ENHANCING UNDERGRADUATE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
The USC Aiken Passport to Research Opportunities in Biomedicine (PROBe) program is funded by the National Institutes of Health through the South Carolina IDeaA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). The PROBe program is a multi-pronged strategy to expand and enhance biomedical research on the USC Aiken campus.
The primary strategy of the program is to:
- Enhance current research activities by formalizing the identification and recruitment of freshmen/sophomores into our biomedical research laboratories;
- Create/manage Stage One (Primer award) and Stage Two (Extension award) competitive research grants for entry level and continuing undergraduates; and
- Strengthen our research culture through the creation of a biomedical research forum as part of the USC Aiken Research Day activities.
INBRE Research Faculty
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William Jackson USC Aiken PROBe Program Director Department of Biology and Geology |
Nathan Hancock PROBe Connect Director Department of Biology and Geology |
April DeLaurier Extension Director Department of Biology and Geology |
Mary K. Mills Department of Biology and Geology |
|
Laura Swain Department of Psychology |
Michele Harmon Department of Biology and Geology |
Ken Roberts Department of Chemistry and Physics |
Michelle Vieyra Department of Biology and Geology |
About the Primer Program
The Primer Research program represents stage I of the PROBe program. Students in their first year of biomedical research (primarily freshmen and sophomores) are encouraged to apply for funding through the PROBe Primer award program.
Each Primer Award will be funded for up to $2000 to fund his or her research project. Competition for this award will be through the submission of a research, scholarship, or creative project proposal developed in collaboration with a USC Aiken faculty mentor. Selection is based on the project's educational and intellectual merit, the potential impact of the project, and the student's previous academic success.
There will be a call for proposals each fall semester. Successful proposals will have a start date of January 1st. Primer funds must be spent by August 31, 2023.
Proposal Guidelines
The following links are provided to aid students and their mentors in developing PROBe proposals:
Important Dates
- Call for proposals: Friday, October 17, 2022
- Primer Proposal due date: 5:00 PM Friday, November 18, 2022
- Extension Proposal due date: 5:00 PM Friday, November 18, 2022
- Award announcements: Friday, December 16, 2022
- Award start date: January 2, 2023
Apply for USC Aiken INBRE Funding
About the Extension Program
The Extension Research program represents stage II of the PROBe program. Students in their second or third year of biomedical research (primarily sophomores and juniors) are eligible to apply for funding through the PROBe Extension award program. Extension awards are available to students with at least one year of biomedical research experience, regardless of previous PROBe funding.
Each Extension Award will be funded for up to $4500 to fund his or her research project. Competition for this award will be through submission of a research, scholarship, or creative project proposal developed in collaboration with a USC Aiken faculty mentor. Selection is based on the project's educational and intellectual merit, the potential impact of the project, and the student's previous academic success.
There will be a call for proposals each fall semester. Successful proposals will have a start date of January 1st. Extension funds must be spent by August 31, 2023. Students who perform their research during the summer can participate in INBRE-organized Summer Enrichment Activities.
Graduating seniors are generally not eligible for Extension funding. Exceptions may be made but require prior approval.
Proposal Guidelines
The following links are provided to aid students and their mentors in developing PROBe proposals:
- Extension proposal guidebook (2022-2023)
- PROBe Budget form (Primer and Extension)
Important Dates
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Call for proposals: Friday, October 17, 2022
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Primer Proposal due date: 5:00 PM Friday, November 18, 2022
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Extension Proposal due date: 5:00 PM Friday, November 18, 2022
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Award announcements: Friday, December 16, 2022
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Award start date: January 2, 2022
Apply for USC Aiken INBRE Funding
For Reviewers
The Extension Proposal Review Rubric is an interactive PDF form. To complete your review, download, write-to, and save the form using the student's name (Lastname_FirstInitial) along with our Extension designation: Smith_RExt2021. Please email the completed reviews to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line "Extension Review."