Biology Opportunities

The American Heart Association has been a pivotal supporter on heart and stroke research nationwide, leading to many lifesaving discoveries. Each year the American heart Association awards medical scholarships established by generous Minnesota donors to enable medical students in pursuing degrees in medicine, science and research.

The Helen and Harold Shapira Undergraduate Scholarship was established in 1969 to assist young men and women pursuing degrees of medicine and science. This $1,000 scholarship award is given annually to an undergraduate student enrolled in a four-year Minnesota college or university and working in a medically related curriculum with potential application to patients with diseases of the heart and blood vessel system. Recipients will be chosen by the Minnesota Scholarship Committee of the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate. Successful candidates will be eligible for a renewal of the $1,000 award for a second year provided they maintain satisfactory scholastic progress.

If you have any questions regarding these scholarships, please contact Eric Mens at 952-278-7715 or mwmn.scholarships@heart.org

The Spearman lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin studies single ventricle congenital heart disease using a variety of techniques including cell culture, single cell RNA-seq, and Western Blots, among others. No prior research experience is required and 1:1 mentoring from Dr. Spearman makes this position an ideal opportunity for students who plan to pursue an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD. If you have questions please email Henry Rousseau ’23 (henry@rousseauhome.com) or Dr. Andrew Spearman (ASpearman@childrenswi.org).

The University of Minnesota is looking for exceptional undergraduate students to complete an 11-week intensive research experience designed to provide immersive research training for students interested in a career in academic research/medicine.  Each student will conduct a small, independent research project focused on a scientific question using computational biology. Over the course of the summer, students will attend weekly presentations and meetings. Students will be expected to discuss their research results informally in laboratory and group meetings. A student’s work will be directly supervised by a faculty member or a designated post-doctoral associate working in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, students will present their research to faculty from the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, the Division of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, and other selected guests.  Students will work up to 40 hours per week; schedules and hours will be arranged with the assigned faculty mentor (or delegate). This is not a clinical shadowing opportunity. 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology offers a National Science Foundation funded 10 week residential summer research program on plant-insect interactions under the mentorship of Dr. Joe Louis. Submit your letter of application and CV to Dr. Joe Louis (joelouis@unl.edu).

Molson Coors in Burley, Idaho are seeking a highly motivated student to join their Barley Improvement Program for a field work-based internship. This internship offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to gain direct, hands-on experience in plant improvement and production. The intern will play a key role in supporting their barley improvement efforts, contributing to cultivar evaluation and disease resistance screening. This experience will provide valuable exposure to field design, plant breeding techniques, agricultural research and data analysis. This internship would be an excellent opportunity for students interested in agronomy, plant science, biology, agriculture and plant pathology. They are looking for a student who is enthusiastic, detail-oriented, hard-working, has a strong work ethic and works well in a team. If you are interested, please reach out to Bob Brunick (Brunick II, Bob Robert.BrunickII@molsoncoors.com) the lead barley breeder at MolsonCoors based in Burley, Idaho or former intern Lillian Ebeling-Koning (Ebeling-Koning, Lillian ebeling-koning.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu).

The next Underrepresented Students in STEM Symposium – Twin Cities (USSS-TC) will be taking place on Saturday, April 12, 2025. This is a free, in-person research symposium being hosted by the University of Minnesota specifically for BIPOC students in STEM in the Twin Cities to present their scientific research, a research proposal, or a scientific paper they are interested in (so no research experience needed!). The event in the past involved presentations on original research and research proposals, panel discussions on graduate school, and CV/resume review, among other topics. There is also an optional mentorship component in which undergraduates are paired with a graduate student or post-doc mentor to help them prepare their symposium materials! The deadline to register and get paired with a mentor is February 24th and the deadline to submit the materials to present at the symposium (with or without a mentor) is March 28th. This is the perfect opportunity for students to practice their scientific presentation skills!

UConn RaMP is the yearlong Research Training Program for recent graduates with a primary focus on first generation college students, individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM, and students at institutions with limited resources. Our mission is to equip scholars with a comprehensive skill set that encompasses both research and professional skills, in preparation for successful careers in STEM. No prior laboratory experience is necessary; all that’s required is a strong passion for learning and a solid work ethic. Trainees are supported by a stipend of $35,000.

This position provides support with plant and animal related research, inventory and monitoring projects.  This includes assisting with preparing materials for fieldwork, data collection, data entry and analysis, and report writing. The person in this position will learn to identify a diverse group of plants to assist with data collection and will serve as a member of the Arboretum land management crew as needed (Approximately 20% of time).

There are five student positions available working in the Arb this summer as Restoration Technicians. Work includes eradication of invasive species, trail maintenance, ecological restoration, and seed collecting.

The Coe Wilderness Field Station Scholarship provides full tuition, travel expenses, and a $2500 stipend to two Carleton students each year to take a course at the field station. This scholarship is open to any Carleton student with an interest in taking a course at the Coe Wilderness Field Station during the summer of 2025. Applicants do not need previous wilderness experience to be eligible. First year students are particularly encouraged to apply.