychiatric symptoms at Age 2

David Tyus

David's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (2019)

Current Institution
University of Virginia (PhD Student)

ENDURE Lab (2017)
Dr. Colin Nichols

Project Title (2017)
The effect of KATP channel mutations on inhibitor sensitivity: implications for personalized treatment of Cantu Syndrome

ENDURE Lab (2018)
Dr. Beth Stevens (Harvard)

Project Title (2018)
Behavioral and anatomical effects of Complement Cascade Inhibitor CSMD1: implications for Schizophrenia risk

Olivia Gautier

Olivia's pic

Undergraduate Institution
MIT (2018)

Current Institution
Stanford University (PhD student)

ENDURE Lab (2017)
Dr. Karen O’Malley

Project Title
mGluR5 is functional at the cell surface and at intracellular membranes in cortical astrocytes

Makenzie Norris

Makenzie's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Purdue University (2018)

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (PhD student)

ENDURE Lab (2017)
Dr. Jordan McCall

Project Title
Potential role for central amygdala dynorphin neurons in affective behaviors

Marco Pipoly

Marco's pic

Undergraduate Institution
University of Missouri-St. Louis (2018)

Current Institution
University of Iowa (PhD student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow)

ENDURE Lab (2017)
Dr. Deanna Barch

Project Title
Measures of impulsivity predict medial orbitofrontal differences in healthy adults

2016 Cohort

Joseph Bradley

Joseph's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Harris-Stowe State University (2016)

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (Research Technician)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Carlos Cruchaga

Project Title
Genomic loci associated with differential expression in AD: a multivariate regression analysis of ADNI-2/GO cohorts

Ya’el Courtney

Courtney's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Kent State University (2016)

Current Institution
Harvard University (PhD Student)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Todd Braver

Project Title
The Influence of genetics on individual differences in neural activation patterns

María González

Maria's pic

Undergraduate Institution
University of Puerto Rico (2019)

Current Institution
UNC-Chapel Hill (Post-Baccalaureate Scholar)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Joshua Rubin

Project Title
TAp63α overexpression mitigates sexually dimorphic proliferation in mesenchymal Glioblastoma astrocytes

Jake Khoussine

Jake's pic

Undergraduate Institution
University of Oklahoma (2017)

Current Institution
University of Wisconsin-Madison (MSTP student)

ENDURE Lab (2016)
Dr. Aaron DiAntonio

Project Title
Identifying novel pathways that dictate synaptic growth

Chelsea Mackey

Chelsea's pic

Undergraduate Institution
University of Missouri (2018)

Current Institution
NIH (IRTA Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Erik Musiek

Project Title
A characterization of amyloid pathology and circadian system function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Derrick Ogola

Derrick's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (2019)

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (Research Technician)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. John Cirrito

Project Title Synaptic dependent amyloid-β generation in vivo in Alzheimer’s Disease mouse model

Julia Pai

Julia's pic

Undergraduate Institution
New York University (2017)

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (PhD Student)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Ilya Monosov

Project Title
Primate ventral pallidum neurons are sensitive to the timing of uncertainty-resolving information

Jordan Peyer

Jordan's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Vassar College (2018)

Current Institution
NIH (IRTA Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow)

ENDURE Lab (2016, 2017)
Dr. Andrew Yoo

Project Title
MicroRNA-based reprogramming of human adult fibroblasts into dopaminergic neurons

2015 Cohort

Jessica Jimenez

Jessica's pic

Undergraduate Institution
Oberlin College (2017)

Current Institution
UNC-Chapel Hill (PhD student)

ENDURE Lab (2015)
Dr. Carlos Cruchaga

Project Title (2015)
Role of ABCA7 & TM2D3 variants in Alzheimer's Disease

Related Publication
J.L. Del-Aguila, M.V. Fernández, J. Jimenez, K. Btlack, S. Ma, Y. Deming, et al., Role of ABCA7 loss-of-function variant in Alzheimer’s disease: a replication study in European–Americans. Alzheimer's Res Ther. 7, 73 (2015).

