DESRES Undergrad Fellowship

Undergraduate Fellowship

January 13 and 14, 2022

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D. E. Shaw Research

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D. E. Shaw Research (DESRES) is a New York–based independent research laboratory that conducts basic scientific research in the field of computational biochemistry under the direct scientific leadership of Dr. David Shaw. Our group is currently focusing primarily on long molecular dynamics simulations involving proteins and other biological macromolecules of potential interest from both a scientific and a pharmaceutical perspective. An integral part of our effort consists of designing and developing custom hardware and software to carry out this research. We are also pursuing drug discovery programs, leveraging the insights enabled by our novel technologies to focus on drug targets that span a range of therapeutic areas. For more information about the group, please visit www.DEShawResearch.com.

The D. E. Shaw Research Undergraduate Fellowship is a two-day educational opportunity open to current freshmen and sophomores in STEM fields who self-identify as Black, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. Join us to learn about the research and scientific computing projects at D. E. Shaw Research, to participate in skills-building workshops in computational biochemistry and scientific visualization, and to connect with members of our interdisciplinary team and peers from across the country who share an interest in science and technology. We offer a stipend to all Undergraduate Fellows.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually this year.

Our program will include an overview of our technical and scientific projects, computational biochemistry and scientific visualization workshops, a panel discussion about career paths in the computational sciences, and mentorship sessions.

Please email your resume and a personal statement (approx. 200 words) to DESRESFellowship@DEShawResearch.com with the subject line "2022 Undergraduate Fellowship Application" by November 30, 2021. The personal statement should address your interest in the Fellowship and describe what makes you a compelling candidate.

The Undergraduate Fellowship is open to current freshmen and sophomores in STEM fields attending US-based colleges and universities who self-identify as Black, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander.

How many people do you expect to attend?
In order to create an environment that supports making personal connections and engaging in meaningful discussions, we anticipate having around 20 Fellows.

Do I have to be an undergraduate to attend?
Yes. This event is designed specifically for undergraduate students. If you’re not currently pursuing an undergraduate degree and are interested in learning more about DESRES, please visit our website, www.DEShawResearch.com.

How will the attendees participate in the virtual Fellowship?
We will share the instructions for the virtual platform we’re using ahead of the event.

How will the Undergraduate Fellowship program be scheduled?
In order to accommodate participants in different time zones, we are planning for the Fellowship to last 4-5 hours in the afternoons (ET) of January 13 and 14.

My question wasn’t answered here. Whom should I contact?
Please send your questions to DESRESFellowship@DEShawResearch.com.

“The Undergraduate Fellowship was a huge success and I thoroughly enjoyed getting a small taste of the fascinating chemistry and software research that DESRES conducts. It was also immensely valuable to hear from an accomplished panel of DESRES researchers, connect with the other fellows, and receive a bit of constructive mentorship from other DESRES employees. There was a great diversity of experience and expertise, which made the fellowship all the more exciting.”
- Global Health Anthropology Major, Class of 2024

“It was great attending the fellowship. The greatest part of it all was that we tried out these simulations and analyzed them which gave some kind of insight into how things are done at the company, not to mention the virtual tour of the supercomputer, Anton, and how engineers are working to develop its next generation.”
- Computer Science Major, Class of 2024

“I really enjoyed how all the sessions allowed us to see what working at DESRES would be like from all different angles. We got to hear from some of the scientists about their daily work lives and we also were able to hear about their experiences before working at DESRES and how they were able to set themselves up for their time at the company. The simulation workshop was definitely one of my favorite sessions because I felt like I was receiving training for my first project at DESRES!”
- Chemistry Major, Class of 2023

“I enjoyed the overall experience and would certainly recommend other students similarly interested in the work at DESRES to attend it in the future. It was great being able to hear from current employees and learn about their different backgrounds and the paths that led them to DESRES. I feel as though I got a pretty good idea of the work culture at DESRES. The simulation workshop was one of my favorite parts of the fellowship. Particularly, being exposed to the computational aspect of DESRES helped me uncover an interest in computational work and revealed to me that I would be capable of learning the computational side of things.”
- Chemistry Major, Class of 2023

“The Fellowship was engaging, simple to follow, and informative. It was fascinating to learn about molecular dynamics, the Anton supercomputer, and the various professionals that work together to conduct valuable research.”
- Biomolecular Engineering Major, Class of 2023