Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research (SUMR) Program

Mentors: If you have problems uploading your letters, please email them directly to MSTP@uiowa.edu.

Application Deadline is February 1, 2024

Mentor letters are due Wednesday, February 9, 2024.

SUMR Program Features

May 20, 2024–July 26, 2024
10-week research project conducted in the laboratory of a faculty member in the biomedical sciences (including basic, translational, population health, and engineering sciences)
Weekly seminar series: a forum for discussions emphasizing how science and medicine intersect
Case-based learning exercises: discussion of mechanisms underlying disease process
Clinical skills learning sessions: concept application from case-based learning and skills practice that will be useful in medical school
“Tales of Career Development”: Informal lunchtime conversations with MD and MD/PhD physician scientists and PhD faculty engaged in medically-relevant research
Career development seminars (including applying to an MD/PhD program, personal and research statement writing)
One-on-one physician scientist advising and shadowing experiences (2 to 4 times during the 10-week period, COVID-19 restrictions-permitting)
Social and mentoring activities with MD/PhD students
Opportunity to present a poster at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference with other undergraduates on campus (usually the last Wednesday in July)

Support

$4,150 for the 10-week period
Lodging in a University housing facility (double occupancy)
Travel allowance for transportation to/from Iowa City

Application Requirements

Previous research experience of at least one summer rotation or a semester of work in a laboratory. Labs for bioscience or other courses do not meet this requirement.

A completed online application form
Descriptions of up to three research experiences (downloadable template above)
A Curriculum Vitae
- (downloadable example here: Curriculum Vitae Example)
Transcript(s) from undergraduate institution(s)
- Unofficial ones you can easily pdf are preferable
Two letters of recommendation
- At least one letter must come from your primary research mentor.
- The second letter should come from someone who has worked with you personally or academically (course instructors, academic advisors, or previous employers, volunteer supervisors, etc).

Eligibility

Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States
Be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior (your earliest anticipated graduation should not be before December 2023)
Major in a STEM field or premed
Prior research experience required (see above)
We welcome MARC U*STAR or U-RISE students looking for a summer away rotation

FAQs

How are mentors chosen?
- By looking at your stated research interests, we reach out to a few faculty working in that area to see if any are interested in mentoring a SUMR student.
- If a particular mentor is mentioned, we try to reach out to that faculty member to see if they are interested in mentoring.
- We often pair participants open to any experience with those faculty who are excellent mentors with a long history with the SUMR program.

Inquiries

If you have any questions at all, please send them to MSTP@uiowa.edu

SUMR Program
University of Iowa MSTP
2206 MERF
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

MSTP@uiowa.edu

Phone: (319) 335-8303

Last updated 9/27/2023