EDGE Genomics

There will be a virtual EDGE Genomics open house and Q&A session on Tuesday January 17, 2023. Identical sessions will be held from 12:00-12:45pm and 4:00-4:45pm. Students, instructors, and advisors are all welcome.

Click here to watch the recording from the Virtual Open House.

  Link to slides from the Virtual Open House.

 

Important Dates:

• Applications are accepted starting: Friday December 9, 2022
• Applications must be received by: Monday February 27, 2023, 11:59pm
• Reference forms must be received by: Monday March 6, 2023, 11:59pm
• Acceptances announced: April 2023

Click here to apply to EDGE Genomics.

EDGE Genomics applications will be accepted only through this online process. The application must be completed in one sitting, and the following must be ready to complete during the application process:

1. Written answers to these questions: 1. Why are you passionate about science/STEM and what are your educational/training and career goals? 2. How will participating in EDGE Genomics help you achieve your goals? As part of your answer, include a discussion on what are the barriers or extenuating circumstances (if any) preventing you from achieving your goals. (maximum 600 words for each question)
2. Unofficial transcript (pdf format). This document should list all of the college courses you have taken and the grades received.
3. Copy of your resumé.
4. Name(s) and email address(es) of the individual(s) who will fill out a recommendation form for you.

Your completed application must be received by 11:59pm February 27, 2023. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Recommendations

The EDGE Genomics application requires at least one recommendation form to be filled out by one of your AP or college-level science/STEM course instructors. You may have one additional optional recommendation from a non-relative who knows you well. Download the recommendation form here or from the applynow.unc.edu site linked above and email it to your recommender(s). The recommender(s) will fill out the form(s) and email them to precisionmedicine@med.unc.edu. Recommendation forms must be received by 11:59pm March 6, 2023. Applications without recommendation forms will be ineligible for EDGE Genomics.

If you have any questions, email precisionmedicine@med.unc.edu.

EDGE Genomics is an innovative 2-year summer program for undergraduate students who are interested in careers in genomics. EDGE Genomics especially welcomes applications from students who are underrepresented in the field of genomics: individuals who belong to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (Native Americans/Alaska natives, Hispanic Americans, Hawaiian natives/U.S. Pacific Islanders, and African Americans), individuals with disabilities, and/or individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students must be 18 years old or older as of July 10, 2023. EDGE Genomics is aimed at freshman and sophomore undergraduate students. 

• Overview: EDGE Genomics focuses on three areas of emphasis. These 3 areas of emphasis are threaded through the program elements described below.
  

  Genomics in the research lab	Genomics in the clinic	Genomics in society

   

Careers in genomics

Students will learn about training paths and job descriptions for various careers in academia, medicine, industry, government, and nonprofits. Students will meet with genetic counselors, clinical geneticists, research scientists, bioethicists, lawyers who specialize in genomic issues, bioinformaticists, genomic analysts, and other professionals working in careers that span the fields of genetics and genomics. 

Mentoring circles 

Mentors provide guidance and advice to students. EDGE Genomics students will be matched with peer and career mentors. Mentoring circles consisting of EDGE Genomics students, graduate student mentors, and faculty mentors will meet weekly.  

Mentored research experience 

Year 2 EDGE Genomics students will work on an independent research project in the lab of their research mentor. They will attend weekly lab meetings and present their results at an end-of-program mini-symposium.  

Reading scientific papers 

EDGE Genomics students will participate in weekly journal club meetings where students will dissect peer-reviewed journal articles. Students will see step-by-step how science is done and results shared with others. Participating in journal club discussions will develop critical reading skills and gain exposure to experimental techniques across the field of genomics.  

Observe weekly clinical molecular sign-out meetings 

Diagnosis for a patient’s genetic condition involves laboratory testing, interpretation, and reporting. All of these steps are covered in one place at UNC weekly clinical molecular sign-out meetings. The molecular sign-out meeting is attended by clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, laboratory technicians, bioinformatics analysts, and molecular pathologists. These professionals discuss the diagnosis and treatment of patients diagnosed with genetic conditions. 

Small group work 

Students will work in small groups to analyze genomics case studies and solve genomics mysteries. 

Ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) in genomics  

The ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic science affect individuals, families, and communities. Experts in ELSI fields will lead case study-based discussions on a wide variety of topics: 

Biospecimen/data use (e.g. Henrietta Lacks story); Clinical ethics and informed consent; Health disparities & inclusion; Gene editing; Law and emerging technologies; Advocacy; Public health policy; and Genetic testing   

Science communication training 

Communicating science ideas and findings to others (both scientists and lay audiences) is critical to a successful career in science. EDGE Genomics students will receive training in written, visual, and oral communication. Year 2 will culminate in a research presentation based on the mentored research experience. 

Professional development 

The UNC Summer Undergraduate Pipeline (SUP) is organized by the UNC Graduate School’s Diversity and Student Success program. SUP assists students with the transition into graduate school by providing professional development seminars on topics such as succeeding in graduate school, networking, and writing personal statements.

