Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Deadline: Feb. 15, 2012
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center offers undergraduates the chance to explore clinical and basic science research in laboratories in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The primary goal is to provide students with a foundation for making career choices in the biomedical sciences. Students have the opportunity to work with one of more than 500 faculty members at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, many of whom have active research programs that cover all areas of pediatric medicine, including the study of developmental biology, congenital disorders, genetic diseases, cancer, cardiology, neurology and immunology.
The program is 10 weeks long, and students are paid a stipend of approximately $3,200. In addition to hands-on laboratory experience, students participate in various academic and social activities with students from other summer programs at the University of Cincinnati. The SURF Program includes two scientific writing classes, an ethics in research seminar, an introduction to bioinformatics and a career day. At the end of the summer, students present their research in a poster session, and a lecture is presented by a distinguished keynote speaker.
As a SURF Program participant, you will meet students from all around the country who have come to Cincinnati for the summer to explore the possibility of a career in biomedical research. You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of our cutting-edge laboratories, working under the supervision of our world-renowned research faculty and taking full advantage of the opportunities available in a professional research environment.
You will also have the opportunity to take research-oriented training courses and participate in research seminars, journal clubs, career days and a research poster competition.
In addition to lab work and class time, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural and social activities throughout the summer. You might go on a canoe trip or to a Cincinnati Reds game, spend a day at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden or Kings Island, see a concert at Riverbend Music Center, or see a play at the Aronoff Center, Playhouse in the Park or Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati.
Interns should arrange for health insurance coverage. Parking and access to the University Recreation Center are also available to SURF students.
We hope you will join us for an exciting and stimulating summer of scientific exploration.
Eligibility
Freshman, sophomore and junior undergraduates and outstanding high school students in their junior or senior year (with a 3.0 or better GPA) are eligible to apply to the SURF Program. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and have an interest in a career in biomedical research or medicine. Criteria for selection include academic record, answers to essay questions and interest in obtaining research experience.
Applicants are encouraged to specify their areas of research interest and / or specific mentors they wish to work with. This will allow us to better match students with appropriate mentors.
Housing
Housing is available at the University of Cincinnati or Xavier University; both are a short shuttle bus ride from the Academic Health Center. For more information, visit: www.med.uc.edu/SURF/dorm.cfm. Interns who wish to arrange their own living accommodations can often find one-bedroom apartments close to campus for about $300 to $400 per month. You can find a summer apartment to share or sublet at cincinnati.com, which lists Cincinnati Enquirer classified housing ads.
Award
The stipend for summer 2012 is approximately $3,200.
Contact Us
For more information on the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program or the application process, contact:
Wanda Downton
Coordinator, SURF Program
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Ave.
MLC 7007
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: 513-636-9281
Email: wanda.downton@cchmc.org
