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SURP is grateful to Johnson & Johnson Vison Care, ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ College of Arts & Sciences, and ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry for their support of the SURP 2022 and 2023 cohorts. This program would not be possible without donor generosity.

Sponsors of SURP enable transformational summer research experiences for the next generation of scientists, teachers, physicians, pharmacists, and more. Donor contributions enable student stipends and professional development programming, which prepare ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ students to become the next generation of leaders in their chosen career fields.

We are continuing to increase the number of students that SURP can support, and we need your help. To join our donor list, please email Chemistry@unf.edu or .

SURP 2022 student Elise Ballash discusses her research experiences with local media. 

Applications are closed for Summer 2024.

Check back in early Spring 2025 for information about joining the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Chemistry & Biochemistry SURP 2025 cohort!

Am I eligible for SURP?

Students interested in chemistry and biochemistry research and currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ are eligible to apply. Students at all levels (freshman-senior) are welcome. Students graduating in Spring remain eligible to participate in SURP immediately after graduation (e.g. Spring 2024 graduates are eligible for Summer 2024 program).

Do I need to already be conducting research to join SURP?

No! You may apply before you begin conducting research at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. However, you must identify a consenting research mentor in the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and work with them to complete the research statement for your SURP application (see next FAQ).

How do I find a research mentor for SURP?

Explore the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty research page to find research areas and potential mentors. Contact mentors directly about research opportunities for SURP students in their group. It is best to contact prospective mentors early, since some research groups fill up quickly.

What are the requirements of SURP?

SURP participants are required to devote 20 compensated hours each week to research throughout the ten-week program. Working hours are determined by the participant in collaboration with their research mentor. Working hours can usually be coordinated around limited summer coursework, but typically not around a full-time job.

Research expectations vary by project and mentor. Typical expectations include safety training, hands-on laboratory work, record keeping (lab notebook), literature and database searches, data analyses, scientific writing, and more.

SURP participants are required to participate in a workshop series, which meets most Fridays at 12 - 1 pm throughout the program. Workshops are aimed to maximize the benefits of the SURP experience, and focus on essential research skills, networking, career exploration, and more.

As a capstone experience, SURP participants develop a poster of their research project and present their poster near the end of the program.

Additional details of the SURP requirements can be found in the SURP Participation Agreement.

When is the SURP?

The program runs for ten weeks each summer. The Summer 2023 program is scheduled for May 30 - August 4, 2023. The Summer 2024 dates will be determined in early 2024.

How and when do I apply?

Check out the Apply tab for SURP. Applications are typically due mid-Spring semester each year.

Who should I contact to learn more about SURP?

Reach out to Chemistry@unf.edu, or visit Dr. Lane’s scheduled office hours (hours posted on her door at 50/3114).

