Summer Undergraduate Students

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Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Oceans and Human Health Summer Undergraduate Programs

As part of the Medical University of South Carolina's Summer Undergraduate Research Program, the Marine Biomedicine Center offers an Oceans and Human Health program for undergraduate students wishing to study the interactions of the marine environment and the health of humans. The summer program is 10 weeks long and includes 3 weeks of classes for a couple hours each morning and 10 weeks of research every day with an MBES faculty. Representative research topics in the past have included, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradation by microorganisms, differential molecular processing of lung proteins in human babies and in dolphins in hypoxic versus normoxic conditions, sexually dimorphic gene expression in red blood cells of the American alligator, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin as a model for Alzheimer’s disease, the effect of light quality on coral tissue regeneration, relationship between air pollution and human cardiovascular health, and chemical changes in C-reactive protein antibodies. At the end of the summer the students present their research findings in formal presentations to the faculty and fellow students. This summer undergraduate research experience provides students with an opportunity to gain “hands on” laboratory experience and to interact with MBES faculty as well as doctoral and post doctoral students. Some summer undergraduate students subsequently apply to the MBES doctoral program. Students are provided stipends and semester credit to transfer to their home institution.  For more details on this program click here.

The Oceans and Human Health Program also provides training for doctoral students and post doctoral fellows in the development and administration of a research and lecture course focused on undergraduate summer students. Current OHH doctoral students include: Emily Allen, Matthew Bertin, Robyn Grayson and Jillian Lynch Johnson. Former OHH postdoctoral fellows include Drs. Kristin Hardy and Mackenzie Zippay.

In addition to the Summer Undergraduate Program in Oceans and Human Health, Marine Biomedicine participates in 4 programs which bring undergraduates to Charleston to work in laboratories for approximately 10 weeks each summer.

• National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (Grice Marine Lab, College of Charleston)
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Minorities in Marine and Environmental Sciences
• Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program
• NOAA Hollings Scholar Program

How to apply for the Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Health Summer Undergraduate Program

Summer Student Photo Gallery