Summer Undergraduate Research Program



Each summer the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP) sponsors a vibrant and diverse 10-week summer program in which selected undergraduate students from throughout the U.S. conduct neuroscience research under the guidance of individual CNUP training faculty. The 2024 CNUP Summer Undergraduate Research Program will last from Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, August 2.
 


Program Goals:

  1. To give qualified students the opportunity to experience the challenges and rewards of intensive, hypothesis-driven laboratory research in neuroscience.
  2. To teach the technical features of a research project. These may include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, molecular biology, brain imaging, computer simulations, neuropsychology, or behavioral assessments.

    Note: Students who envision their future in clinical medicine typically will not be competitive for this fellowship, unless that vision also includes an important potential role for laboratory-based neuroscience research.

Eligibility:

  1. Applicants must have completed their sophomore or junior year of undergraduate training before the start of the program.
  2. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 ("B") or higher; strong performance in science, math, and related coursework is especially important.
  3. Applicants must be undergraduate students currently enrolled full-time at a U.S. college or university.
  4. International applicants will be required to provide official authorization for Optional Practical Training (OPT) from their home institution, prior to their arrival in Pittsburgh.

Funding:

  1. A $4,000 stipend will be paid as follows: $500 will be paid on June 2. The remaining $3,500 will be paid in two equal payments of $1750 on June 28 and July 26, 2024.
  2. The CNUP will provide apartment-style housing on-campus to any fellows who require it for the duration of the program. Check-in will be a few days before the orientation date, and check-out will be from the day of the final presentations to the weekend directly following.
  3. Access cards will be provided to ride Port Authority public transportation buses.
  4. Fellows will be responsible for their own meals and other expenses, including transportation to and from Pittsburgh.

To Apply:

  1. Download the application form.
  2. View research interests of CNUP Training Faculty participating in the 2024 Summer Program.
  3. Choose the top 5 faculty members with whom you would like to work. Whenever possible, student/mentor pairings are determined from this list.
  4. Please send the application form, college transcripts, personal statement, and letters of recommendation to cnup@pitt.edu by the deadline listed on the application form.
    • As University housing may not be provided, please indicate in your personal statement whether your participation is contingent on University housing or whether you would be able to arrange your own housing locally.

Program Policies:

  1. All fellows must be available to begin on the orientation date and end their participation on the final presentation date. These are listed in the "Pertinent Dates and Deadlines" section.
  2. Fellows are expected to work in the laboratory full-time throughout the 10-week program. Fellows who leave the program early for any reason will have their stipend reduced in proportion with the number of weeks in the program missed. Requested vacation days must have pre-approval from the faculty mentor. Other awards and funding must be relinquished.

Pertinent Dates and Deadlines:

  1. 2024 program dates: Tuesday, May 28 (Orientation) to Friday, August 2 (Final Presentations)
  2. Application receipt deadline: Friday, January 26, 2024
  3. Applicants will be notified by email between March 4-15, 2024, whether they are accepted, placed on a waitlist, or declined. Students who are accepted will be requested to accept or decline the CNUP Summer Program offer within 4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Get your questions answered with some frequently asked questions that our students usually have!

Susan R. Sesack, PhD

Center for Neuroscience
Department of Neuroscience and Psychiatry
E-mail: sesack@pitt.edu
412-624-5158

Anthony E. Kline, PhD

Center for Neuroscience
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
E-mail: klineae@upmc.edu
412-965-2043