SURP 2024 Participants

	Cody Bishir is a junior biomedical sciences major with plans to pursue a career in pharmacy and chemical research. As a SURP fellow, Cody works in Dr. Liangyong Mei’s lab focusing on red-light and near-IR photocatalysis and asymmetric catalysis of indole compounds and their possible advantageous biological applications.
	Baher Boktor is a rising senior majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in chemistry, who plans to pursue graduate programs upon graduation. As a SURP Participant, he is working in Dr. Szymon Ciesielski’s Research group focusing on the role Molecular Chaperones in Carcinogenesis.
	Soleil Cabana is a rising senior biomedical science major, who plans to pursue medical school and a career as a doctor. As a SURP fellow, she is working in Dr. Liangyong Mei’s lab to synthesize substrates that will be used to research red-light activated photocatalysts.
	Abigail Crossman is a rising sophomore biochemistry major, who plans to attend graduate school in the chemistry or biochemistry field. Abigail is currently working in Dr. Willis Jones lab doing analytical chemistry method development for the determination of trace metals in solutions.
	Reagan Elia is a rising sophomore chemistry major with a minor in physics, who plans to pursue a PhD in physical chemistry. As a SURF fellow, she is working in Dr. Benjamin William’s lab to use metal organic frameworks for carbon capture and storage from landfill gas.
	Gerald Favorite is a rising junior with a major in materials chemistry, who plans to go full time in his job as a laboratory technician with JEA upon graduation. As a SURP fellow, he is working in Dr. Michael Lufaso’s lab to synthesize and analyze the compound Bi 3-xLa xFe 0.5Nb 1.5O9 with possible applications in multifunctional electronic devices.
	Brian Grause is a junior at the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ pursuing a double major in Biochemistry and Biology, with a concentration in Evolution and Ecology. As a SURP fellow, Brian is working in Dr. Amy Lane’s natural products lab focusing on isomerization reactions of natural products from marine bacteria. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. and wants to work in astrobiology and origins of life research.
	Zach Jones is a rising junior biomedical sciences major, who intends to apply to medical school and pursue a career as a physician. As a SURP fellow, he is working on a collaborative project between Dr. Marie Mooney’s and Dr. Szymon Ciesielski’s lab to understand the role of molecular chaperones in rare human glycosylation disorders.
	Skyeler Klinge, a recent biology graduate, is determined to gain additional research experience before applying to PhD programs in the upcoming cycle. As a SURP fellow, she is working with Dr. Amy Lane to publish the novel findings on enzyme-catalyzed molecular synthesis made in the Lane lab. Skyeler aspires to join a PhD program to contribute to the global fight against cancer.
	Erina Kotreli is a junior biomedical sciences major on a pre-med track at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. She wants to pursue medical school and a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. As a SURP fellow she is working in Dr. Szymon Ciesielski’s lab to further explore specific proteins and their correlation with Alzheimer’s disease.
	Jamie Ly is a biochemistry major in his junior year. Working under Dr. Eirin Sullivan, he is investigating a novel therapeutic treatment for Leishmaniasis. His research focuses on the response of the protozoan Leishmania tarentolae to the solid-state synthesis of (M = Al, Ga) where x = 0.05 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25. Jamie aspires to further his education and pursue a Ph.D in biochemistry, with the goal of using his experience from SURF to develop novel approaches to treating disease.
	Tania McCormack, a chemistry major with ambitions of attending medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician, is currently a SURP fellow in Dr. Szymon Ciesielski's lab. Her research aims to unveil the importance of co-chaperone Tid1 protein for mitochondrial DNA integrity, which defects are associated with human neurodegenerative disorders and various types of cancer.
	Chloe Perednia is a senior chemistry major who plans to pursue graduate studies in physical chemistry. As a SURP fellow, they are working in Dr. Brynna Jones’ lab to analyze the kinetics of polymer leaching in various forms of dissolved organic matter and to create a standard set of spectra for poly(vinyl chloride) and dissolved organic matter (solid-liquid) samples.
	Noah Smith is a rising senior chemistry major, concentrating in biochemistry. As a SURP fellow, he is working on materials science in Dr. Benjamin Williams’ lab to synthesize noble metal nanocubes. His overall objective is to enhance the stability of nanoparticle catalysts with organic metal frameworks (MOFs) to promote more environmentally sustainable and renewable catalysts.
	Ruby Soto is a junior chemistry major with ambitions to pursue a PhD in Physical Chemistry. As a SURP researcher in Dr. Brynna Jones’ lab, she is working to further explore the degradation of microplastics in DOM solutions.
	Cameron Young is a post-bac research assistant for Dr. Szymon Ciesielski’s lab working to unravel the molecular details of chaperone mediated Amyloid fibril disaggregation in Alzheimer’s Disease. In the fall he intends to apply to graduate school to acquire an M.S. in anesthesia and looks forward to a career in healthcare.

