— Division of Student Success — Pathway Programs — Summer Undergraduate Research Program — Participating Departments

Participating Departments

Munroe-Meyer Institute

Neurological Sciences
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience
Radiation Oncology
Surgery
Travis B. Lewis Scholarship
U-STAR

The following UNMC departments accept students through SURP each year.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Participants: High school ($2,000 stipend), undergraduate ($4,000 stipend)

Contact: Terry Qualls
985870 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5870
402-559-1961

Cellular Integrative Physiology

Contact: Kim Kavan
985850 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5850
402-559-4426

Child Health Research Institute/Peds

Program Type: Biomedical research, clinical research and community research
Participants: Undergraduate ($4,000 stipend)

The Child Health Research Institute offers exciting opportunities for students to engage in a variety of research projects spanning multiple and diverse specialties and disciplines, all dedicated to improving the health of children. Our engaged investigators are all faculty at UNMC in the Department of Pediatrics or other pediatric related sub-specialties, and many conduct clinical research with our partner, Children’s Nebraska. Students who join the institute's SURP Program will also benefit from our robust research network and will have the opportunity to learn from our 200+ members while participating in institute programming, including monthly seminars and relevant special events.

Learn more about the program.

Contact: Jaclyn Ostronic
Children's Nebraska
402-836-9726

College of Public Health

Program Type: Biomedical research, clinical research and community research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,500 stipend)

Accepted applicants will spend a 10 week full-time placement with a COPH researcher working on a previously identified public health research project. Projects may be in community, clinical or laboratory based projects, driven by the needs of our diverse public health disciplines. Students will receive a stipend for their work, attend enrichment seminars and participate in campus and COPH networking and social activities.

Contact: Jessica Tschirren
984359 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-4359
402-552-9867

Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($6,000 stipend)

This program offers hands-on biomedical research in a wide variety of cancer research labs. All SURP students are provided with a graduate student mentor, a faculty mentor and a staff mentor to support them. Graduate students from the Cancer Research graduate programs host a weekly cancer biology basics workshop for SURP students.

Requirements: Resume, personal statement, unofficial transcript, two letters of recommendation.

Contact: Misty Pocwierz-Gaines
986805 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6805
402-559-4092

Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,000–4,000 stipend)

With its unique strengths in genetics and cell biology, the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy has been continuously exercising to increase the size of stature of research faculty and increase our expertise in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics and cutting edge areas of genetics, cell biology and anatomy.

Requirements: Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above, completion of science courses beyond general biology or chemistry (e.g. organic chemistry, microbiology, genetics, etc.), research essay, and strong letters of recommendation

Contact: Bryan Katafiasz
985805 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5805
402-559-4031

Internal Medicine (SURP)

Program Type: Biomedical research and clinical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($4,000 stipend and limited housing support considered on a case-by-case basis.)

Please review the flyer for more information.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center's Department of Internal Medicine offers an intensive 10-week, full time, stipend-paid summer undergraduate research and mentorship experience for students interested in biomedical research. The department offers students the opportunity to contribute to research projects that cover a broad range of topics in our 12 divisions. Areas of study range from basic research into the mechanisms of human diseases, to clinical investigations evaluating various aspects of treatments.

Contact: Toni Goeser
983332 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3332
402-559-4875

Internal Medicine (SUARP)

Program Type: Biomedical research and clinical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($4,000 stipend and limited housing support considered on a case-by-case basis.)

Please review the flyer for more information.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center's Department of Internal Medicine offers an intensive 10-week, full time, stipend-paid summer undergraduate research and mentorship experience for students interested in biomedical alcohol research. The department offers students the opportunity to contribute to research projects that cover a broad range of topics in our 12 divisions. Students will conduct research related to alcohol and its consequences on health, organ, and cellular function.

Contact: Toni Goeser
983332 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3332
402-559-4875

MD/PhD Scholars Program

Program Type: Biomedical research and clinical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,750 stipend and dorm housing)

In this program you will:

Explore your personal motivation for a career in medicine and biomedical research
Understand how discoveries made in the laboratory are translated into new methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease
Present your research project in a professional session
Become familiar with UNMC and its faculty, students and programs

Contact: Brianna Simmons
985520 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5520
402-552-7225

Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI)

Program Type: Clinical-translational research, clinical research and community research
Participants: Undergraduate ($6,000 stipend)

The MMI Summer Undergraduate Research Program offers a wide range of opportunities for undergraduate students to become a member of one of our many research teams. We are looking for applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and interests who want to be part of an inclusive and cooperative research environment.

MMI provides accepted students with a faculty mentor, hands-on research experience, and professional development opportunities.

