Research Opportunities at ucla

Study of Hollywood & Female Coming-of-Age Stories (HASS)

UCLA PI Name: Alex Franklin

E-Mail: alexfranklin@g.ucla.edu

Division/Department: Film, Television, and Digital Media

Expected time commitment: 4-6 hours per week

In the past, it seemed as if most of Hollywood’s coming of age films centered on young men. Female characters played secondary roles. But in the last few years, films like Booksmart, Bottoms and Blockers have centered on young women from a variety of racial, ethnic and class backgrounds.

For this research project, I would like to explore the history of Hollywood’s coming of age films centered on female characters. I would like to explore how representations of female characters have changed and evolved over the years, and how Hollywood has adapted to the times in which we live.

Responsibilities: Reviewing online materials to identify potential course films, screening films and doing write ups to get diversity of viewpoints, and crafting write ups and analysis of different movies from different eras.

Application instructions: Please submit a Resume and a short paragraph about whether you’ve participated in other research projects to alexfranklin@g.ucla.edu.

Research Opportunities at ucla

Proteomics Computation & Chemical Biology

UCLA PI Name: Keriann Backus
E-Mail: kbackus@mednet.ucla.edu
Division/Department: DGSOM/Biological Chemistry
Lab website: www.backuslab.com
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 10-15h/week

Position Overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated undergraduate researcher with strong computational skills who is interested in applying data science approaches to biological research. This position offers a unique opportunity for students with a coding background to gain exposure to bioinformatics, proteomics, and wet-lab molecular biology techniques.

Desired Majors
● Computational & Systems Biology
● Bioinformatics
● Computer Science
● Data Science or Statistics
● Biochemistry or Chemistry students with significant programming background

Required Skills
● Experience with Python and R programming
● Strong interest in data analysis and biological applications

Preferred Qualifications
● Coursework (taken or in progress) in data science, computational biology, biology, or chemistry
● Background or interest in bioinformatics, data visualization, or omics analysis
● Motivation to develop wet lab skills alongside computational training

Eligibility
● First- or second-year UCLA undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.
● Expected commitment: part-time during the academic year with potential for expanded summer research. MUST have at least 2-3 blocks of 5 hour time in schedule to devote to research

Application Instructions

Interested students should send the following materials to kbackus@mednet.ucla.edu:
● A short statement of interest (max 1 page) describing relevant coursework, programming experience, and research interests
● A resume/CV (including GPA and coursework)
● Optional Supplemental Materials (Coding Project, Slide Deck Explaining Previous Experience)

Research Opportunities at ucla

Konopka Lab Research Position

UCLA PI Name: Genevieve Konopka, PhD
E-Mail: afreelin@mednet.ucla.edu
Division/Department: Neurobiology
Lab website: https://www.konopkalab.org/

Interested in the human brain? The Konopka lab is looking for motivated undergraduate students to join our research team!

Our lab studies the genomic landscape of the human brain, combining computational analysis and wet lab experiments to uncover how genes shape memory and cognition. Projects range from data analysis of large genomic and electrophysiology datasets to hands on molecular biology experiments.

Gain hands on research experience, learn cutting-edge techniques, and join a collaborative and fun team. No experience required – just curiosity. If you’re excited about science, you belong here!

Application Instructions: Please contact Anne Freelin at afreelin@mednet.ucla.edu with your resume / CV

Shivani Kottantharayil & Xagros Faraji (2025 Cohort) Named Goldwater Scholars

Congrats to 2025 Cohort members Shivani Kottantharayil and Xagros Faraji for being named a Goldwater Scholar https://www.washington.edu/uaa/2025/04/21/four-uw-undergraduates-named-2025-goldwater-scholars/  

https://uged.ucsb.edu/national-scholarships  (Xagros) 

Gabriel Jones-Thomson Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Congrats to 2024 Amgen Scholar Gabriel Jones-Thomsom for receiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 

https://www.haverford.edu/marketing-and-communications/news/six-fords-receive-nsf-graduate-research-fellowships 

Emily Friedman (2024 Cohort) Presents at 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference

Emily Friedman (2024) was showcased by her home institution, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, after she and three other student presented at the 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Conference.  https://inside.smcm.edu/news/2025/08/professor-mertz-and-students-present-research-national-biochemistry-and-molecular 

Sahana Shah (2023 Cohort) is a Fullbright Scholar!

Congratulations to 2025 Fulbright Scholar and 2022 cohort Amgen Scholar Sahana Shah   

https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2025/06/two-from-team-science-named-fulbright-us-student-program-recipients 

Jessica Kahng (2019 Cohort) Finishes PhD at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories

Jessica Kahng (2019 cohort) just finished her PhD at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (CSHL)She was recently interviewed by the Diversity Initiative for the Advancement of STEM at CSHL, a trainee led affinity group. In the interview she shares her journey and her excitement about glia!  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trainee-tech-first-thursdays-dias-cshl-tqk9c/?trackingId=%2F4u2uaYtnXsg%2FCCSWSU7NA%3D%3D  

Will Benman (2017 Cohort) Wins Solomon Pollack Award

 Congratulations to Will Benman (cohort 2017) for winning the Solomon Pollack Award for Graduate Bioengineering Research at the University of PennsylvaniaWill is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Shapiro lab at Caltech.  https://beblog.seas.upenn.edu/2024-solomon-r-pollack-awards-for-excellence-in-graduate-bioengineering-research/