What is the
Explorations in Biomedicine Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship?

This program immerses Native American undergraduates from across the nation in the world of cutting-edge physiology and biomedical research. The Fellowship also provides the student an opportunity to participate in a major scientific meeting to experience the different ways science is communicated. Students can expect to:

• Network with other Native American undergraduate students from around the US;
   

• Improve their understanding of science "in action" - how the research process works, what research scientists do, and the satisfaction and excitement of conducting scientific research;
   

• Attend a multi-discipline scientific meeting where scientists from all over the world come to talk to others about their research and to see the latest equipment, supplies and books.

    What do research scientists do?  How do they decide which research questions to explore?  How do they share their findings? How and why do they use animals in research?  How do they train future scientists? How does research contribute to our understanding of diseases and how to treat them?  What does it feel like to investigate a question that no one has tackled before? 
    These are some of the questions that Explorations Undergraduate Fellows will explore during their summer research experience.  Each student spends 8-10 weeks working full-time on a research project in a physiology research lab. Each student will work closely with an APS member who serves as their research host, as well as the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory group. They also participate in other professional activities such as seminars and journal clubs. Students may work with an APS member close to home or in a different part of the country, with support for travel and living expenses.
     Students will spend the summer working on their own research project. They will have the option of writing a scientific abstract based on their results that can be submitted for a poster presentation at the Experimental Biology meeting.

Fellowship Benefits

Travel benefits:
Up to $3,500 for summer housing and travel costs if moving beyond commuting distance for research experience

Up to $1,000 travel cost reimbursement for attending the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco, CA (April 1-5)

Research host benefits:
$1,000 Unrestricted grant for research host�s use

Who Should Apply?

How Do I Apply?

1. Complete the Student Application Form.
Be sure to provide all of the required information and indicate your tribal affiliation.

2. Include an Undergraduate Transcript
You must enclose a complete undergraduate transcript. An �unofficial� copy of the transcript is acceptable. If not listed on the transcript, courses taken and grades for the 2005 fall semester should be written in by hand.

Please note: If the application is submitted to APS before the fall semester is completed, it is understandable that the fall semester grades may not be available. Assuming that these grades will be posted prior to the February 3rd fellowship application deadline, this information should be forwarded to the APS so that it may be added to the application prior to the 3rd.

3. Write a Personal Statement
You must provide a one page, single-spaced, typed personal statement. This statement should describe:
� Your background, achievements, interests and short-term goals
� Long-term career goals
� Comments on why you are applying for this Explorations Summer Fellowship

3. Enclose Two Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. One should be from a faculty member. The other can be from someone who knows you well and should address how you will benefit from this experience. These letters should be sealed and signed across the seal by the person writing the letter and enclosed in the application packet.

4. Identify a Research Host
If you know a researcher that you would like to work with and who is an APS member, have them fill out the Research Host portion of the application and submit it with your portion.

If you do NOT know a researcher, leave that portion blank and, on the application, let us know what kind of research you might be interested in and/or where you�d be willing to move to in order to work. We�ll find a researcher for you.

5. Indicate If You and a Friend Are Applying to Work in the Same Lab.
Please be sure to note this on both of your applications.

6. Keep a Copy of Your Application Materials.

Applications should be submitted by February 3, 2005 to:

APS Education Office 
Explorations in Biomedicine UGSRF Program
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3991

How are awardees selected?

Applicants will be notified by March 30, 2005 as to whether they are accepted into the Explorations Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program.

Application Form

• Download the 2005 Explorations in Biomedicine UGSRF program information and application in Adobe .pdf format

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The American Physiological Society Education Office, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3991
telephone (301) 634-7132     fax (301) 634-7098      email [email protected]