Research Experience for Undergraduates
Type: Internship
Application Start Date: February 2, 2021
Deadline: March 5, 2021
Clemson University, University of Delaware, Tulane University,
and Delaware State University are collaborating to better
understand the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, which is
used to manufacture most biopharmaceuticals.
This project studies genomic instability in CHO cells by developing
a quantitative understanding of the complex interactions between
the genome and environment that generates the variable
phenotypes. CHO cells provide a unique opportunity to address the
complex interactions between the genome and phenome, as CHO
cells can be cultured in very tightly controlled environments
(bioreactors) to generate variable phenomes due to genome
instability.
Students will be exposed to this cutting-edge research working with graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and professors. Projects are highly integrated such that REU students will work in one
area but will have opportunities to interact with researchers in other
areas that include the bioreactor optimization, transcriptome
analysis, multivariate analysis, bioinformatics, molecular biology,
and product characterization teams as well. A major emphasis of the
grant includes broadening participation for which all participants must take an active role.