A Bootcamp for Summer Researchers
Outcome/Accomplishment
The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (NSF ATP-Bio), co-led by the University of Minnesota and the Massachusetts General Hospital, pursues advances in cryopreservation. Every summer ATP-Bio hosts a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program for visiting undergraduates. Students travel from their home institutions to complete a 10-week research intensive experience in a host ATP-Bio lab. As of 2025, ATP-Bio has hosted 123 undergraduates through its REU program. To kick off the Summer 2025 program, all REU students took part in an in-person “bootcamp” at the University of Minnesota campus.
Impact/Benefits
During the bootcamp, students learned the fundamentals of cryobiology and about the research of ATP-Bio through presentations from faculty and trainees. Students also had the opportunity to tour ATP-Bio lab spaces to see different aspects of ATP-Bio research firsthand. Finally, evening networking and social opportunities allowed students to begin to build a community among the REU student cohort and ATP-Bio members that spanned multiple institutions.
Explanation/Background
Since ATP-Bio is a distributed network of researchers and institutions, building a cohesive sense of community and onboarding beginning researchers to the field of cryobiology is a challenge. This “bootcamp” model of bringing dispersed summer research students together in-person to start their research program is one method to establish engagement and develop a sense of belonging for students working in a large, multi-institutional research center.
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesotawebsite
Start Year
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (NSF ATP-Bio), co-led by the University of Minnesota and the Massachusetts General Hospital, pursues advances in cryopreservation. Every summer ATP-Bio hosts a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program for visiting undergraduates. Students travel from their home institutions to complete a 10-week research intensive experience in a host ATP-Bio lab. As of 2025, ATP-Bio has hosted 123 undergraduates through its REU program. To kick off the Summer 2025 program, all REU students took part in an in-person “bootcamp” at the University of Minnesota campus.
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesotawebsite
Start Year
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
During the bootcamp, students learned the fundamentals of cryobiology and about the research of ATP-Bio through presentations from faculty and trainees. Students also had the opportunity to tour ATP-Bio lab spaces to see different aspects of ATP-Bio research firsthand. Finally, evening networking and social opportunities allowed students to begin to build a community among the REU student cohort and ATP-Bio members that spanned multiple institutions.
Explanation/Background
Since ATP-Bio is a distributed network of researchers and institutions, building a cohesive sense of community and onboarding beginning researchers to the field of cryobiology is a challenge. This “bootcamp” model of bringing dispersed summer research students together in-person to start their research program is one method to establish engagement and develop a sense of belonging for students working in a large, multi-institutional research center.