(JUNE 16 - AUGUST 15, 2025)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 10, 2025
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San Diego IRACDA hosts a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program for San Diego City College students from backgrounds that will broaden the demographics and participation in science. The SURF program is an exciting 8-week research internship for students to work with an IRACDA Postdoctoral fellow on an ongoing research project and participate in weekly professional development workshops led by IRACDA fellows. Students will experience the rigors and challenges of doing research at a top-rated research institution by engaging in 6-8 hours of laboratory research per day. |
- Gain valuable research experience and mentoring with an IRACDA postdoctoral fellow attend weekly professional development workshops and journal clubs
- Present research at the SURF Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Receive a stipend of $5000
- Be eligible to receive $350 to cover meeting registration upon receipt of a national conference travel award
How to Apply
Applicants must be enrolled at SDCCD. Applicants should be an undergraduate majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or related fields with an interest in biomedical research. Candidates from groups that will broaden the demographics and participation in biomedical and/or behavioral sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.
Below is a list of the components you will need to complete the application.- A resume or CV
- Your unofficial transcript through Fall 2024
- The answers to the short essays questions below. Your application will be scored primarily based on your answers to these questions, so please be as thorough as possible (200 word max per question).
- Describe your career goals. How are your goals related to the biomedical sciences?
- Describe any experiences or activities that have prepared you for the SURF program and/or achieving your educational or career goals. These may include (but are not limited to) previous work or research experience or training, preparatory programs like MESA, classes or workshops above and beyond transfer requirements, participation in academic organizations, relevant volunteer or mentoring experience.
- What do you hope to gain by conducting research through the SURF program?
- Describe any barriers or challenges you have faced in higher education. How will participation in the program help you to further overcome these challenges? These may include (but are not limited to) learning English as second language, coming from an underrepresented or economically disadvantaged background, working or caregiving responsibilities as a student, navigating college as a first-generation student, etc.
- Given a list, select up to three areas of biomedical research that are of interest.
- For one of those areas, describe what interests you about that field or research area.
You can type these answers directly into the application or copy and paste from a word processing program.
If you have any questions about the application or the IRACDA SURF program, please email ofc-IRACDA-sd@ucsd.edu.