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The University of Utah is offering an Atmospheric Sciences Summer Research Program, where undergrads can explore air quality, weather patterns, and climate modeling. With mentorship, workshops, and a paid research experience, it’s a chance to step into the world of atmospheric research and prepare for graduate studies.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new formula for measuring particle concentration in solutions. This updated approach accounts for variation in particle size and could transform nanomedicine dosing, food safety testing, ocean nano plastic tracking, and even semiconductor manufacturing.

And finally, let’s rewind to 2012: the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9. What began as a curiosity in bacterial immune systems became one of the most powerful gene-editing tools in science. From agriculture to medicine, CRISPR’s ability to precisely cut DNA has transformed biology and opened doors to therapies once thought impossible.

Upcoming Opportunities

🌍 Join the NSF SOARS Summer Program to Explore Research in Atmospheric Sciences

The NSF-funded Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program offers undergraduates and recent graduates the chance to participate in atmospheric and Earth system science research while gaining long-term mentoring and professional development. Proteges can return for up to four summers, conducting research projects, presenting at conferences, and building a strong support network. More than 90% of SOARS participants advance to graduate school, many earning advanced degrees in STEM fields.

📅 Program Details

• Award: Comprehensive financial support for summer research + conference travel

• Duration: Multi-summer program (up to 4 summers)

• Location: In-person research with mentoring support (various sites)

• Deadline: [Check program site for details]

• Apply Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. undergraduates or recent graduates from STEM and social science disciplines 

• Strong interest in atmospheric and Earth system sciences

• Commitment to pursuing graduate education and/or STEM careers

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Intrax Global Internships: STEM-focused internship program for international students hosted by the U.S. Department of State. (More info)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🔬 NIST Develops More Accurate Formula for Measuring Particle Concentration

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a new mathematical formula that more accurately calculates particle number concentration (PNC) in a solution by accounting for variation in particle size.

When tested on gold nanoparticles, the formula produced results accurate within 1% of measured values, compared to a 6% overestimate from older methods. Applied to food additives with widely varying particle sizes, the difference between old and new approaches reached as high as 36%.

The method could improve drug dosing in nanomedicine, tracking nanoplastics in oceans, ensuring food safety, and advancing manufacturing processes like microchip fabrication.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🧪 Plan Smarter: Outline Your Day Before Stepping into the Lab

Taking 10 minutes to plan your experiments before you even walk through the lab door can save you hours of confusion, stress, and wasted materials. Here’s why seasoned researchers swear by it:

• Clarity First: Know exactly which steps you’ll tackle, what reagents you need, and where your work fits into the bigger project.

• Efficiency Boost: A written plan helps you batch tasks, avoid unnecessary trips between benches, and minimize downtime while instruments run.

• Error Reduction: Pre-visualizing your workflow means fewer forgotten steps, mislabeled samples, or wasted reagents.

• Stress Relief: Instead of scrambling mid-experiment, you’re free to focus on the science.

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Today’s Theme: Throwback Thursday

🧬 CRISPR’s Rise: From Bacterial Defense to Gene Editing Revolution

In 1987, Japanese scientist Yoshizumi Ishino stumbled upon strange repeated DNA sequences in E. coli—later named CRISPR. For years their function was a mystery, until researchers in the early 2000s realized these sequences acted as a microbial immune system, storing viral “memories” to fend off future infections.

By 2007, experiments confirmed CRISPR-Cas systems worked as adaptive immunity in bacteria. The breakthrough came in 2012, when scientists including Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier, George Church, and Feng Zhang transformed CRISPR-Cas9 into a programmable “cut-and-paste” tool for genomes.

Hailed as Science’s Breakthrough of the Year in 2015, CRISPR’s impact has only grown—earning Doudna and Charpentier the 2020 Nobel Prize and opening doors to therapies for genetic diseases, cancer, and beyond. Once a microbial curiosity, CRISPR is now reshaping biology, medicine, and biotechnology.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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