Urban Barcode Research Program
Required Courses

Students who complete both of the following courses during the 2022-2023 school year or summer 2023 will be eligible to apply to UBRP in Fall 2023. Courses are free and will be offered after school and in Summer 2023.

Conservation Genetics

Conservation genetics is the field that seeks to use DNA to study and protect the living world and its biodiversity. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the leading international conservation body, recognizes the crucial need to conserve genetic diversity as one of the three fundamental levels of biodiversity.

The main goal of this course is to introduce students to methods used to study and preserve biodiversity. Laboratory techniques introduced include DNA sequencing and DNA fingerprinting. Students learn how DNA science can be used to determine species distribution patterns, to propagate endangered species in captivity, and more. By the end of the course, students write a proposal for their own conservation project, which they present to the class.

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

In this course, students explore a cutting-edge methodology that has helped scientists all over the world identify and study biodiversity: DNA barcoding. This technique can be applied to explore and answer questions in many fields of science: Does the leather used to make this purse, belt, or wallet come from an endangered, illegally harvested species? Does the bug I found in my room cause health problems? Are the plants growing in my backyard native or invasive species? Students in this course have the opportunity to participate in hands-on labs to learn the basics of DNA barcoding. They also learn basic concepts in ecology, biodiversity, and conservation biology.

DNALC COVID-19 Safety Net: The DNALC is committed to providing a safe place for hands-on science. Depending on prevailing circumstances and CDC and New York State Health Department guidelines, our COVID-19 Safety Net provides for distanced workstations, individual equipment, daily health surveys, and fully vaccinated instructors.

View the current DNALC COVID-19 Safety Net procedures. Updates to these procedures have been incorporated in Fall 2021. Please be aware of the following important vaccination or testing requirements:

  1. Course attendees must be either fully vaccinated (defined as two weeks after the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination or two weeks after the second shot of the two-shot Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) OR receive weekly negative COVID-19 PCR test results.
    Proof of vaccination or COVID-19 negative test can be shared with the DNALC by uploading an image of the document through a link that will be emailed the week before each course. Specific health screening information will be sent to participants by email. Students who do not provide this information before the first session will not be allowed to participate in the course.
  2. DNALC staff vaccination policy: For the safety of our visitors, we now require that ALL employees of the DNALC be fully vaccinated (as defined above) for COVID-19.

2023 Course Schedule

If the course you would like to register for is full, email UrbanBarcode@cshl.edu to be added to the wait list. In the email, provide the student’s full name, parent/guardian’s full name, which date/location you would like to be added to the wait list for, and an email address we should contact if a seat opens up.

UBRP Prep Courses

Conservation Genetics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

January 4 – February 15, 2023

Mondays and Wednesdays,
4:30 – 6:30 pm
(no class Monday, January 16)

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

February 27 – April 5, 2023

Mondays and Wednesdays,
4:30 – 6:30 pm

Conservation Genetics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

July 10–14, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

July 17–21, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

Conservation Genetics

Harlem DNA Lab

July 17–21, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

Conservation Genetics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

July 24–28, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

Harlem DNA Lab

July 24–28, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

July 31 – August 4, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

Conservation Genetics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

August 7–11, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics

DNALC NYC
at City Tech

August 14–18, 2023

Monday to Friday,
10:00 am–3:00 pm

UBRP course locations

UBRP courses will take place at the following locations:

Harlem DNA Lab: John S. Roberts Educational Complex (J.H.S. 45), 2351 First Avenue (at 120th Street), East Harlem, New York 10035 [directions]

DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech: 62 Tillary Street (Entrance at the corner of Tillary and Adams Streets), New York 112014 [directions]