During the 10-week Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC neuroSURF program, students will participate in a series of educational, research, and social activities.
Education
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute neuroSURF program will include courses in translational neurobiology and in professional development. Students will receive science writing and communication training and will learn how to communicate science to the public. Courses are designed to prepare undergraduates for careers in neurobiology research and will be instructed by Virginia Tech faculty who work at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.
Research
All neuroSURF students will perform 10 weeks of full-time, hypothesis-driven independent research in the research institute’s neurobiology labs. At the end of the program, students will present their results at two Annual Summer Research Symposiums; one at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and one at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke. In addition to independent research, all neuroSURF students will attend a weekly Translational Neurobiology Research Seminar Series at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. This seminar series includes presentations about Virginia Tech’s state-of-the-art neurobiology research.
Social Activities
neuroSURF students are invited to participate in several social activities throughout the 10-week period. These activities include pizza parties and ice cream socials, opportunities to meet fellow summer research students, and peer mentoring from Virginia Tech graduate students. Outdoor excursions that take advantage of Roanoke’s world-class outdoor amenities, trails, and parks, are also offered to students.
