Recruitment and Selection
Applications will
be evaluated by the STUUR steering committee, consisting of the three
Principle Investigators. Preference will be given to
students with good academic records who demonstrate an interest in pursuing
a PhD or MD/PhD degree and career in biomedical research.
Prerequisites: Applicants must...
- be a citizen,
permanent resident, or non-citizen national of the United States,
- have completed at least one
year of undergraduate study prior to participation in STUUR (i.e.,
must have completed 30 or more undergraduate credits),
- demonstrate an interest in science, research and
related careers that is not exclusively focused on medical school,
- have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or
above on a 4.0 scale,
- have a declared major in science, engineering,
or mathematics appropriate to biomedical research, and
- agree to participate full-time, 40 hours per week,
for a minimum of 10 weeks.
Application Requirements: Applicants must...
- complete and submit the online application form,
- request at least two academic letters of recommendation
and ensure that they have been submitted to the program,
- submit official transcripts from all post secondary
institutions currently or previously attended, and
- write a brief essay that describes their interest
in science and reasons for wanting to participate in this undergraduate
research opportunity.
Program Design
To ensure focus on their research projects,
students will be required to devote a minimum of 40 hours per week
to their projects and live at UMBC during the 10-week summer
research program. STUUR Scholars will receive the following benefits:
- A student participation allowance, to support:
- UMBC Campus Dormitory Housing during the summer appointment
($1600)
- A student stipend to be paid biweekly ($4500)
- Ethics in Sciences Seminars
- Weekly progress meetings with the Center Director focused on scientific
communication, preparation of scientific posters and biomedical research
careers
- Travel support to attend a national conference (NIDDK STEP-UP
Undergraduate Research Conference) to present their summer research
in scientific poster session and/or platform talk
Program Activities
The Center Educational
Enrichment Program will leverage UMBC’s extensive expertise in undergraduate
research training to ensure an outstanding summer experience for all
STUUR Scholars. This training will focus on four areas: preparatory safety
and basic laboratory skills training, hands-on research experiences,
scientific communication skills, and ethics instruction. Ethics in Science
Instruction will complement the research training and expose STUUR Scholars
to issues related to the ethical conduct of scientific research.
Preparatory Instruction
The STUUR Scholars will begin their research experiences
with a required Laboratory Orientation and Safety Workshop. Topics will
include the safe operation of basic equipment (autoclaves, centrifuges,
ultraviolet illuminators); the safe handling of basic chemicals (acids,
bases, etc.); radiation safety procedures; and mastery of basic laboratory
techniques (dilutions, pipetting, solution preparation, etc.). Also,
STUUR Scholars will be instructed in correct and accurate record keeping
as an essential part of laboratory research.
For consideration please complete the
application and
requested documents
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