The MARC U-STAR scholarship program provides support to undergraduate students underrepresented in the behavioral or biomedical sciences who are interested in pursuing graduate training at the Ph.D. level. The MARC U-STAR award provides support to students for a consecutive 24-month period during there final 2 years at CU Denver, including financial support, funded research opportunities, and individualized mentorship and guidance.

Additionally, The U-RISE program provides Freshmen and Sophomores with opportunities and scholarships to learn more about behavioral and biomedical research.

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McNair Scholars is a federally-funded program that supports and encourages first-generation and underrepresented students in their pursuit of post-graduate doctoral degrees. McNair Scholars are provided with research opportunities, faculty mentoring, seminars, and community support to foster their intellectual, personal, and professional growth.

At CU Denver, the program serves 25 academically-skilled juniors and seniors each year who have strong ambitions to complete their PhD.

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Are you a student from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences that has been accepted to present your research at a conference? The CLAS Office of Research and Creative Activities wants to help you get there. CLAS students at all levels (undergraduate or graduate) are eligible to apply.

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List of opportunities by the Office of Inclusion and Outreach which include the Undergraduate Pre-Health Program (UPP) and Colorado-Wyoming Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CO-WY AMP).

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The BRAiN program is designed for the budding undergraduate scientist who is from an underrepresented population and who is interested in pursuing a graduate degree (PhD) in neuroscience. BRAiN students engage in summer and academic-year research experiences at CU Anschutz and receive hands-on training in neuroscience techniques and topics.

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The U-TRAC Program will consist of a 2-year mentored research experience coupled with training in cancer concepts, research principles, and career development in the form of workshops and lectures. The program is open to University of Colorado Denver (UCD) undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented or under-served groups (URM) that have confirmed work-study funds.

Time Commitment: 2 years (2 Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters); Scholars may work a maximum of 200 hours each Spring and Fall semester and 30 hours per week for 8 weeks in the summer. Scholars must have confirmed work-study funds during each semester of participation, including summer. Note that students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit-hours during the summer semester to be eligible for a work-study award.

Salary: U-TRAC Scholars will receive $20/hr compensation

Hop on the U-TRAC to Success!

Questions about U-TRAC? Email adela.cota-gomez@cuanschutz.edu
Questions about work-study? Email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu

The Graduate School has curated a list of summer research opportunities at CU Anschutz.

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Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel (PIKE) - Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) CU Anschutz Medical Campus PIKE-PREP offers a multi-dimensional mentoring and research training experience to prepare underrepresented post-baccalaureate students to enroll and succeed in a top-tier PhD or MD-PhD program and commit to a career in biomedical research.

• Year-long mentored research experience
• Professional and career development
• Community building
• Competitive salary and health benefits

Applications Due April 1, 2022

View Website With Details

Contact  PIKE.PREP@cuanschutz.edu

The Summer Research Training Programs (SRTP) at CU Anschutz is an initiative by the Neuroscience Graduate and Medical Scientist Training Programs and their respective outreach groups aimed at creating opportunities for undergraduate students who have been historically underrepresented in science.

The primary goal for these programs is to provide paid, full-time summer research internships in  labs at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Awardees are provided resources and mentorship to help them build a foundation for a future in academia and STEMM careers.

Application Due: Friday, March 11, 2022 - 5pm MST
Funding Period: June 6th -July 29th, 2022
Time Commitment: 40 hrs/week
Student Stipend: $5,000

SRTP Tracks:
Neuroscience
Physician-Scientist
Immunology
Bioengineering

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Contact: SRTP@cuanschutz.edu 

The Developing Scholars Program brings undergraduate students to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus for a rewarding 8-week research internship in the Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development Program (CSD). Each scholar works under the direct mentorship of a CSD graduate student on a cutting-edge research project while receiving hands-on training in fundamental techniques in cell and molecular biology.

The Developing Scholars Program is open to motivated undergraduates majoring in life sciences who are interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. Prior research experience is not a requirement to apply. Students belonging to groups traditionally excluded or underserved in academic research, including race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender, are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Due: Friday, March 11, 2022, 5:00 pm MT 
Funding Period: June 6 - July 31, 2022
Time commitment: 20hrs/week
Student Stipend: $3,000 ($18.75/hr)

Questions? Contact jeffrey.moore@cuanschutz.edu

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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the NIH is excited to sponsor the Division of Cancer Biology Summer Undergraduate Research Program (DCB SURP) in 2022.

The DCB SURP program includes a 10-week in-person fellowship, a 2-day research conference at NIH in Bethesda, MD, and an introductory course in cancer data science. Everything ($4,000 stipend, conference travel, and summer housing) is paid for by the NCI. We encourage you to check on the website and apply to this program if you are interested in performing interdisciplinary research in cancer biology.

The application deadline is February 14, 2022.

Find out more on the website.

Questions? Contact Tiffany Ferguson (tiffany.ferguson@nih.gov)

The Pathways Exploration Internship (PEI) is a 12-week career training program during the summer that provides paid exploratory opportunities and exposure for historically excluded groups within the museum field. We define historically excluded groups as people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, LGBTQIA+, those who have been involved in the criminal justice system for nonviolent offenses and fostered youth. The intention of this program is not to provide a career pathway specifically within the Denver Art Museum, rather it is to support and understand the different career pathways within a museum while developing skills necessary to pursue a career in the arts and cultural field.

