Biology Opportunities

The Cedar Creek LTER (Long Term Ecological Research Network) in East Bethel, Minnesota has several opportunities for students to work as plant community ecology interns. Most positions run from June through August, but some interns are needed as early as March, and some are needed through October. As a research intern, you will contribute to ongoing field experiments, may have the opportunity to initiate individual research, attend scientific seminars, and interact with professors, post-docs, and graduate students. The deadline for application submission is February 12, 2024. We will accept applications after the deadline, but priority will be given to applications turned in before the deadline.

With the assistance of a grant from the AHA, the Lillehei Heart Institute offers annual summer research scholarships in basic science research related to cardiovascular disease. These highly competitive, prestigious scholarships are designed to expose highly qualified students to several disciplines within cardiovascular disease research and its clinical applications. Each scholar will be supported by a research scholarship. The major focus will be intensive basic or clinical research as each scholar will be assigned a laboratory and a faculty mentor. In addition, scholars will be introduced to clinical, industrial, and academic medicine through a variety of field trips, seminars and hands on experiences. Weekly seminars by faculty and industry leaders will be given to offer the scholar a window into career opportunities in cardiovascular science and medicine. The goal of these scholarships is to encourage medical and scientific careers in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Amgen Scholars intends to identify graduate school-bound undergraduates to conduct biotechnology research in one of fourteen programs in the US, and is especially committed to providing a transformative experience to students from backgrounds or institutions with limited research resources. The application deadline for this cycle is February 1, 2024.

This is a fantastic opportunity for sophomores and juniors in biotechnology fields (broadly defined) intending to pursue doctoral study who may be interested in applying to these eight- to ten-week programs.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch) hosts a summer internship that is designed to provide biomedical research experience and mentorship for undergraduate students of rising senior status. Check out their informational flyer here, which features details about the program and application dates.

About the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

The SURP is an intensive, 9-week internship designed to provide research experience and mentorship for rising-senior undergraduate students who are interested in biomedical research. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students will:

• Complete an independent research project;
• Attend weekly research seminars;
• Participate in professional development workshops designed to facilitate the preparation of competitive applications for graduate/medical school; and
• Present their findings at a competitive poster session.

The program will run from Monday, June 17 – Friday, August 16, 2024. An online application for the 2024 SURP is now available on the SURP website.

The application deadline is midnight Pacific Standard Time (PST) on Friday, January 5, 2024. Letters of recommendation for up to two references are due by midnight Pacific Standard Time (PST) on Friday, January 12, 2024. 

Other Biomedical Research Internships

The staff at Fred Hutchinson have also put together a catalog of biomedical research internships offered nationwide for high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and first-year medical students.

The WAVE Fellows program is meant to increase visibility and accessibility to Caltech’s PhD programs to undergraduates in STEM fields who are seriously considering attending graduate school. WAVE Fellows is a 10-week undergraduate research program that provides robust programming in the areas of academic and professional development. Eligibility: Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors and must be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or students with DACA status. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required. Competitive applicants will have completed sophomore-level courses in desired research field, have demonstrated through academic and/or co-curricular activities a passion for research, and can articulate how their research interests align with Caltech’s research areas. The most competitive applicants will have prior research experience. Support: WAVE Fellows will receive a $7,740 award for the ten-week program. An additional $2,000 on-campus housing supplement and $260 travel supplement will be provided. Application: Online applications are due January 9, 2023. Program information sessions will be held throughout November. Click here for more information or reach out to Carol Casey, casey@caltech.edu, with questions.

On Wednesday, 11/15 from 4:00-6:00 pm there will be a virtual open house for UCLA’s Graduate Programs in Computational Biosciences. Programs include Biomathematics, Medical Informatics, Bioinformatics, Genetics & Genomics. Register here by Monday, 11/13 to attend!

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet of UNOLS-designated research ships will host 1 long-term (approximately 6 months) and 12-14 short-term (2-12 weeks each) marine technical internships in 2024. Departure dates will depend on the schedule of each research cruise. We will first select candidates for internships starting in Winter, Spring, and then in Summer and Fall. Apply early if you are available the entire year in 2024; applications will stay on file.

The selected interns will work with marine technicians and other crew members on shore and at sea and learn how to operate and maintain a variety of scientific and navigational equipment in support of shipboard scientific research. Interns will work, eat, and sleep aboard the research vessel, and be provided lodging off ship as needed. Shipboard sleeping arrangements vary vessel to vessel. The program will pay a stipend of $600 per week plus airfare, lodging and other approved travel expenses. Internship projects will vary from one hosting organization to another and correspond to the objectives set by each specific cruise mission. Previous interns have worked on cruises to support science projects ranging from chemical oceanography to marine biology, seafloor mapping surveys, geological studies, ROV missions, and much more! Many successful internships have resulted in job offers. Please email Maria Osiadacz, Program Manager, maria@unols.org, with questions about the program and life aboard research vessels.

To apply, read the requirements listed below, prepare your documents and complete the online application:

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

Requirements:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents.
• A valid U.S. passport is required for internships that require international travel.
• Applicants must be enrolled in or graduated from an accredited higher education institution in the U.S.
• Applicants should be interested in the field of Marine Technology in support of oceanographic research.
• Previous time at sea is not required, but highly desirable. Being on a multi-week research cruise is not a good time to learn you are not able to work due to motion sickness.
• Applicants may be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and be tested before boarding the ship.

Required references and supporting documents (in PDF or Word format only):

• Contact information for three (3) professional references.
• A cover letter addressed to Maria Osiadacz, Program Manager, describing why you are interested in Marine Technology, and why you believe you’re an  ideal candidate for the internship program.
• Your most current professional resume.
• A copy of your unofficial transcript(s).
• A letter of recommendation from an instructor or a supervisor, preferably someone who has knowledge of your technical skills. If your professional reference prefers to submit a letter directly to the Program Manager, please share this link with them:2024 UNOLS-MATE Internship Recommendation Form

Anyone who applied to the 2023 program or prior can contact maria@unols.org to request a copy of previous application responses. A new application form with updated supporting documents is required to be considered for the 2024 program.

The Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) is the largest gathering of minority medical and premedical students in the US and Caribbean. It features several days of programming geared at preparing the next generation of physicians for their medical careers. The Carleton Dean of Student’s Office and alumni donations are paying for qualified students to travel to the 2024 conference in New Orleans from March 28th-31st. If you are interested please register here by Friday, November 10th at 12:00 pm.

The UCLA Bruins in Genomics (BIG) Summer program is now accepting applications. The program runs from June 24 to August 16, 2024. Deadline for early application review is January 3rd, 2024 at 7:00 CST.

This event is designed to explore pathways for historically under-represented students interested in learning more about the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering graduate programs. Register online by Monday, October 16.