Outreach
The LiNC Program
‘LiNC’ serves the purpose of linking STEM-focused high school students from traditionally excluded groups with students who are just steps ahead of them to tackle the vast unknowns of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) world.
Why lncRNAs: There are tens of thousands of lncRNAs that have not yet been characterized. Given the structure-function paradigm, we are confident that if we can determine the structures of these transcripts, this can lead us to a better understanding of their functions. With so many lncRNA transcripts in existence, crowdsourcing a project to study them is a resourceful option. What better way to inspire budding scientists from underrepresented groups than by providing them the opportunity to be among the first to study a particular system and be acknowledged for their contributions through publications?
How it works: Each year, Jonesy organizes a team of graduate students (from a graduate-level course that she teaches, Macromolecular Chemistry), undergraduates from the Jonesy Lab, and high school students to bioinformatically and experimentally probe RNA structure and RNA-protein interactions, and their putative regulatory roles in cells. Students learn how to plan and carry out experiments (this includes math related to chemistry), learn to present their research to others (both in presentations and writing), and establish a network of life-long mentors and friends.
Program duration: 5 weeks. Students return each summer to work in the lab. You have to be present for all five weeks.
Participants per year: 4-6 (students will work in groups of two)
Cost: Free
Eligibility and Requirements: High school students who live in the United States and have completed their freshman year of high school. Students must have at least a B average (in their science, math, and physics courses). This is a program for students interested in scientific research. Not sure if that’s you? Think about what you like to do in your free time. As a kid/teenager, Jonesy enjoyed collecting rocks, magic tricks, magnifying glasses + sunlight (iykyk), and mixing things in her bathroom sink to see what would ‘fizz’. These are some (but not all!) signs of a budding researcher.
Stipend: Yes
Housing: Yes, for out-of-state participants
Sponsors: NSF RAHSS, VWR, NYU Office of the Dean for Science