MMI is one of the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive intellectual and developmental disability centers in the world. MMI’s mission is to be world leaders in transforming the lives of all individuals with disabilities and complex health care needs, their families and the community through outreach, engagement, premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.

MMI is committed to respect and benefit for all individuals reflecting the rich diversity in our culture without preference or exclusion for actual or perceived differences.

Learn more about the MMI program.

Contact: Jennifer Blackford, PhD or Katelyn Kelley
Munroe-Meyer Institute

Neurological Sciences

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,000 stipend)

The Department of Neurological Sciences is dedicated to training the next generation researchers and clinicians working in the neurological disorders field. The ten-week, full-time, hands-on summer undergraduate program offers students an opportunity to work alongside faculty members, graduate students, and laboratory technicians.

Students in the program will have an opportunity to work either in a molecular or cellular biology (bench space/wet research) lab or statistical analysis/computational approaches (dry) lab. Visit the department summer program web site for additional information.

Requirements: Personal statement, unofficial transcript (cumulative GPA of 3.4 and above; two letters of recommendation (one from a science or math instructor). Rising juniors or seniors preferred.

Note: Please include in your personal statement your preference for a molecular/cellular biology (bench space/wet research) lab or in statistical analysis/computational approaches (dry) lab placement.

Contact: Jeff Laird
988440 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-8440
402-552-2921

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Program Type: Biomedical Research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,500 stipend)

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology offers full-time, 10-week, summer undergraduate research and mentorship placements for students interested in ovarian biology (including ovarian cancer), fertility, female reproductive hormones, fibroids, pregnancy and placental function. Four faculty (Dr. Davis, Dr. Roy, Dr Harris and Dr. Kim) participate in the SURP program and provide a hands-on research experience in the lab. Students will be invited to attend weekly lab meetings and will give presentations on their individual research projects at the end of the program. The program includes a $3,500 stipend, with the possibility of an additional $1,000 provided by The Nebraska Center for Women's Health Research, to support specialized studies in these areas.

Contact: Carrie Drummond
983255 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3255
402-552-3691

Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($4,000 stipend)

The Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology department consists of research performed in:

infectious disease
cancer
clinical diagnostics

Infectious disease laboratories span the gamut of microbiology including studies in bacteria, virus, parasite, and host-pathogen interactions, as well as biosecurity and aerosol biology. Cancer laboratories span lymphoma, bone metastasis and tumor immunology. Labs in the department are also interested in developing drugs and drug delivery systems targeting both infectious disease and cancer. Clinical laboratories span transfusion medicine, health bioinformatics, renal, transplant, and hematopathology among others. The open-space format and collaborative nature of researchers allows the free-flow of ideas across laboratories.

Most laboratories use in vitro molecular and cell biology techniques; some involve the use of model organisms, and some are bioinformatics-heavy. Students will gain experience with experiment design as well as hands-on project execution. Through the SURP program, students will also hone poster-making and presentation skills.

Contact: Molly Hadan
985900 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5900
402-559-3980

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Program Type: Biomedical research and clinical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($4,000 stipend)

The purpose of this program is to engage students in a wide variety of research areas including drug discovery, pharmaceutics, drug delivery, biophysics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Requirements: Completed at least two years of postsecondary education with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Contact: Luis Marky
986120 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6120
402-559-4628

Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,000 stipend)

This program includes working in a neuroscience research lab; mentorship of faculty, graduate students, and lab technicians; education and practice of lab-specific techniques; access to numerous seminars by local and international experts in the field on neuroscience; the opportunity to present your own research at the SURP poster presentation; and co-authoring publications resulting from your summer research project.

Contact: Reed Felderman
985800 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5800
402-559-4624

Surgery

Program Type: Biomedical research and clinical research
Participants: Undergraduate ($3,000 stipend)

The Department of Surgery Summer Undergraduate Research Program will provide clinical and biomedical research opportunities within a variety of divisions in surgery. These research opportunities are funded on grants obtained by principal investigators, therefore opportunities are based solely on what divisions have current research and if they have funding to grant these positions. Each division will offer a unique learning experience. Some learning techniques will involve small and large animal studies.

Contact: Jackie Nelson
983280 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3280
402-559-4632

Travis B. Lewis Scholarship

Program Type: Biomedical research
Participants: High school (must be 16 years or older; $1,500 stipend)

This program includes working in a neuroscience research lab; mentorship of faculty, graduate students, and lab technicians; education and practice of lab-specific techniques; access to numerous seminars by local and international experts in the field on neuroscience; the opportunity to present your own research at the SURP poster presentation and co-authoring publications resulting from your summer research project.