SURP 2023 Participants

	Baher Boktor is a rising sophomore neuroscience major with a chemistry minor, who plans to pursue a career in the field of science. As a SURP participant, he is working in Dr. Ciesielski’s Lab that is focusing on proteins and molecular chaperones.
	Amanda Jessel is a senior chemistry major, who plans to pursue graduate studies in inorganic chemistry. As a SURP fellow, she is working in Dr. Lufaso’s lab to synthesize and characterize properties of a new Aurivillius-type compound Bi 3-xLa xFe 0.5Nb 1.5O 9.
	Hana Kabil is a senior biology major with a concentration in biomedical science. She aims to apply to medical school in the future and pursue a career as a physician scientist. As a SURP fellow, she is working in Dr. Lane’s lab to isolate and elucidate the structure of novel compounds from the marine bacteria Nocardiopsis for use as potential antibiotics.
	Skyeler Klinge is a senior biology major with a concentration in molecular and cell biology and biotechnology. As a SURP researcher in Dr. Lane’s lab, she explores the therapeutic possibilities of natural products produced by marine organisms. Skyeler plans to pursue a Ph.D. and build a successful career as a biomedical researcher, driven by her passion for advancing scientific knowledge and making a positive impact in the field.
	Tania McCormack, a chemistry major with ambitions of attending medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician, is currently a SURP fellow in Dr. Ciesielski's lab. Her research aims to unveil the importance of co-chaperone Tid1 protein for mitochondrial DNA integrity, which defects are associated with human neurodegenerative disorders and various types of cancer.
	Cassidy Nguyen is a recent graduate with a major in chemistry and a pre-medical concentration. She plans to pursue a PhD in chemistry and is currently working on two projects in Dr. Eirin Sullivan’s lab. These two research projects look at the solid-state synthesis of Sr 3B xM 1-xO 4F (M = Al, Ga) with x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and the solid-state synthesis of Na 2CaGeO 4F doped with Mn (IV), Zn (II) and compare with old magnesium germanate fluoride phosphors.
	Gustavo Perez is a graduating senior majoring in molecular cell biology with a minor in chemistry, who plans on pursuing an MD-PhD program in the future. As a SURP fellow, he is working in Dr. Knuckley’s lab to further explore the chloroacetamide warhead to develop a more potent and selective PRMT inhibitor.
	Jordan Tucker is a chemistry major who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry following her graduation in Fall 2023. She hopes to one day have a career in research at the National Institutes of Health. Jordan is currently working in Dr. Knuckley’s lab to develop peptoid inhibitors of PRMT1 as potential cancer therapeutics.
	Cameron Young aspires to take his passions for chemistry onward into graduate school for biochemistry. In his research with the Ciesielski lab, Cameron discovered his passion for the proteostasis network and protein structure-function research in general and hopes to find a PI to continue to learn and gain expertise in this field.

SURP 2022 Alumni

• Elise Ballash, Exploring bacterial genomes for discovery of novel diketopiperazines (Lane group)
• Zachary Burkhead, Discovery of the inducamide natural product gene cluster (Lane group)
• Isabella Cioffi, Studying mechanosensitive ion channels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus (Malcolm group)
• Brooklynn Dailey, Gene cloning of mechanosensitive ion channels in Paraburkholderia graminis with electrocompetent cells (Malcolm group)
• Brandon Guerin, Cancer mutations in essential human co-chaperone DNAJB1 protein (Ciesielski group)
• Amanda Jessel, Crystal structure, dielectric and optical properties of Aurivillius-type Bi _3-xLa _xFe ₅Nb _1.5O (Lufaso group)
• Seth Shearer, Does cancer hijack molecular chaperone proteins to its favor? (Ciesielski group)
• Caroline Teeter, DNA binding ability of mitochondrial co-chaperone Tid1 (Ciesielski group)
• Natacha Tirado, Role of intramolecular interaction in JDP protein partner of molecular chaperone Hsp70 (Ciesielski group)
• Jordan Tucker (Knuckley group)

SURP 2022 participants, their research mentors, SURP sponsors, and other community
partners were celebrated by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Upcoming Events:

Celebrate the SURP 2023 cohort on Friday, August 4 @ 12 - 1 pm at location TBD. They will give brief presentations of their research projects over lunch. All are welcome!

SURP 2023 students will present posters at the campus-wide ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Achievements in Research, Inquiry, and Scholarship Exhibition (ARISE) on Friday, July 28 from 10 am - 2 pm.

Past Events & News:

September 2022: SURP 2022 students presented posters and participated in the ribbon-cutting to unveil the new NMR spectrometer and renovated wing of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Several local news outlets covered the event:

³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam cuts the ribbon with (from left)
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Chair Dr. Bryan Knuckley,
SURP student Zachary Burkhead, and Chemistry alumnus and donor Chuck Ged.

May 2022: Ten students were welcomed into the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Student Internship in ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ’s Chemistry & Biochemistry SURP.

Brooklynn Dailey pursues her SURP project under Dr. Malcolm’s guidance.

Email Chemistry@unf.edu or drop by Dr. Lane’s office hours (50/3114) to learn more about SURP.