Undergraduates

Purpose

The purpose of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program is to give students who have an interest in pursuing a future career in biomedical research the chance to work in a biomedical laboratory and perform a research project during the summer. The program offers students the opportunity to work closely with College of Medicine faculty on research projects in basic or clinical disciplines for a 9-week period. The students are matched with a faculty mentor that shares their area of interest. The student will assist a faculty mentor with a research project gaining insight to the development and implementation of biomedical research.

Additionally, the program features group activities outside the laboratory, including a weekly meeting in which principles of scientific investigation, publication, research funding, ethical aspects of human and animal experimentation, regulatory issues, and peer-review will be discussed. Students will have the opportunity to attend scientific seminars and workshops. Faculty mentors are located on the College of Medicine Campuses in College Station, Temple, and Houston. Students will be assigned to mentors convenient to their summer residence. Upon completion of this program, students will be better prepared to undertake scientific investigation (basic and clinical).

Beginning in summer 2012, The Temple Health & Bioscience District (THBD) in Temple, Texas will sponsor the THBD Scholars Research Program with awards going to 4 undergraduate students. The goal of this program is to provide students with training in the technical aspects of conducting biomedical research by providing "hands on" experience. To be eligible for the THBD Scholars Research Program, Students must:

• Participate in one of the research laboratories in Temple, Texas
• Have completed their junior year and are eligible for graduation in spring or winter 2014
• Intend to enter the job market upon graduation in 2014

Identifying a Mentor

As part of the application process, students are asked to indicate their areas of research interest and select three to six possible faculty mentors. Students should generally seek mentors who have ongoing research projects which are congruent with the student's interest. The faculty research interests and ongoing research projects of faculty in each department can be found in a few different places.

Summer Research Program http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/research/student/summer-research-programs/brief-listing.html

COM Graduate Studies Basic Sciences http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/basic-sciences/index.html

COM Programmatic Overview http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/education/graduate-studies/programs/index.html

You are not required to confirm a mentor. Dr. Zimmer will use the list you provide in your application, to secure a mentor for you. If you have identified a mentor, have them send an email to watkins-borths@medicine.tamhsc.edu confirming they have agreed to be your mentor for the summer.