Overview

The STCE (Science and Technology Competency & Education) Undergraduate Summer Internship Program (USIP) provides opportunities for highly motivated and talented undergraduate students to develop skills as young scientists and to further explore their interest in biomedical research. USIP participants are matched to a biomedical research laboratory and engage in a research project under the guidance of a PR-INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) faculty member and their lab team. The USIP provides excellent preparation and relevant experience for students planning to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD in the biomedical sciences.  

Selection criteria for undergraduate student will include:

• Academic excellence (3.00 GPS minimum) and a demonstrated interest in research.
• Application form (provided)
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member
• An official transcript
• A letter from an official of the University stating that the student is a fulltime student during the period of the research proposal.
• Biosketch & personal statement

Benefits

• 10-week internship – at no cost to your organization
• Gain access to University research networks
• Administrative support
• Registration Data Sciences Professional Certificate
• At the end of the USIP, $3,000.00 will be awarded.

It is expected that the student will spend a minimum of 30 hours per week in the laboratory, and 5 hours to attend all workshops and fulfill all the requirements of the program. Participants will be responsible for travel, meals, housing and other personal expenses.

Summer Internship important links:

• Summer Internship Orientation recorded meeting by Dr. Loyda B. Méndez
• Summer Internship PDF presentation.

Application form

• Click here to access the application form.

Reference forms

• Waiver: Click here to access the waiver form
• Click here to access Letter of Recommendation form.

Biographical Sketch

• Click here to download Biographical Sketch Word document.

This Program will create new research opportunities for faculty with potential for competitive funding, develop existing partnerships with collaborators and create new opportunities between the network institutions in Puerto Rico and in other IDeA states. It is designed mainly to promote research collaborations between faculty at 4-year colleges and at research-intensive universities in Puerto Rico. This activity will provide funding for visiting faculty and student interns to conduct research during one month. Faculty and students will participate in summer research at INBRE Tier 1 and Tier 2 institutions. Summer research may also be conducted at a collaborator’s laboratory in another IDeA state. In addition to stimulating new research opportunities for faculty, this activity will strengthen interactions between the research project mentors and the developmental project PIs.

1. The Junior Faculty Summer Internship Program:

Eligibility

• Awards of up $10,000 each will be made following a review process of applications.
• Faculty from all INBRE network institutions will be eligible to apply

Benefits

1. Participants may be up to 8 weeks working on a research project at a university in Puerto Rico, from May through July.
   a. $8,000 for summer salary
   b. $2,000 for expendable supplies
2. Participants may be up to 8 weeks working on a research project at a university in USA.
   a. Air fare, housing, ground transportation, per diem, laboratory supplies

Application Procedures/ Requirements

1. Biographical Sketch of the applicant
2. Justification for selection of mentor with his/her biographical sketch
3. Description of the summer research project and how the project fits in with the applicant’s and mentor’s long-term research goals
4. The applicant’s professional development plan
5. Research proposal (5 pages maximum) designed with guidance of a mentor (the description of the projects should describe how the project fits into the applicants and mentor’s long-term research goals. Applications should be submitted using the NIH PHS 398 forms.

Important Notice:

After completion of the Visiting Professorship, faculty participants will provide quarterly written reports describing their achievements and plans to develop their project. Faculty awardees will also report their results in an oral presentation at the PR-INBRE Annual Retreat. All forms necessary for the application will be downloadable from the PR- INBRE website. Under exception, the award may be used during the academic year with an authorization and release time of the applicant institution. The Selection Committee will choose awardees on a competitive basis.

2. The Student Summer Internship Program:

Eligibility

Students enrolled in degree-granting programs at PR-INBRE Institutions may apply for a summer research experience for a period up to 8 weeks between June 1 and September 30 of each year, supervised by a mentor in a PR-INBRE lab or at a research laboratory in another state. The Selection Committee will choose the awardees on a competitive basis. The number of awardees will depend on location of training and the availability of funds.

Benefits

Support will cover housing, transportation, per diem, salary and supplies, depending on location

Application Procedures/Requirements

Criteria for selection will be:

1. Must be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student enrolled in a science degree program at a Puerto Rico INBRE institution.
2. Have successfully completed the first year of undergraduate or graduate studies (minimum GPA 3.0)
3. Have identified a scientific mentor at the University (provide a letter of support from the mentor)
4. Provide a Biographical Sketch of the mentor
5. Provide a project outline and description with timetable

Important Notice:

Participating students must present their work in an oral or poster presentation at the PR- INBRE Annual Retreat.

All applications should be sent or delivered to:


Sandra Charriez, Assistant Project Coordinator; sandra.charriez@upr.edu


Dr. Loyda Méndez, STCE Coordinator; lbmendez@uagm.edu

Click here to download VFA Application Form (Summer)