Diverse scientific approaches
The Diehl Lab offers opportunities to engage with truly interdisciplinary research projects, not just with a narrow silo inside a broader interdisciplinary context. To develop tools that track metabolic-genomic interactions in vivo, we must apply — and advance — knowledge and techniques in synthetic organic chemistry, protein biochemistry, epigenetics, cell biology, and pathology in one research workflow. That also means we are interested in people from a diverse range of relevant science backgrounds who want the challenge of learning skills from fields that are new to them while still finding useful contributions for their existing experiences or core interests.
Ideally situated
As part of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the College of Pharmacy, we also sit at the nexus between the University of Utah’s specialized health research campus and its traditional academic divisions. If you are keen to do basic research in an institutional setting that also has a clinical outlook, this may be a particularly attractive choice. And if you aren’t familiar with the university or the Salt Lake City area, U of U Health’s academic arm maintains a useful and practical guide to living in Utah for prospective newcomers. The Biosciences PhD program itself maintains a similar guide specifically tailored to graduate students that is well worth checking out.
Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows or Staff Professionals
Prospective/Incoming Doctoral Students
Current U of U Undergraduates
We are always open to hearing from upcoming PhDs or career research technical specialists interested in contributing to our work.
Biosciences
The Diehl Lab draws graduate students from the University of Utah Biosciences PhD Program, which offers access to a number of disciplines across several coordinated departments.
There are currently two specialization tracks in the program: Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry. Either would allow you to join the Diehl Lab.
All Biosciences PhD students perform three or four lab rotations over the course of their first year before matching with a permanent home. Whether you have already matriculated and are scouting rotations or you are considering making an application or accepting an offer with a view to landing at our lab, we are eager to hear from you.
Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy offers combined PharmD/PhD options, including for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry. Students apply for, and are admitted to, the PharmD program and can then opt for the combined track after they matriculate.
General
If you would like general information about potential research projects or to discuss an arrangement that is not financially supported by the university, you can contact Prof. Diehl directly any time.
UROP
The university also coordinates participation of employment-eligible students through its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), which includes a $1,200 stipend for 120 hours of work with a research mentor over the course of a semester.
UROP involves a comprehensive proposal and review process with deadlines for both the student and the faculty mentor well in advance of the start of the semester. If you are interested in pursuing a supported UROP project with the Diehl Lab, familiarize yourself with the application process and schedule, then get in touch with Prof. Diehl with plenty of lead time.