Research Opportunities at ucla

Konopka Lab Research Position

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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

Alen Poehlman (2025 Cohort) Awarded UW Chemistry Scholarship

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Congratulations to Alen Poehlman (2025) for receiving the UW Chemistry Scholarship  https://chem.washington.edu/news/2025/05/27/2024-2025-chemistry-scholarship-and-book-award-recipients 

Congratulations to Alen Poehlman (2025) for receiving the UW Chemistry Scholarship 

https://chem.washington.edu/news/2025/05/27/2024-2025-chemistry-scholarship-and-book-award-recipients 

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

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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) 

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

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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 

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

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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 

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!

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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 

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

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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  

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

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 Congratulations to Will Benman (cohort 2017) for winning the Solomon Pollack Award for Graduate Bioengineering Research at the University of Pennsylvania.  Will 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/  

 Congratulations to Will Benman (cohort 2017) for winning the Solomon Pollack Award for Graduate Bioengineering Research at the University of Pennsylvania.  Will 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/  

Professor Ni Feng (2007 Cohort) Publishes First Paper

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Check out Professor Ni Feng’s (2007 cohort) web site for her lab at Wesleyan University.  She just published her first papers and had many undergraduates work on the projects. https://www.feng-lab.org/  

Check out Professor Ni Feng’s (2007 cohort) web site for her lab at Wesleyan University.  She just published her first papers and had many undergraduates work on the projects. https://www.feng-lab.org/  

Jamie Cyr MD/PhD (2015 Cohort) Received Cardiovascular Research Institute Early Career Advisory Award

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Jamie Cyr MD/PhD (cohort 2015) first finished her PhD at the University of Cambridge as a Rhodes Scholar, then finished her MD at the University of Vermont.  As a medical student she received the prestigious Cardiovascular Research Institute early career advisory committee award to fund her 2025 research project on Dopamine Conjugated Alginate Patches as a Cardiovascular Sealant.  Jamie is currently a resident in Internal Medicine at Duke University.  https://www.med.uvm.edu/medcommunications/news/2024/05/07/cvri_early_career_advisory_committee_awards_funding_to_support_trainee_research_projects  

Jamie Cyr MD/PhD (cohort 2015) first finished her PhD at the University of Cambridge as a Rhodes Scholar, then finished her MD at the University of Vermont.  As a medical student she received the prestigious Cardiovascular Research Institute early career advisory committee award to fund her 2025 research project on Dopamine Conjugated Alginate Patches as a Cardiovascular Sealant.  Jamie is currently a resident in Internal Medicine at Duke University. 

https://www.med.uvm.edu/medcommunications/news/2024/05/07/cvri_early_career_advisory_committee_awards_funding_to_support_trainee_research_projects Â