Welcome to the Biology Undergraduate Research Apprenticeships (BURA) program!

BURA is a program for Biology undergraduates to see and apply to the many research opportunities available through faculty laboratories focusing on biological research. The BURA program provides a listing of available undergraduate research positions in laboratories at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Undergraduates at any stage of their training and interest can apply. BURA has matched over 100 undergraduates and research projects since fall 2010!

Congratulations to the Spring 2012 BURA students. Most projects have posted decisions and a few have minor delays. If your project has not listed a decision, feel free to contact the professor about their decision or wait a few more days until a decision is posted.

1 Understanding genome variation using next-gen sequencing - Jasmine James
1 Understanding genome variation using next-gen sequencing - Connor Finnerty
4 Effect of adipokinetic hormone on crop muscle contractions in flies - Katherine Croke
4 Effect of adipokinetic hormone on crop muscle contractions in flies - Ismail Eddafali
5 Aggressive Signaling in Mantis Shrimp - Caitlin Descovich O'Hare
6 Vertebrate skeleton preparation - Jaclyn Hugh, Zlata Myshchuk, Sarah Chiavarini, George Egan, Nicole Angel, Kelsey Magrane, Manan Jain, Julia Schelp, Sarah Burke, Shervin Rezaei, Daryl Choa, Taylor Eagan, Caitlin McAllister, Roger Hart, Schyla Wante, Kayla Baker, Aidan Piper, William Mohn, Sujan Lama, James Fargnoli, Jessica Shirton
7 Armored scale insect molecular systematics and evolution- Erica Fitzpatrick
7 Armored scale insect molecular systematics and evolution - Alice Trei
7 Armored scale insect molecular systematics and evolution- Shaun Flanagan
8 3D modeling and engineering analysis of mammal skulls - Catherine Paquin
9 Identifying sources of U.S. invasive plants - Nora Lehan
9 Identifying sources of U.S. invasive plants - Julia Murphy
10 Mapping plant invasions in Western Massachusetts - Lukas Thorburn
12 Extracting alkaloids: Effects of urbanization on natural selection - Evis Drenova
13 Effect of floral compounds on bee health - Marc Hammond
14 Song Learning and Preferences by Sparrows - Kayla Baker
15 Misregulation of a key cell cycle protein -Shalin Patel
16 What makes an urban bird? - Kara Manton
16 What makes an urban bird? - Dat Nguyen
17 Planting more trees... - Derek Melzar
18 Plant biofuel genetics - Nicholas Fitzgerald
19 Plant biofuel genetics - Kathryn Sila-Brow
20 Developmental and Growth Dynamics of Plants - Iam Whitney
21 Engineering soil bacteria to produce biofuels - Sean Gillis
21 Engineering soil bacteria to produce biofuels - Olivia Roberts-Sano
22 Female mate choice and Prairie Warbler songs - Rachel Xue
22 Female mate choice and Prairie Warbler songs - Charles Yijoki
23 Laboratory assistant in biomechanics/bioacoustics laboratory - Nicholas Byrne
23 Laboratory assistant in biomechanics/bioacoustics laboratory - Filimon Kiros
24 Zebrafish Transgenics - Veronica Pace
25 Mechanisms of Pituitary Growth in Zebrafish - Jesse Moskowitz
26 Zebrafish Aquaculture - Maria del Mar
27 The ecology of chemical defenses in flowers - Kevin Moran
27 The ecology of chemical defenses in flowers - Maria Servidone


Cancelled projects:
2 Molecular genetics/mycology of plant pathogenic fungi (Prof. Jung)
3 Population dynamics and chemical ecology of hemlock woolly adelgid (Prof. Elkinton)
11 Impact of the salivary gland hypertrophy virus on house fly adults (Prof. Stoffolano)