ENDURE Lab (2016)
Dr. Aaron Bowman (Vanderbilt)

Project Title (2016)
Identifying small molecule-altered cellular manganese regulatory pathways

Neco Johnson

Neco's pic

Undergraduate Institution
San Diego State University (2017)

Current Institution
Washington University in St. Louis (PhD student)

ENDURE Lab (2015)
Dr. David Balota

Project Title (2015)
Exploring the cognitive mechanisms underlying memory benefits of wakeful rest

ENDURE Lab (2016)
Dr. Desiree White

Project Title (2016)
Developmental trajectories of strategic processing in children with Phenylketonuria

Related Publication
Z.W. Hawks, M.J. Strube, N.X. Johnson, D.K. Grange, D.A. White, Developmental Trajectories of Executive and Verbal Processes in Children with Phenylketonuria. Dev. Neuropsychol. 43, 207-218 (2018).

Taylor Gordon

Taylor's pic

Undergraduate Institution
George Mason University (2017)

Current Institution
NIH (IRTA Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow)

ENDURE Lab (2015)
Dr. Tim Miller

Project Title (2015)
Dendritic cell miRNA expression in the central nervous system

Related Publication
M.L. Hoye, A.S. Archambault, T.M. Gordon, L.K. Oetjen, M.D. Cain, R.S. Klein, S.D. Crosby, B.S. Kim, T.M. Miller, G.F. Wu, MicroRNA signature of central nervous system-infiltrating dendritic cells in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Immunology. 155, 112-122 (2018).

ENDURE Lab (2016)
Dr. Martha Bagnall

Project Title (2016)
Lateral vestibulospinal neuron function

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Staff

Erik Herzog, PhD

Erik's pic

WUSTL ENDURE Program Director
Victor Hamburger Distinguished Professor






Diana José-Edwards, PhD

Diana's pic

WUSTL ENDURE Program Coordinator

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FAQs

Application

Yes, you may submit unofficial transcript(s). Fall grades must be included in your submitted application.

The most relevant letters are those from faculty who know you well and can attest to your interest and capacity for scientific research, such as research mentors and professors of your science courses.

Accepted students will be notified in early-mid March.


Eligibility

We will consider applications from freshmen, sophomores, juniors or non-graduating seniors enrolled in a four-year college or university.

No, all program participants must be US citizens or permanent residents as required by our funders.

Our program is designed for students pursuing neuroscience PhDs or, in some cases, MD/PhDs. Applications from those undergraduates considering careers in clinical medicine (MD only) will not be considered.

No, previous research experience is not required; however, you are expected to show strong interest in performing neuroscience research in your application.

No, there are no additional requirements beyond those outlined on the eligibility page. Each application is judged as a whole, and admission is not based on any single component.


Program

The 2020 summer program runs from May 26 (move in) to August 7 (move out).

Accepted students submit a list of 4-10 potential mentors. Participants then discuss their research interests with the Program Director who recommends the most appropriate lab. Students are matched to a lab once they successfully complete an interview with the PI. See our research page for more information about neuroscience labs at WUSTL.

No. The program is rigorous and a significant time commitment. Participants are expected to work full-time (at least 40hrs/week spent in lab and program activities) for the duration of the program. Activities that would prevent you from such a commitment (classes, extended vacations, additional jobs, etc.) are not permitted.

Yes. Shared housing contributes to a learning community that is integral to student success. As such, we ask that all participants live in the on-campus accommodations we provide.

ENDURE students are housed in one of the WUSTL dorms along with students from other summer programs. Students have their own furnished bedroom within a larger suite. Each suite contains a shared bathroom and kitchen.

No. Some meals are provided at program events, but students are largely responsible for covering their own food expenses. The dorms have kitchens, so many students cook.

Yes. Summer scholars can use Washington University services, such as the various campus libraries and fitness complexes (gym membership required).

The $6500 stipend is paid in monthly installments on the last business day of May, June and July.

Requirements

The WUSTL ENDURE program is a two-year opportunity consisting of both summer and academic year activities. The experience is maximally effective when students engage fully in all program components. We expect that participants:

Summer
Academic Year

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Eligibility

Students are strong candidates for the program if they are:

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Apply

2020 Online Application

Only complete applications will be reviewed, which must include:

Application deadline: February 3, 2020
(For students applying from Puerto Rico, application materials will be accepted until February 15, 2020.)

Applications can be submitted before recommendations are in, but applications are not complete until the letters are received.

Acceptance notifications: early-mid March, 2020
Students will be selected for their demonstrated interest in neuroscience, enthusiasm for graduate study in a neuroscience-related field and their academic performance to date.

Program Dates: May 26, 2020 - August 7, 2020


Questions? See our FAQs or e-mail endure@wustl.edu.

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