Do I have to be a UNC Chapel Hill student to apply for EDGE Genomics? 
You do not have to be a UNC Chapel Hill student, but you do need to be at least 18 years old and a US citizen or permanent resident. 

Do I have to commit to attending both years of EDGE Genomics? 
Yes, you need to commit to 2 years to gain the full benefit of the program. 

When will EDGE Genomics 2023 take place? 
EDGE Genomics will happen in June and July 2023. EDGE Genomics for first year students will take place July 8 through July 29, 2023. EDGE Genomics for second year students will take place June 3 through July 29, 2023. 

Can I participate in EDGE Genomics if I have a schedule conflict during some of the hours EDGE Genomics will take place?
If you have a major schedule conflict, please contact the program coordinators before applying, as it may be better for you to apply for the summer 2024 – summer 2025 cohort. 

Can I apply to EDGE Genomics if I am a junior? 
Yes. You can apply to EDGE Genomics at any stage of your undergraduate education, however, preference for slots will be given to students who are freshmen and sophomores. 

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
There is no minimum GPA requirement. 

Do I need to submit a college transcript with my application? 
You need to submit a college transcript, though an unofficial transcript is fine. 

Do I need to have taken a genetics course before applying to EDGE Genomics? 
No, though you do need to have taken an Introductory Biology course, either a college course or AP Biology. 

How many students will be accepted? 
We will accept 15 students for each 2-year cohort. 

What types of research opportunities will be available in year 2?
See the Year 2 Research Projects section above.

Can I choose the type of lab I would like to work in during year 2 (computational, wet lab, etc.)?  
We have many research mentors who are interested in hosting EDGE Genomics students in their labs. Year 2 students will rank their top choices for mentors, and in the spring, we will match student preferences with faculty who have space in their lab for the following summer.  

Is the stipend separate from the meals and housing provided? 
Yes. In their first year of the program, EDGE Genomics students will receive an $1800 stipend. In their second year of the program, EDGE Genomics students will receive a $4800 stipend. For both years, EDGE Genomics will provide housing and meals separate from the stipends. 

If I live close to Chapel Hill, can I plan to go home on weekends during year 2? 
Yes, if you live close to Chapel Hill you could choose to commute daily or go home on weekends. EDGE Genomics will have optional social events on weekends that you might want to participate in. 

Will participating in EDGE Genomics help my future application to UNC Chapel Hill?
Any research and professional development training (including EDGE Genomics) will contribute to a stronger application to college or professional/graduate school. 

 

Who can I email with additional questions? 
precisionmedicine@med.unc.edu  

Where do I go to apply for EDGE Genomics? 
https://applynow.unc.edu/register/EDGEgenomics2023
See also Applying to EDGE Genomics section above.

 

We have many research mentors who are interested in hosting EDGE Genomics students in their labs. In spring 2023, we will match student interests with faculty who have space in their lab for summer 2023. Research projects will be drawn from the 3 Areas of Emphasis in EDGE: Genomics in the research lab, Genomics in the clinic, and Genomics in society. Examples of research projects from each area are listed below.

List of EDGE Genomics research mentors

Genomics in the research lab:

• Example 1: Research to understand the contribution of epigenetics to inheritance using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Shawn Ahmed, Professor, Genetics and Biology
• Example 2: Research to identify genes and understand the genetic and biological mechanisms that increase risk for substance abuse disorders using animal models
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Lisa Tarantino, Professor, Genetics
• Example 3: Epigenetic regulation of T-cell specification and function in development and disease
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Ageliki Tsagaratou, Assistant Professor, Genetics
• Example 4: Application of high-throughput sequencing to understand how chromatin changes contribute to liver disease and liver cancer
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Jesse Raab, Assistant Professor, Genetics
• Example 5: Research to study the function of chromatin enzymes in neural crest stem cell enhancer regulation
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Karl Shpargel, Associate Professor, Genetics

Genomics in the clinic: coming soon

Genomics in society:

• Example 1: Research to understand population views and concerns about human gene editing for treatment of disease – specifically views from underrepresented/disadvantaged populations
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Eric Juengst, Professor, Social Medicine and Genetics
• Example 2: Research to understand the perspective, understanding, and knowledge of genome and exome sequencing for pregnant women
  • Participating scientist: Dr. Neeta Vora, Associate Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Genetics
• Example 3: Research to understand the ethical issues and differences in cultural opinions about genomic screening/testing healthy people for diseases that may or may not have immediate treatment (e.g., BRCA testing, Lynch Syndrome, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia), or prenatal testing for Down syndrome
  • Participating scientists: Dr. Gail Henderson, Professor, Social Medicine, Ms. Kriste Kuczynski, and Dr. Marcia Van Riper, Professor, School of Nursing
• Example 4: Research to understand the challenges in ensuring ethical clinical practices in precision medicine & genomics screening (e.g., paternity disclosures when children are tested)
  • Participating scientists: Ms. Arlene Davis, Professor, Social Medicine and Dr. Jean Cadigan, Associate Professor, Social Medicine
• Example 5: Research to understand the expectations of biobank participants regarding how their donated specimens and data will be used
  • Participating scientists: Dr. Jean Cadigan, Associate Professor, Social Medicine and Ms. Anya Prince, Associate Professor, University of Iowa College of Law

