Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows Internship
Scripps Research invites applications from college undergraduates who are pursuing studies in the chemical and biological sciences and are interested in performing cutting-edge research in one of our biomedical laboratories. Our ten-week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program is held in La Jolla, California and offers students the opportunity to experience research with and be mentored by our world-renowned faculty. All participants receive a stipend, and housing is provided on a nearby university campus.
PROGRAM DATES
June 5 - August 11, 2023
APPLICATION DEADLINE
February 15, 2023
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Unlike in traditional college classes where the course of study is entirely determined by the instructor, participants in Scripps Research's SURF Program identify their area of interest and are matched with a faculty mentor. Together the student and mentor craft a research project. The student will work on that project under the supervision of a graduate student, postdoc or another member of the lab for a few weeks, until the student is comfortable with the project. Then the student will be expected to work independently.
In addition to working full-time in the laboratory, SURF interns participate in weekly academic and research seminars. Sample weekly seminars include:
- "Career Options for PhDs" seminar;
- "Life as a Graduate Student" seminar given by Scripps Research graduate students;
- "Lab Techniques" presentation, where students explain why the technique was chosen, the reagents, the methods, the expected results, and often the pitfalls and/or troubleshooting they encountered in learning and mastering the technique;
- "Hot Topics in Science" presentation, where students present the background, the methods, figures/graphs, conclusions and most importantly, their interpretation of the research presented in the paper.
At the end of the summer, students will give an oral presentation of their research at the Summer Student Symposium. The entire Scripps Research campus is invited to view the research accomplishments of the SURF students. This provides another excellent opportunity for SURF program participants to hone their public speaking and networking skills.
ELIGIBILITY
Acceptance into Scripps Research's SURF and REU Programs is awarded on a competitive basis to college students who are United States citizens or permanent residents, or international students who are enrolled in a U.S. college, with a minimum grade point average of 3.2. International students studying abroad are not eligible.
A special emphasis is placed on identifying and recruiting students who are historically underrepresented in the sciences (e.g., African-American, Hispanic, Native Pacific Islander, or Native American students or first to college students). For more detailed information regarding Scripps Research's commitment to strengthening and celebrating diverse backgrounds in the sciences, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.