Compensation and Benefits Available for the PEI Program:

This internship requires a 40 hour per week commitment, May 18—August 5. 

Wage: $16.50 per hour. Selected interns will also receive:

• Free museum membership during the length of the internship
• 20% discount at the Museum Shop
• Discount at MAD Greens, BurgerFi, Leven Deli, and other nearby restaurants 
• Invitations to select museum openings and events
  

Interested Applicants on Website 

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Research Program in Environmental Health Sciences

• Paid year-long research and mentorship opportunity in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• Specifically for Sophomore to Senior level undergraduate science majors from an underrepresented minority population, with disabilities or disadvantaged background
• Includes full summer research and mentorship program (20-40 hrs/week) and a school year research opportunity (10 hrs/week) - $15/hr
• Research opportunities include: biomonitoring of environmental exposures, genetics of environmental lung disease, Immunology, nanomaterial safety, environmental causes of cancer, effects of inhaled pollutants, traumatic brain injury, liver toxicology and effects of ethanol as examples.
• Program includes mentoring on careers in environmental health, applying to graduate or professional schools, responsible conduct in research training, research retreat and social activities

Applications due April 1, 2022
Program begins May 23th, 2022

Applications can be found on the website
Contact: jared.brown@cuanschutz.edu or alison.bauer@cuanschutz.edu

If there are not research positions in your field on Handshake, or you are not work-study eligible for EURēCA! research positions, you can look for other research opportunities at CU Denver.

First, talk to your professors to see if they have opportunities. Then see if your department has a web page describing faculty research interests. If possible, read their publications and watch videos of their lectures. Next, select four or five professors whose work most excites you to contact with your research assistant request.

Have it reviewed by the LyxConnect Peer Advisors to draft research-specific materials. Then set up an in-depth appointment with either the Undergraduate Research Advisor or the Career Counselors through Handshake.

Remember to tailor each cover letter specifically to the research project you’re applying to join. The best cover letters are highly specific to the lab and researcher, not generic.

Have your Undergraduate Research Advisor review your inquiry before sending. You should type your research assistant cover letter in the body of your email and attach your resume as a pd document. See sample emails below.

Use a clear subject line to grab the Faculty’s attention. Here are a few examples of email subject lines you might consider:

• Dr. Carton, can I assist with your neural circuit research?
• In need of a research assistant with brain mapping expertise?
• Professor Manette recommended I reach out regarding your research (if you indeed can use a professor as a reference)

If you want to secure a research assistant position during the academic year, you should email your cover letter mid-summer, before the fall semester starts.

If it’s already the middle of the fall semester, you have two options. First, you can reach out and inquire about becoming a research assistant for the spring semester. Otherwise, you can wait until the spring semester and ask to join the summer research team.

Wait a week—but no longer—before following up. Make your follow-up email very brief. Send it as a reply to your original email containing your cover letter and your attached resume, so the professor can easily review your initial research assistant request. See sample below.

It’s appropriate to send one follow-up email, but do not continue to pester the faculty if you still don’t receive a reply. At that point, widen your search and find other faculty to approach with your research assistant application.

Example 1:

Dear Name,

 I am a sophomore here at CU Denver who recently declared a concentration in Health & Human Biology. I am writing out of interest in your research on global trends in emerging infectious disease. I was very excited to read about your work on the CU Denver News page last week.  

I am eager to pursue medical or graduate school after CU Denver and focus my efforts on immunology and global health. As I move toward my junior year I am hoping to line up a research experience, collaborative or independent, focused on similar topics.  

 I have course work and some voluntary experiences that I believe position me well for more in depth work in the lab. Do you have any opportunities for a student like me in your research group over the summer or following academic year? I have attached my resume and transcript and would be delighted to talk with you if an opportunity for me might exist.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Name

Example 2:

Dear Faculty Name,

I am writing to inquire about potential research opportunities in your lab. I am a sophomore intending to pursue a Biology ScB (EEB track). I am specifically interested in your research on New England Cottontail infectious disease dynamics, and Conservation Medicine more broadly. I am available this summer and throughout the fall and spring semesters if you have openings in your lab. My transcript and resume are included. You will see that I have solid grades in relevant courses and experience working in the field.

Please let me know if I can schedule a time to speak with you.

Very best wishes,

Name

Example 3:

Dean NAME,

Dr. NAME recommended that I contact you about potential opportunities to purse research in your lab. I am entering my senior year and very eager to pursue an independent research project where I can explore the global distribution of infectious diseases using new GIS tools. I have read your work published on disease biogeography and would be very excited to speak with you in person. Could I make an appointment for next week?

Name

Example Follow-up:

Dear Dr. NAME,

I wanted to quickly follow up on the possibility of joining your team as a research assistant. I know you’re busy, and I hope that as your research assistant I could take some work off your hands.

Please see my original email to review my qualifications and the passion I have for your work examining how neural circuit function contributes to neurological disorders. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how I can contribute to your research further.

Sincerely,

Name

1. Search on Handshake for listed research postings listed under jobs. Narrow down your results with on or off-campus filters.
2. Take the EURēCA! Quiz to learn more about work-study opportunities.
3. Make an inquiry appointment with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) to explore more options:
4. Present your research at the Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS).
5. Email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu with any other questions.