Quantitative and Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (QP-SURF)

The Quantitative and Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (QP-SURF) program at UT Southwestern Medical Center's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is an intensive summer research training experience designed for college students who are preparing for careers in biomedical research. Fellows spend 10 weeks (beginning in early June and ending mid-August) pursuing individual research projects in the laboratories of Graduate School faculty members.

Fellows gain experience in modern research techniques and plan and execute an experimental strategy to answer a scientific question. The program introduces students to the kinds of projects encountered during postgraduate research training, and fosters an understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of answers to current questions at the interface of quantitative science and basic biomedical research. At the end of the program, fellows present their research during a poster session. 

In addition to laboratory research, fellows attend weekly seminars given by UT Southwestern faculty members. Informal discussions about careers in science and graduate training are also scheduled.

Approximately 10 fellows participate in the summer research program. Fellows are assigned to a laboratory and research project according to their previous training and research interests.

Research areas:

  • Biomedical Engineering 
  • Biophysics 
  • Computational Biology
  • Quantitative and Analytical Chemistry
  • Systems Biology

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in a physics, computer science, mathematics, biomedical engineering, or chemistry degree program at the undergraduate level and have completed their sophomore year. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or currently possess an F1 Visa. 

Criteria used in the selection of fellowship recipients include:

  • College grades
  • Relevant experience
  • Letters of recommendation from faculty who can assess the applicant's potential for advanced training and success in research that integrates quantitative and biomedical sciences

Natural and biological sciences majors should apply to the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program.

Stipend

The stipend for the 10-week program is $4,000. This support is taxable. Details on local living accommodations will be provided when fellows are notified of their acceptance. If a fellow requires housing, then the costs will be covered by the program; however, fellows are responsible for paying for their own travel expenses.

How to Apply

To apply for 2013 QP-SURF, please complete the QP-SURF 2013 Application. Also, please mail your official transcript from each college attended and two letters of recommendation. Materials should be mailed as a single packet or individually to:

Vanessa A. Powell
QP-SURF Administrator
UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9004

The deadline is February 9, 2013.

Housing

Housing needs for QP-SURF students are coordinated through the SURF office. QP-SURF students requiring housing will stay in a local hotel and be transported to and from the UT Southwestern campus daily. QP-SURF participants with family or friends in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should plan to stay with them.

Contact

For additional information about the QP-SURF Program, contact:

Nancy Street, Ph.D.
SURF Director
UT Southwestern Graduate School
UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9004
Phone: 214-633-1311
qp-surf@utsouthwestern.edu

Note: Undergraduates who intend to attend medical school with plans to pursue careers in medicine and research, but who may not choose to pursue formal graduate (i.e., Ph.D.) training, should apply to the UT Southwestern Undergraduate Medical Research Fellows Program (UT-SUMR), not the SURF program.

All questions regarding UT-SUMR should be addressed to the UT-SUMR program, not the SURF Program. The UT- SUMR office may be reached by calling 214-648-3465 or by mail at:

UT-SUMR
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Attention: Rene Galindo, M.D., Ph.D.
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-8857
rene.galindo@utsouthwestern.edu