Research Development Core
Pilot award and fellowships in Aging Research
The Research Development Core supports pilot projects, facilitates new collaborations, and provides resources for emerging research areas in aging biology.
Core Member
Summer Undergraduate Fellowships
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship in Aging Biology
The Summer Research Fellowship in Aging Biology supports immersive, full-time summer research experiences for University of Rochester undergraduates. The goal of the program is to engage students in substantive research related to the field of Aging Biology.
Applicants are required to reach out to mentors affiliated with the Upstate New York Nathan Shock Center to discuss opportunities in their laboratories. Mentors will nominate students for research fellowships directly to the Research Development Core of the Upstate NY NSC. Nominations should include a brief description of the planned research project, information about who will directly supervise the student, and the student’s CV.
List of Mentors:
- Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D., vera.gorbunova@rochester.edu | Learn More
- Andrei Seluanov, Ph.D., andrei.seluanov@rochester.edu | Learn More
- Sina Ghaemmaghami, Ph.D., sina.ghaemmaghami@rochester.edu | Learn More
- Floria Uy, Ph.D., fkepferu@UR.Rochester.edu | Learn More
- Karl Glastad, Ph.D., kglastad@UR.Rochester.edu | Learn More
- Hongbo Liu, Ph.D., Hongbo_Liu@URMC.Rochester.edu | Learn More
Applications are due no later than March 27, 2027. Decisions for funding will be made by April 15, 2027. Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $6000 to support living expenses.
Applications should be sent to Dr. M. Kerry O’Banion, Leader of the Research Development Core: Kerry_OBanion@urmc.rochester.edu and UR_NathanShock@rochester.edu
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship 2026
| Name | Year | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan Flanders | Junior | Floria Uy |
| Aidan Galgano | Junior | Karl Glastad |
| Arjith Mathew | Freshman | Andrei Seluanov |
| Bingqi Zhang | Sophomore | Vera Gorbunova |
| Cassidy Garibaldo | Junior | Karl Glastad |
| Erwan Canoglu | Freshman | Andrei Seluanov/Vera Gorbunova |
| Jannelle Adrienne Esguarra | Junior | Vera Gorbunova |
| Jessica Chen | Sophomore | Hongbo Liu |
| Minjie Yuan | Sophomore | Vera Gorbunova |
| Phoebe Han | Freshman | Vera Gorbunova |
Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center Research Awards
Overview
The Research Development Core of Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center offers funding opportunities to support innovative research in the biology of aging. These awards are designed to facilitate collaborative research and accelerate discoveries in aging science.
Nathan Shock Pilots Funded 2026
| Investigator | Affiliation | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tasnim Arroum | Wayne State University School of Medicine | Pilot Award |
| John Hatle | University of North Florida | Rapid Data Award |
| David Vermijlen | Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium | Rapid Data Award |
| Yang Xiao | University of Pennsylvania | Rapid Data Award |
| Shah Ali | Columbia University Medical Center | Rapid Data Award |
Questions?
Contact Information
For questions about either award program or summer undergraduate fellowships, please contact:
Dr. M. Kerry O'Banion
Leader, Research Development Core
Email: Kerry_OBanion@urmc.rochester.edu