Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research (SUMR) Program

2025 SUMR Application Materials - Coming Soon! 

Application Deadline is January 31st, 2025

Mentor letters are due Friday, February 7, 2025

 

SUMR Program Features

 

  • May 27, 2025–August 1, 2025
  • 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
  • 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 2025)
  • 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

Prospective Students