George Mason's research mission is to produce science that enhances society and creates clear career pathways for Mason students.
The Grant Lab is one of the many labs at Mason committed to fostering scholastic excellence through undergraduate research.
The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program at George Mason pairs high achieving undergraduate students with faculty mentors to undertake original research or creative projects. It provides each scholar with a stipend for the semester or summer to enable them to participate in a research project and funds to the faculty mentor to cover materials, such as posters, lab supplies, and equipment.
Students may receive financial support and/or academic credit for their projects, in addition to developing relevant academic and professional skills. Looking to submit an application?
Visit the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program website for more information.
OSCAR Fellows
Brenna Cannon, BS
Email: bcannon@gmu.edu
Where I am now: Inova Transplant Clinic, Advanced Lung Disease, Research Associate
I began assisting in Dr. Geraldine Grant’s lab in the spring of my junior year. The research focuses on studying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is an interstitial lung disease. IPF is the result of massive overgrowth and survival of wound repairing, or activated, fibroblasts. There is no cure for it and the cause is unknown. After helping out in the lab for the rest of the spring semester, Dr. Grant suggested I try and start my own project through OSCAR, and I’m very glad she did! Together we decided that I would study the effect of transforming growth factor-beta, a protein naturally found in the body, on IPF fibroblasts versus normal lung fibroblasts.
Throughout the semester, I am constantly taking care of fibroblast cells. They need to be fed every three to four days. It is also important to make sure that the fibroblasts are not too crowded, or confluent, and growing on top of each other. Checking the cells is a daily task when in the lab to keep them healthy and ready for when we need to use them. After the cells have been fed, they are usually serum starved (given media without nutrients) the day before being plated for tests to make sure all of the cells are in the same stage of mitosis. The following day I seed the cells in a 96-well plate and let them grow. After letting them grow on the plate for a day, I add different concentrations of the growth factor to wells in the plate. A reagent is added to the plate after 44, 96, and 144 hours to determine how much the cells have proliferated and grown. The plates are read using a plate reader at a certain wavelength, and then, the data can be analyzed!
This project has really taught me a lot about research and all of the work involved in it. I learned how important it is to use all of the information at my disposal and to be flexible when things don’t go as expected. Research can be hard, but it is, without a doubt, rewarding. The other day, I was showing my data to a friend and he asked, “Is this what’s supposed to happen?” I realized there is no right answer that I’m trying to find. The data I collect are my findings for my specific research, and that is what I love so much about doing research. Hopefully, I can continue research throughout my life. I eventually would like to get a degree in medicine, but research is not something I would want to push to the side. I hope to be involved in it as much as I possibly can!
What is the Biology Research Semester?
The Undergraduate Research Semester gives you the opportunity to get involved and immersed in the ongoing scientific research at GMU.
What will you do?
Work one-on-one with a GMU scientist and present your research in public and/or at a regional or national scientific meeting.
Earn 12-15 upper division BIOL credit hours toward your degree through a combination of:
BIOL 499: Research in Biology (9 credits)
BIOL 498: Research Seminar (2 credits)
BIOL 314: Introduction to Research Design and Analysis (4 credits).
For the remainder of the week, students will be free to pursue research with a member of the GMU faculty devoting a minimum of 27 hours per week to their research projects.
Why should you consider participating in the research semester?
Students who have participated enhance their chances of:
Post graduate employment – by gaining valuable experience and techniques
Admission to an M.S. or Ph.D. program
Admission to a health related professional program (Dental or Medical School).
For more information on how to apply for a research semester, please visit the Department of Biology website.
Former Student Volunteer Experiences
Sydney Stayrook, BS
Email: sydney.stayrook@inova.org
Where I am now: VCOM - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Medical Student
Sydney volunteered in Dr. Geraldine Grant’s lab after graduating from Princeton University in 2013 with a degree in Evolutionary Biology. Her affinity for research was nurtured early on in her academic career, when she participated in research abroad at Hwa Chong Institute, Singapore as a high school student through the Academy of Science program at the Loudon County magnet school. With the experience she already had, Sydney promptly took command of her research in the Grant Lab, which focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) fibroblasts and drug metabolism.
After volunteering in the Grant Lab for two years, she accepted a position with the Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program at INOVA Fairfax Hospital as a Research Assistant. In addition to her role in assisting research coordinators with organizing and enrolling patients in clinical studies, Sydney also performed tissue and blood banking for INOVA's biobanking project. She collected lung tissue from lungs that were removed at the time of transplantation, right in the operating room!
Sydney's unique research experience, along with her outstanding academic achievements and extracurriculars, placed her above her peers applying for medical school and in the Spring of 2016, she was accepted into VCOM - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
10900 University Blvd.
Discovery Hall, 205
Manassas, VA 20120
Phone: 703-993-4292
Email: ggrant1@gmu.edu