List of instructors for EDGE Genomics summer 2022

List of EDGE Genomics research mentors

• “This is a once in a lifetime learning experience.” – Jalil 
• “The experience and knowledge I have received from this program have been invaluable, and it has really opened my eyes to the possibilities for me in genetics. I think that having programs like these are so valuable and important to continue to provide to everyone, especially marginalized groups.” – Jasmine 
• “This experience was an opportunity for me to be exposed to different opportunities within medicine. Specifically research, diversity and inclusion, and different sections in ethics. It has introduced me to different pathways to be successful.” – Nykea 
• “I really enjoyed hearing about the different career paths that all of these accomplished scientists took. It reassured me that I can take whatever STEM path I want.” – Hannah 
• “I would most definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in science who is seeking to learn more about health science and genomics. This class definitely broadened my horizon for my future, as through this class I was exposed to various fields and careers in health science and genomics that I was not aware of.” – Kara 
• “This program has allowed me to see how interdisciplinary science can be! This was very important to me because, before, I had a linear understanding of how science could be implemented.” – Bria 

Training Opportunities

UNC Center for Faculty Excellence TEAM ADVANCE training. Organized by the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence, TEAM (Targeting Equity in Access to Mentoring) ADVANCE promotes accessible, equitable, and effective mentoring across the University, with an emphasis on supporting women of color and white women in STEM fields.

Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). The mission of CIMER is to improve the research mentoring relationships for mentees and mentors at all career stages through the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based and culturally-responsive interventions. CIMER offers Entering Mentoring training for research mentors and Entering Research training for students.

Resources for Interactive Teaching

Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM – online guide from the National Academies

Google Jamboard – digital interactive whiteboard

Poll Everywhere – UNC affiliated polling platform

Open Stax Biology – open access textbook, could be useful for before-class background reading

Case Studies – from the National Science Teaching Association

BioInteractive resources – from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute

CourseSource – an open-access journal of peer-reviewed teaching resources for undergraduate biology and physics

Clinical Genomics Careers Panel Series – a multi-part, virtual panel series where undergraduate students, interns, and other interested learners can hear more about various careers in genomics. Panels focused on genetic counselors, clinical laboratory careers, physician (MD) clinicians, research & development, and stepping stone (transitional) opportunities. Hosted by the Clinical Genome Resource.

Careers in Human Genetics flowchart and list of careers organized by education path: undergraduate degree, master’s degree, law degree (JD), medical degree (MD/DO), doctoral degree (PhD), or physician scientist (combined MD-PhD). Hosted by the American Society of Human Genetics.

Career Explorations in Genomic Medicine Research podcasts. These podcasts are hour-long conversations with professionals working in genomics-related fields: clinical care, basic science research, informatics, and ethical, legal, and social issues.

Some institutions offer an undergraduate major in genetics or genome studies, but these are not as common as majors in biology. Many undergraduate minors are relevant to a career in genetics and genomics. The following list includes many relevant minors. Those with web links are minors offered at UNC Chapel Hill.​ Most of the fields listed here have options for graduate study.​

• Biology or Molecular Biology​
• Biochemistry​
• Biotechnology​
• Epidemiology​
• Statistics & Analytics, Biostatistics, or Mathematics​
• Computer Science, Data Science, Bioinformatics, or Information Systems​
• Language (such as Spanish)
• Ethics​
• Communication studies​
• Psychology​
• Health & Society​
• Sociology​
• Medical Anthropology​
• Medicine, Literature, and Culture​
• Social and Economic Justice​
• Public Policy​

In addition, the Department of Allied Health Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill offers 3 degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS): a bachelor of science degree and 2 master’s degrees. After completion of their degree, CLS students are prepared to perform and interpret the wide variety of tests used in health care and other settings, ensuring the validity of results, and explaining the results to other health care professionals.

There are many other summer undergraduate research programs focusing on genomics. EDGE Genomics students should be competitive applicants for any of these programs.

Location	Program Name
Chapel Hill, North Carolina	21st Century Environmental Health Scholars
Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Carolina Summer Fellowship Program
Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Biological Mechanisms
Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Chemistry
varies	iSPRinG: Immersive Summer Program for Research in Genomics
Bethesda, Maryland	STAR: Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences
New York City, New York	Undergraduate Summer Research Program in Single-Cell Genomics
Athens, Georgia	SUNFIG: Summer Undergraduate Fellowships in Genetics
Seattle, Washington	University of Washington Genome Sciences Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Bar Harbor, Maine OR Farmington, Connecticut	Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
varies	Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP)
Wake Forest, North Carolina	Biomedical Informatics Summer Internship
Wake Forest, North Carolina	Enhancing Undergraduate Education and Research in Aging to Eliminate Health Disparities (ENGAGED)
Seattle, Washington	Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program
varies	Search Pathways to Science programs database
varies	Search National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program list