Undergraduate Research Experience (UREx)

The Undergraduate Research Experience (UREx) provides an opportunity for undergraduate scientists from around country to conduct first-rate research. Students learn the scientific process, technical methods and theoretical principles, and communicate their discoveries to other scientists. These students will come to DNALC Nigeria each summer for the 10-week program, living and working in the exciting Laboratory environment.

The Undergraduate Research Experience (UREx) was established in 2013 as a joint effort by Professor George Ude of Bowie State University, Maryland USA and Dr. Dave Micklos of the DNA Learning Center, NY, the educational arm of the renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, to encourage and support budding scientists from tertiary institutions in Nigeria to participate in cutting-edge research that addresses fundamental questions in biology. This program is now domiciled with the newly established DNA Learning Center Nigeria and will serve as the host facility for the period of mentorship and training.

The overarching goals of the Undergraduate Research Experience (UREx) initiative are to:

1. Create a pipeline of underserved students and investigators in the fields of emerging and advanced technologies;
2. Increase the number of scientists from underserved regions with training in the elective disciplines of focus, such as molecular biology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics;
3. Enhance the application laboratory techniques to research through increased training and educational opportunities
4. Foster academic, scientific and multi-disciplinary research excellence.