The BioSURF application process is modeled on the grant-seeking process. In collaboration with a WashU faculty mentor, the applicant will write a project proposal that will then be reviewed by a faculty committee. Awards are made on the basis of recommendations of the reviewers and available funding.
Eligibility
- Open to all continuing WashU undergraduate students
- Must be able to conduct research full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks between May 17 - August 13.
- Only for basic biological and biomedical research; clinical studies are not eligible. Disease-related research is often eligible, but patient outcome research is generally not. If you are unsure about whether your project is eligible for support, please inquire before submitting an application.
- Research mentorship from a WashU faculty member in the natural sciences or a member of the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. Support is available for research in laboratories on the Danforth Campus and the Medical School (and some other local institutions). All BioSURF mentors must hold a faculty appointment at Washington University. Bench mentors may be graduate students or post-docs, but the recommendation and ultimate supervision must come from a professor. PLEASE NOTE: ALL RESEARCH MENTORS MUST COMMIT TO A 50% COST-SHARE WITH THE BIOSURF PROGRAM ($2000).
BioSURF Application Review Criteria
Fellows will be selected on the basis of their interest in and aptitude for research in the biological/biomedical sciences. Applications will be assessed based on:
- quality of the proposal
- contribution and significance of proposed research to your field
- commitment to the project
- quality of letters of recommendation
- prior experience and academic record
The application for BioSURF is a two-step process:
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Step One collects general information about your proposed research, past experience, and recommenders and is due by February 1.
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Step Two will be emailed to you upon submission of Step One of the BioSURF application. You will receive an email with a URL unique to you where you will upload your proposal. FOR SUMMER 2021: YOU WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF YOUR RESEARCH PLANS IF CONDITIONS WARRANT A RETURN TO FULLY REMOTE RESEARCH. Please read our guidelines for writing your proposal. Letters of recommendation and Step Two of the application are due February 15 at 5PM.
Before proceeding to Step One below, please have ready:
- Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of the two people writing letters of recommendation. A request for letters will be automatically generated and sent to your mentor and second recommender when you complete Step One of the application. Make certain the email addresses you enter are correct and that you have discussed your intent to apply for BioSURF with each of your recommendation letter writers BEFORE you submit your application.
- One letter MUST be from your mentor (i.e. your lab PI) who must be a professor at Washington University. ALL RESEARCH MENTORS MUST COMMIT TO COST-SHARING YOUR AWARD WITH THE BIOSURF PROGRAM.
- The second letter cannot be from someone else in your lab. It does not have to come from someone at WashU.
- Current and prior research experience information (if applicable), including PI’s name and department, and the research area of your prior work.
- A preliminary title for your project.
