BMBB Engagement and Outreach Projects and Funding

Goal

The goal of GRASP is to promote STEM careers and encourage everyone to participate. This outreach program was started by the Engagement and Outreach committee in Fall 2021, is aimed at local middle schools, and involves undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty from across the College.

Outreach

Twice a year (fall and spring), the GRASP MN program hosts a visit to the UMN St. Paul campus for a group of 30 eighth-grade students. During these visits, the students experience hands-on learning activities in CBS research labs (x-ray crystallography lab, origins of life lab, and the Conservatory) and interactions with scientists. It ends with a pizza lunch for the students and volunteers. 

Schools

GRASP MN Program has hosted visits with:

• Heritage E-STEM Middle School, St. Paul, MN (Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024)
• Washington Technology Magnet High School, St. Paul, MN (Spring 2023)

To date, we have hosted five events over four years, equaling 150 middle school students since 2021!

GRASP visit with middle school students (Nov 2023) 

GRASP visit with middle school students (Nov 2023) 

GRASP visit with middle school students in the Seelig lab (Nov 2022) 

GRASP visit with middle school students 

Goal

This effort provides funds to support undergraduate research in BMBB research labs, with the goal of facilitating first-hand research experience for all students. 

How to Apply

We aim to support one undergraduate student for a summer research opportunity per year with the aid of the BMBB department. Please send your application materials to [email protected].

Criteria:

• Must be a University of Minnesota undergraduate student.
• Must have an interest in biochemistry research.
• Must identify a BMBB-affiliated faculty member to host you as an undergraduate student.

To apply, please send your:

• Resume
• Name of BMBB faculty that has agreed to host you in their lab. CC this faculty in the email so that they can confirm their availability.
• A short paragraph (300-350 words) describing a barrier that you have faced while trying to get started in undergraduate research.
  
  

Typically, applications open in March, with a due date of mid-April. Award notifications will be sent by mid-May.

Past and Current Recipients

• Mikayla Whitehouse (Summer 2025, PI: Burckhard Seelig)

• Andy Yang (Summer 2025, PI: Amy Hauck)

• Muna Mohamed (Summer 2024, PI: Bob Evans and Joseph Muretta)

• Fatima Garza (Summer 2023, PI: Douglas Mashek)
• Valerie Barrera Estrada (Summer 2022, PI: Stefani Thomas)

Goal

The goal of “Enhancing Our Culture” seminars is to augment our existing BMBB departmental seminar series by broadening the spectrum of speakers and topics discussed to create opportunities for additional learning and growth. 

Goal

The goal of this initiative is to develop a CBS service-learning course designed to:

• Teach undergraduate students skill sets for effective mentorship.
• Connect high school students in our communities to resources that enable post-secondary education
• Encourage STEM career paths for all high school students.

Outreach

UMN undergraduate students direct on-site hands-on biology experiments performed by high school students at local schools. These workshops are designed to promote near-peer mentorship between UMN undergraduates and high school students, with the goal of making post-secondary education more attainable and accessible for everyone. 

Schools

Our committee has hosted workshops at:

• Washington Technology Magnet High School (St Paul, MN)

• Contributed to graduate student recruitment by sending welcome “UMN Spirit” packages to candidates in advance of their visits to the UMN Campus (2020-2021)
• Created an “Our Life, Our Sciences” video series to share stories about members of our BMBB department.

Special thanks to the BMBB department and the College of Biological Sciences for past and current funding efforts.