A Summer Undergraduate Research Program
The Cornell CURE program, sponsored by the American Heart Association, will provide an introductory research experience toward understanding the growth, maturation, physiology, pathology, and regeneration of the heart. The program will introduce students to cutting-edge engineering approaches and technologies related to cardiac development, physiology, and disease. Students participants will engage in valuable research experiences, gaining valuable skills that will prepare them for cross-disciplinary careers in cardiac research.
Over a ten-week period (Summer 2026), five undergraduate students will partner with researchers in each sponsor's lab to train in research techniques, conduct experiments, process and analyze data, and develop a formal research presentation. Participants will interact daily with their mentors and meet regularly with their faculty sponsors. Further, they will cohort with multiple ongoing summer programs at Cornell to build their professional networks, engage in additional career development training, and participate in multiple enriching activities uniquely available in our academic community.
Available Projects Include:
1. Kinematics of Ventricular Morphogenesis
Professor Jonathan Butcher
This project integrates novel 3D live tissue slice culture technology developed in Dr. Butcher’s lab with quantitative optical microscopy to understand how cellular motions and forces drive tissue morphogenic decisions in the developing ventricular embryo. The tissue slices both beat and morph at physiological levels for up to 6 hours, enabling direct analysis of morphogenic dynamics. The Butcher lab has developed machine learning algorithms to decompose and map local cell movement and contraction. This project will test how Notch1 and Yap signaling collaborate to potentiate compact vs. trabecular zone ventricular morphogenesis, and whether this signaling network modulates local contractile force to facilitate morphogenesis. Students will be trained in slice culture, longitudinal optical imaging, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative image analysis.
2. Identifying The Molecular Pathogenesis and Novel Treatment Strategies for LMNA-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Professor Jan Lammerding
This project uses mouse models of LMNA-DCM, along with engineered muscle in vitro models, to determine the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in the LMNA gene cause dilated cardiomyopathy and to identify and assess treatments targeting these mechanisms. Students working on this project will acquire experience in the use of pre-clinical models, functional in vivo and in vitro studies relevant to cardiac disease and clinical translation, and apply cutting edge bulk, single-nucleus, and spatial transcriptomic analyses together with cell and molecular biology assays. Cornell University has streamlined its IACUC approval procedures specifically for undergraduate summer research students to facilitate their participation in approved animal protocols, but we also offer pure in vitro projects for students uncomfortable working with animals.
3. Identifying the Mechanism of Nuclear Mechanotransduction in Muscle Cells
Professor Jan Lammerding
This project investigates how cells rapidly translate mechanical stimuli into changes in gene expression. We recently found mechanoresponsive genes are activated within <2 minutes, which is faster than canonical cytoplasmic mechanotransduction pathways. Undergraduate students participating in this project will have the opportunity to learn about and use advanced transcriptomic, genomic, and epigenomic approaches to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways and principles. These in vitro experiments use human cell lines and primary mouse cells and offer training both in cell and molecular biology and computational bioinformatics.
4. Intravital Two-Photon Microscopy in the Beating Heart in Disease
Professor Nozomi Nishimura
Studies of cardiac microvasculature have been difficult because the heart must be beating to have blood flow. How blood redistributes during a heartbeat at a microscopic scale is not well understood. Newly developed imaging methods provide an unprecedent view of the capillaries and the small blood vessels in healthy and diseased hearts. This project will use two-photon microscopy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction mouse models and controls to measure how vascular diameters change during compression by both cardiac and respiratory cycles. Students will acquire skills in advanced intravital imaging methods and quantitative image analysis applied to cardiovascular research.
5. Spatial Transcriptomics Profiling of Heart Development
Professor Jonathan Butcher & Professor Iwijn De Vlaminck
We are building a multi-scale atlas of cardiac morphogenesis by combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with integrative algorithms in the developing chicken heart. This framework resolves the spatial organization of diverse lineages and their differentiation trajectories, highlighting epithelial– mesenchymal distinctions within the epicardium and anatomically restricted expression programs, including genes implicated in congenital heart disease. To connect biomechanics to gene regulation, we perturb hemodynamics via left or right atrial ligation and map how altered flow reshapes cellular neighborhoods, delays maturation, and remodels valves and ventricles, allowing us to define how physical forces and gene programs co-orchestrate heart development and gain mechanistic insights and testable targets for congenital heart disease. Students will learn cutting edge imaging and multi-modal transcriptomics techniques, along with computational analysis, in relevant cardiac models.
6. Noninvasive Monitoring of Heart Injury
Professor Iwijn De Vlaminck
The De Vlaminck lab develops molecular assays that recover rich fragment and sequence-level information from plasma and pairs them with computational models to detect and characterize heart disease. They are building a noninvasive “liquid biopsy” platform to monitor cardiac injury using circulating cell-free DNA and RNA (cfDNA/cfRNA). This work co-led the development of a donor-derived cfDNA test for transplant rejection, now broadly used across heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplantation in the United States. We are extending the platform with cfRNA profiling to diagnose Kawasaki disease, the leading cause of heart disease in children. In parallel, we are constructing cfRNA-based classifiers to disentangle pathways of heart-transplant rejection, enabling more precise monitoring and therapy selection. Students will have the opportunity to directly acquire clinically relevant skills for diagnostic and prognostic applications in cardiac disease.
7. Evaluation of Ventricular Cannulas
Professor James Antaki
This project builds on the ongoing research to design a cannula used with a dynamic blood pump for left ventricular (LV) circulatory support, with the goal to affect the hemodynamics by improving both the bypass flow rate and the fluid dynamics within the ventricle. Design considerations include the tip of the cannula to aid in preventing wall-to-wall LV collapse, as well as septal shift, due to reduced LV pressure, and to aid proper surgical placement of the cannula. The project involves systematic investigation of the geometric configuration of the cannula connection to the LV apex with respect to several characteristics defining functionality and compatibility. To investigate the anatomic interaction and fluid dynamics of apical cannulation, transparent compliant casts of bovine LVs will be fabricated for in vitro flow visualization, including the presence of a pericardial mitral valve and pulsative pressurization in some models simulate the wall movement of a beating heart. Students will be involved in the design and physical model building, along with functional assays such as visualizing the internal flow and anatomy by fluorescent particle tracking velocimetry.
Eligibility and Compensation
This program is open to Cornell Undergraduates as well as undergraduates enrolled at other U.S. academic institutions, with interest in Biomedical Engineering and related areas.
This program pays a stipend ($6,000) but does not support travel or housing in Ithaca. It is thus most suitable for students with school or family residence in the Ithaca area, although all applications will be considered.
Program Logistics Support
The Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF) is collaborating with CURE to provide logistical and administrative support to this project and the project participants. Applications and student selection are coordinated by CNF; Participants will receive activities and administration support from CNF during the summer session and will be integrated into summer student activities organized by CNF as part of their other summer research programs.
Important Dates
Application Process
Application Opens Jan.25, 2026
Application Closes Feb.28, 2026
We expect to make selections by March 15, 2026
Program Start June 2, 2026
Program Conclusion Aug.7, 2026
Access the Hosted Application - Please contact Lynn Rathbun for access to the CURE Application.
The application will request upload (PDF) of personal essay/statement of interest, resume, academic transcript, and contact information for one Letter of Recommendation. You will also be asked to rank order your interest in specific projects. Please have this information available to start the application process.
Questions?
Technical Questions: Please contact Professor Jonathan Butcher
Applications/Administrative Questions: Please contact Lynn Rathbun or Emma Carlo