Fully-Funded Cultural Exchange and Residence for Undergraduate Scientific Students in UK

The John Innes Centre is offering International Undergraduate Summer School 2021. That is a unique exchange opportunity for undergraduates from all corners of the world to spend eight weeks at our internationally renowned research centre, partnering with fellow Norwich Research Park institutes; The Sainsbury Laboratory and the Earlham Institute.

Students experience plant and microbial science, interacting with some of our world-leading scientists and gain an unrivalled insight into research.

One afternoon each week is dedicated to training events that cover activities such as science communication, computer programming, field studies, advanced presentation skills, and discussions with students from previous years about career development.

Social interactions and teamwork are encouraged throughout, with activities including make-your-own pizza and BBQs.

The program culminates in a two-day conference on the beautiful North Norfolk coast where students present and share their research.

2021 Projects:

We have a huge range of projects available as part of the 2021 Undergraduate Summer School. Below are a list of the project titles, grouped by departmental research area.

Biological Chemistry

• Iron cofactors in plants and for human nutrition

Cell and Developmental Biology

• Shaping Diversity
• Molecular biology of plant-insect interactions
• Nuclear calcium signalling in biotic interactions
• Epigenetic regulation of plant sexual reproduction
• Exploring the evolution of plant-pathogen interactions 

Computational and Systems Biology

• Inference and simulation of gene regulatory networks 

Crop Genetics

• Wheat Genetics
• Can molecular genetics help feed 10 billion people
• How do we protect wheat from a cereal killer?
• Cell to cell communication during pathogen attack
• Genetic lockdown of root disease: improving the benefits of nitrogen-fixing crops

Metabolic Biology

• Molecular mechanisms of starch synthesis in plants and applications for improving crop quality
• Genetics and genomic variation underpinning the control of metabolism in pea

Molecular Microbiology

• Investigating how Pseudomonas bacteria colonise plant root systems
• Zooming in on bacterial cell division – identification and microscopic analyses of novel cell division proteins in the antibiotic producing bacteria Streptomyces 
• Sustainable crop protection using antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria

The Sainsbury Laboratory

• Investigating plant immune receptors
• Identifying novel sources of genetic resistance to a devastating soybean pathogen – 2Blades

Earlham Institute

• Discovering cellular heterogeneity through single cell genomics

Benefits:

International Undergraduate Summer School includes;

• £250 per week stipend
• Free accommodation in your own en-suite room, with a shared kitchen and within walking distance of the John Innes Centre
• A programme of training, research, seminars, workshops and social events
• The opportunity to be part of a world-renowned scientist’s laboratory and contribute to their research
• This is your opportunity to experience life in a world-leading scientific institute across a variety of biological and chemical sciences; including microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and computational and mathematical biology.

About The John Innes Centre:

We are an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics and microbiology.

Our institute fosters a creative, curiosity-driven approach to fundamental questions in bio-science, with a view to translating that into societal benefits. Over the last 110 years, we have achieved a range of fundamental breakthroughs, resulting in major societal impacts.

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