To prepare for a research career in the biomedical sciences
To learn about opportunities available at the end of your undergraduate education
To earn money over the summer
What type of training will I receive?
An individual research project will be assigned to you and mentored by an RI-INBRE faculty member
Training on and first-hand use of state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation will be provided
Group instruction will also be provided in general research issues and practices such as scientific ethics, chemical and radiation safety, laboratory notebook keeping, print and on-line scientific literature searches, presentation of research results, and scientific writing
Where does the program take place?
Students are placed in RI-INBRE faculty laboratories
Laboratories are located at the University of Rhode Island or Brown University
Summer research opportunities may also be available at Providence College, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, and Salve Regina University. Contact the RI-INBRE office for more information
How long does the program last?
The program is 10-weeks long
The 2008 Program will run from Tuesday, May 27th to Tuesday, August
5th
Due to the limited availability of housing during the summer, adjustments cannot be made to the start and end dates of the program to accommodate students on trimesters or with other scheduling conflicts
What will my schedule be like?
On average, expect to work about 40 hours per week in the labs
Some weeks you may work more than 40 hours, while other weeks you may work less than 40 hours
The work week follows the research, so there are no set schedules
Some weeks you will work Monday through Friday and other weeks you might work some weekends or nights
What kind of financial support does the program provide?
You will earn approximately $350 per week (based on a 40 hour work week) before taxes and will be paid bi-weekly
Allowances for travel to and from the program are available if needed
Is housing available?
The RI-INBRE office can arrange for participants to stay in the dormitories at the University of Rhode Island if necessary
The cost of the dormitory will be covered by the RI-INBRE Summer Undergraduate Research Program
The University of Rhode Island does not offer a summer meal program, students will have the use of a kitchen and will be responsible for their own groceries and meals
Dormitories are not available at Brown University
What are the eligibility requirements?
You must be either a US Citizen or have Permanent Resident status
Those on student visas are not eligible to apply
Applicants from four year colleges must have completed at least 2 years of study as a science major by the beginning of the program
Applicants from the Community College of Rhode Island should contact the RI-INBRE office to discuss the academic requirements for the Program
Graduating seniors and those applicants intending to continue on to Medical School are discouraged from applying
The program is competitive and the selection criteria is based on grades in relevant science courses, interest in biomedical research, and level of preparation for laboratory research
Will this program help me get into the College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island?
Although the RI-INBRE Program is housed in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island, participation in this program will have no effect, positive or negative, on your application to the College of Pharmacy
The RI-INBRE Program operates independently of the College of Pharmacy and as such, plays no role in the selection of candidates for admission to the college
How can I get an application and what is the deadline?
Applications are available by clicking here or contacting us directly
The application deadline is Friday, February 1, 2008
What do students that have participated in the program have to say about their experience?
"The most important aspect of the program was the friendliness of the faculty. I was surprised to find that all of the mentors in the program, not just my own, made an effort to get to know who I was and what I was researching. This made me feel like I was part of a program that was very different from other summer research programs that I had attended in the past." – Fongman Wu, University of Rhode Island
"The RI-INBRE Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Rhode Island gave me the opportunity to explore the realm of scientific research. The best part of the program is the fact that it is 99% hands-on. From day one, I began to learn various laboratory techniques that allowed me to successfully complete my summer project. The faculty mentors, as well as the RI-INBRE support staff, were truly outstanding, helping to ensure that my research experience was all I had hoped for. As a two-time participant, I highly recommend this program to anyone with an interest in science." - Mike Hanley, University of Rhode Island
"My time last summer was incredible and, even though I was working over at the VA, I loved the programs, the faculty, and the independence I was given. It definitely convinced me that I wanted to participate in research for my career; as a result, I am going to start my PhD at Duke next year in Immunology!" - Deirdre Fuller, William & Mary College
"I was able to leave URI with a wealth of hands-on research experience that has helped me towards other research projects at school and other facilities!" – Daniel Contreras, Northeastern University
"I am just starting my internship at the University of California Berkley and I am off to a great start. The RI-INBRE summer program provided me with a wonderful opportunity to conduct research within a real lab. This experience was enriching and allowed me to have a glimpse of what graduate school may consist of. I learned some new laboratory techniques, such as an ELISA. I also learned how to network with my peers, maintain a laboratory notebook, and present my research. I had a wonderful experience not only in the lab but also in Rhode Island with the other students!" – Kristina Harris, Simmons College
"The following semester, I breezed through my lab experiments because of the skills I had learned during the program. My professor let me work as his assistant and I was able to help other students out a great deal. My professor was also very impressed with my laboratory notebook due to how I had learned to prepare one for my mentor. Overall the experience was absolutely wonderful and it only helped me to become better in the laboratory." – Roylisha Jackson, Southern University and A&M College
What are some of the activities planned for the program?
A tour of the research facilities at Pfizer Inc. in Groton, Connecticut
A barbecue/picnic with great food and volleyball
A seminar presented by the Associate Dean of URI’s Graduate School on tips and strategies for selecting and applying to Graduate Schools
A Summer Undergraduate Research Day where you will be able to present your findings to peers from six different institutions
A tour of the State Crime Lab at URI
Demonstrations of URI’s 3-D Molecular Modeling Facility and Human Patient Health Simulator
What are some other fun things to do while visiting Rhode Island for the summer?
There are lots of sights, activities, and miles of local beaches within minutes of the URI campus
Transportation to Block Island is also nearby
The URI campus is less than one hour from Providence, less than two hours from Boston, and less than four hours from New York City
Bus and Train transportation are readily available from the URI campus for these and other activities
