Summer Scholars Program and REU

• Undergraduate students interested in the Ph.D. degree in the Biological or Biomedical Sciences
• Students with a potential interest in attending graduate school at the University of Rochester

The Intellectual Merit of the program derives from the major strengths in the University of Rochester's cross campus programs in the Biological Sciences, combining programs from the undergraduate campus Department of Biology and Basic Science Departments of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Trainees will be selected from a large national pool of applicants, and will participate in a centerpiece 10-week, hands-on, independent research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor, with guidance from graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and oversight from the Program Director. All trainees will attend research seminars as well as seminars on ethics, graduate school and career issues; trainees in their junior year will also be offered the opportunity to participate in a GRE prep course and in discussion groups. Trainees will generate an abstract on their work at the end of the summer, and will present their research in poster form at a mini-symposium. Trainees and their mentors will also be encouraged to present their work at national meetings and provided with funds to do so; co-authorship of publications will also be encouraged. Finally, continuation of research work during the academic year will be strongly supported and used as a mechanism to support linkages between UR and other colleges.

The REU summer program will provide enhanced research opportunities in Cellular and Molecular Biology to promising undergraduates, so as to encourage these students to pursue graduate education and careers in the Biological Sciences. The Intellectual Merit of the program derives from the major strengths in the University of Rochester's cross campus programs in the Biological Sciences, combining programs from the undergraduate campus Department of Biology and Basic Science Departments of the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Students that are eligible to apply:

• Undergraduates from Local and National Colleges and Universities
• Undergraduates that are US citizens, permanent resident aliens, and students with visas from their host institutions
• Matriculated college sophomores or juniors with strong academic backgrounds. (Applicants must have a GPA of at least a 3.0.)

Summer Scholars Program – Additional Information:

• Link to the On-Line Application http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/GEBS/summerapp.cfm

• Summer Program Details
  Please click here to go to the Program Details

• List of Faculty Mentors http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/gebs/faculty/index.htm

The Schmitt Program on Integrative Brain Research (SPIBR) is a campus-wide initiative to promote our understanding of the nervous system and its disorders.  The program is intended to catalyze and promote new directions of neuroscience research within the three target areas of Learning; Plasticity and Memory; The Senses and Behavior; and The Neurobiology of Aging and Disease.

The Schmitt Program supports summer research scholarships for college undergraduates who are interested in pursuing Ph.D. graduate programs in neuroscience.  It is linked with the Summer Undergraduate Research Program and helps to provide funding for students who indicate an interest in Neuroscience.  Students from the University of Rochester are encouraged to apply, with options to continue research part-time into the following year(s).

• Students who plan to pursue a medical education (M.D. degree), please click here

PLEASE NOTE: The SCRC program is not affiliated with the Summer Scholars program. Please make sure to send your application materials to the correct program. Due to the volume of applications, we w ill not be able to track down misguided application paperwork.

The Application Process

• All application materials are due by March 1, 2010
• Each applicant must fill out and submit a completed on-line application
• Each applicant must send two letters of recommendation and one official transcript (from each college/university courses have been completed) to:

  Josephine Hitzfield
  Summer Scholars Program
  University of Rochester
  601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 316-S
  Rochester, NY 14642

• We participate in a rolling admission process, and space in these programs is limited.
• The earlier that you apply and complete your application packet, the more likely you will be considered.
• We accept application materials as they come in - please do not wait to apply!

Program Details

• Each summer program lasts for a 10-week period
• Summer trainees will work under the direct supervision of a participating faculty mentor or post-doctoral student
• All summer trainees will be responsible for constructing a poster outlining their research at the conclusion of the program
• Summer trainees will present their posters and research at a final formal symposium
• All summer trainees will participate in research/educational seminars and presentations on graduate school and careers
• Luncheons, group trips to area attractions, and various social activities are organized for the chance to interact with University of Rochester graduate students and other Summer trainees
• A GRE General Test preparation course will also be offered to students in their junior year

Program Dates and Deadlines

• All application materials are due by March 1, 2010
• Students must commit to working for 10 weeks – from June 1 , 2010 through August 6, 2010

Program Funding & Housing Details

• Each summer program offers a stipend of $450 per week
• Housing will be provided in the University dorms for 10 weeks (if needed) at no charge – see housing link below for further details.
• Parking is available for a small fee for those students interested in commuting or having a car on the premises.
• Luncheons, select group trips to area attractions, and various social activities will be provided at no charge to summer trainees
• Travel reimbursement may be available to students who qualify for FASEB funding – see NSF qualifications for underrepresented minorities on main web page

Contact Information

Lisa Opanashuk, Ph.D., Director, Summer Scholars Program

Phone Number: (585) 273-2954
lisa_opanashuk@urmc.rochester.edu

Note that the Summer Scholars Program was created in conjunction with the formation of the University's new research institute, the Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Aab).

Faculty who participate in the Summer Scholars program are identical to the faculty who participate in the Ph.D. programs, and can be divided into the following disciplines:

  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  Biophysics & Structural Biology
  Cardiovascular Sciences
  Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology
  Genetics, Genomics, & Development
  Immunology, Microbiology, & Virology
  Neuroscience
  Pathways of Human Disease
  Toxicology

Additional Information

  Application Form

  Housing

  Mentors - Summer Scholars Program (also, see individual program areas above)

  Useful Links