UConn Health invites applications for a limited number of summer research internships from highly qualified and motivated undergraduate students who have an interest in obtaining a Ph.D. or dual M.D./ Ph.D or D.M.D./Ph.D. in the biological and biomedical sciences. Students will have the opportunity to participate in research activities of a laboratory at the Graduate School under the direction of a faculty member. The purpose of the program is to provide a research experience and the opportunity to learn about ongoing research programs at UConn Health.

Eligibility

Applicants who are U.S. citizens/Permanent Residents or international students who have an F-1 student visa and are currently undergraduates studying in a college or university in the United States (as long as they obtain “curricular practical training” from their current U.S. college or university) are eligible to apply.

International students on any other visa type are not eligible for the program.

Applicants should have completed some college coursework in biology and chemistry (preferably through organic chemistry). Previous laboratory experience is desirable. Students who will have graduated by the time the program begins are not eligible.

Applicants must submit an online application with an personal statement, transcript, and two letters of recommendation (see details below).

Students who have previously participated in the program are not eligible to reapply.

Admission

The applicants will be selected for admission by the program director who is a faculty member. The program director will review each application and may consult with faculty members chosen by the applicants in order to secure their lab selection. The selected students cannot be assured that they will be assigned to the laboratories of their first choice, but every attempt will be made to match their specific interests. Upon selection or at the start of the program, the student will meet with the faculty sponsor and develop a research protocol.

Training

It is expected that each student will work in a research project either independently or in collaboration with other members of the laboratory and will become actively involved in the laboratory program. There will be opportunities for the trainees to interact with the faculty member directing the research, as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows working in the same and other laboratories. The student will commit approximately 35 hours per week for their project for 8 weeks and attend weekly seminars given by faculty members. During the last week of the program, students will be required to present their work to the other participants and their faculty advisors.

Support

Each student participant will be paid a stipend. Students will be responsible for travel, meals, housing and other incidental expenses related to participating in the program.

The Location

UConn Health houses a division of the University of Connecticut Graduate School, the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine. Located in Farmington, just seven miles west of Hartford and midway between Boston and New York, UConn Health is built atop a hill with panoramic views of rural hills and the skyscrapers of Hartford. The school, set in a quiet suburban area, has all of its outdoor recreational opportunities and vestiges of small-town life, yet with the excitement of a city less than 10 minutes away.

How to Apply

Interested students must complete an online application and submit online materials :

• Completed the online Application 
  • Click “Start new application”.  Select  “Pre-graduate: Non-degree” and then click “Submit.”
  • Navigate to the “Program” menu. In the “Application type” drop-down menu, select “Non-credit.”
    In the “Intended Program” drop-down menu, select either “Biomedical Summer Internship OR “Increasing Research Experience for Multiculture (iREM).”
    Under “Term,” select “Summer 2025”. Under “Campus,” select “Farmington” and then click “Continue.”
  • Continue through the application, completing the required information and uploading the required documents. Then submit your application.
• 2 letters of recommendation: It is recommended that you ask academic faculty, researchers, or professors to write letters on your behalf if possible. Recommenders will submit their letters via the online system.
• Personal Statement: Explain your motivation for applying to this program and your future career plans. Describe any research experiences, courses and/or laboratory work that have stimulated your interest in research and prepared you for this program. Upload your statement into the online system.
• Transcript(s): Copies of all transcripts should be uploaded into the online system. These do not have to be official copies.

Notification of Acceptance to Program

All admissions decisions will be sent directly to applicants by email. We anticipate informing applicants of their status by early April.

Summer program inquiries should be directed to BiomedSciAdmissions@uchc.edu.

rev. 10/24