The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program sponsored by the UAMS Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers an excellent opportunity for you to learn about graduate level research through an interactive environment. Our program is highly competitive so please read over the application process carefully. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Good luck!
Eligibility
To be eligible for SURF, you must:
- Be a continuing undergraduate student at a domestic university.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5/4.0.
- Not be under any disciplinary sanction.
- Be a domestic student or foreign national in the US legally (possessing a valid visa, etc.)
Applicants Must Submit
- Completed application form, application.pdf.
- Housing application if applicable, housing.pdf, Summer Housing Overview
- An official transcript sent to BCMB.undergrad@uams.edu by your registrar’s office. Science GPA includes all science related courses, e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, etc.
- Two letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation need to come from professors or mentors who can evaluate the applicant based on performance in science courses and/or recent research projects. These letters can be emailed separately. Please ask your Recommenders to place your name in the Subject line of the email.
All materials should be sent to our office via email (bcmb.undergrad@uams.edu) with the applicants name in the subject line. The complete application must be received on or before March 1. If the deadline falls on a Sunday or federal holiday, then the deadline is the next business day. It is imperative that applicants provide contact information (preferably E-mail and/or telephone). It is the responsibility of the student to ensure all materials are received by the deadline.
Applicants will receive a confirmation by email once the application is complete. Otherwise, please contact the SURF Program Director Dr. Samantha Kendrick or Education Coordinator, Kathy Carlson at bcmb.undergrad@uams.edu.
Identify a Project of Interest
In order to match a students interest to on-going research programs, the student chooses a potential mentor and project listed under the Research Opportunities link. Because there may be multiple requests for projects, students must select three projects in order of preference (see application form). If a student is selected to participate in the SURF program, a mentor and the corresponding project will be assigned to the student based on there qualifications and interests in the particular area of study.
Review Criteria
Applications are judged on the following criteria (in no particular order):
- There is a higher preference for students completing their junior (third) year of undergraduate education; however, qualified sophomores and on rare occasions freshman have also been accepted.
- Student is prepared for the project (coursework, experience, etc).
- Student expresses genuine interest in graduate level research.
- Faculty have submitted supportive recommendations and evaluations.
SURF Awards
Completed applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Awards are announced on April 1 (unless it falls on a weekend in which case awards are announced on the following Monday) and posted on the website. All applicants will receive an e-mail notification of the outcome of their applications. The SURF Program Director awards SURF fellowships on recommendation by a SURF Selection Committee composed of faculty mentors from the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Stipend
SURF students receive a $5000 stipend. The stipend is taxable income and will be reported on relevant tax forms.
Stipend payments are distributed as two equal installments with the first payment on the first day and the second payment at the midpoint of the program.
Housing
Students are free to arrange their own accommodations with friends and family in the Little Rock area. However, UAMS offers limited housing. Awardees are required to cover these housing costs. Please indicate on your application if housing is required, complete the housing application and submit along with your main application.
Any Questions?
Please check out the FAQ page.