Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The intent of this summer research program is to provide a hands-on laboratory experience for undergraduate students who wish to obtain a PhD degree and pursue a career in basic scientific research and/or science education at the college or university level.

The program is not intended for students who intend to enroll in medical, dental, or other health professional schools and go on to careers that focus on providing health care services. Students wishing to pursue such patient oriented careers may wish to consider the The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Summer Research Program or the The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program for College Students.

The research experience will be supervised by one of the nearly 600 faculty members of the UT-Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS).  These faculty members have their academic appointments at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center (including faculty at the UT-Houston Medical School, School of Public Health, and School of Health Information Sciences), and
The Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences & Technology.  These positions are 10 weeks in duration. 

All Program students will participate in a weekly seminar program, and certification courses in animal science, laboratory safety and radiation safety.  To provide experience in scientific communication skills, each participant will write an abstract and make an oral presentation of the research performed during the summer. 

Each participant will be awarded a stipend of $4,500 for the 10 week internship.  Housing, paid by the participant, is available at the near-by Rice University dormitories.  To qualify for this program, the applicant must:

• Be 18 years of age by the start of the program.
  
• Be a domestic or international student who will have completed a minimum of 2 years of undergraduate study and have at least one year remaining by the start of the program.
  
• Have a GPA of at least 3.5 in math and science courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
  
• Be able to work at least 40 hours per week in a research lab for the duration of the 10-week program.
  
• Complete the online application (no hard-copy paper applications will be accepted.
  
• Provide transcripts (official or unofficial – no copies will be accepted) which show the name of the institution and the name of the applicant.  Please mail to:
  
  Dr. Victoria Knutson
  Graduate School
  6767 Bertner, Suite 3.8344
  Houston, TX  77030
  
• Provide a personal statement of 300 words or less addressing the 5 questions listed on the application.  Please prepare this statement in advance and paste it into the appropriate field on the application form.
  
• Provide 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members or others who can assess your aptitude for, and interest in, a career in a fundamental biomedical research discipline.