Education
Although the Fralin Life Science Institute is an interdisciplinary research center, education is also a critical component of its mission. The Center strongly supports undergraduate and graduate education in biotechnology and the life sciences. Fralin dedicates space for two student teaching labs, a classroom, and an auditorium where seminars and small symposia are held. The Center's philosophy is that undergraduate education is greatly enhanced when students are immersed in a real research environment working elbow to elbow with research scientists. For several years the Fralin endowment has provided summer undergraduate research fellowships for promising students. Fralin faculty also mentor undergraduate researchers throughout the academic year. Likewise, graduate education is an integral part of the Center's function. Center research labs provide a stimulating and diverse environment for students to develop into independent scientists.
Prospective students should understand that while the Fralin Biotechnology Center supports education in many ways, the Fralin Center is not an academic department. Many students attend lectures and conduct research at the Fralin Center, but they must apply to the graduate school program or the academic department of their choice.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
The Fralin Center offers the Wilkins-Fralin Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships, or SURFs, during the summer. These fellowships support rising Virginia Tech sophomores, juniors and seniors to pursue life sciences research full-time during the summer, and high achieving life sciences majors are invited each spring to participate.
Molecular Cell Biology & Biotechnology (MCBB)
The Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology (MCBB) seminar series is an interdepartmental seminar series in the life sciences funded by Fralin Life Science Institute, CALS, and VBI. Seminars are held (nearly) every week during spring and fall semesters. During Fall 2009 (unless otherwise noted), seminars are every Friday at 12:20pm at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Conference Center.
Fralin & Social Media
