Application Questions
When is the application portal open?
Applications for summer 2025 will be accepted through the online portal from November 1st, 2024 to February 15th, 2025.
Who is eligible to apply?
US citizens or permanent residents who are pursuing a bachelor's degree in a health sciences-related field and are in at least their sophomore year of college may apply.
Do students need to have prior research experience to apply?
No prior research experience is required to apply for this program.
What do students need to fill out the application?
To fill out the application, you should prepare an electronic version of your unofficial college transcript(s) and a personal statement of 350-450 words expressing your interest in and motivation for applying for this program.
When will students learn if they've been accepted?
If you apply, you can expect to receive your admissions decision by March 15th, 2025 at the latest.
If accepted, what is the deadline for accepting or declining the offer?
If accepted, you have until one week after your offer letter is sent to you to accept or decline the offer of admission by replying to the acceptance email.
Can students apply again if they weren't accepted the first time?
Yes.
Can students apply for a second research experience if they already attended once?
Yes, you can apply again if you've already attended the program once. You will be considered under the same criteria as any other applicant.
Can students defer admission to the next year?
No.
Research Questions
What types of research will students perform?
The type of research that you perform will depend on the mentor that you are assigned. Some mentors perform animal studies, while others work primarily with human cells. Some of our mentors may even ask you to work on engineering projects. For more information about the mentors and their research, see the People page on this website.
How will mentors be assigned to students?
You will be assigned a mentor based on which areas of study you indicated were of the most interest to you on the application, as well as the availability of mentors.
What can students expect while they are in a lab?
While working in a lab, you will be working full-time (40 hours/week) with your hours set by your mentor. You will be supervised by a near-peer mentor within your mentor’s lab (a graduate student, staff member, postdoc, or postbac) who will teach you the lab skills that you need and can give you advice and insight into life as a researcher. Dress code will vary by lab, but as a rule of thumb, lab-appropriate attire (shirt that covers your midriff, close-toed shoes that cover the top of your foot) should be worn.
General Living Questions
When is the program?
For summer 2025, the program will run from May 24th, 2025 to July 31st, 2025.
How will students get to Iowa City for the program?
Depending on the distance, you may either drive to Iowa City using your own vehicle or fly to the Cedar Rapids airport (CID) and take a shuttle to Iowa City from there. If you are driving, you will be reimbursed for mileage. If you are flying, the program administrator can arrange flights for you, or you can arrange your own flight and have the program reimburse you for the cost.
Do students need their own health insurance?
Yes.
Where will students stay during the duration of the program?
If you have your own residence in the Iowa City area, you can stay there during the duration of the program. However, if you need housing, the program can provide you with housing in Petersen Residence Hall, a west-side residence hall that is a 5-10-minute walk from the biomedical laboratories. You will stay in a double room with a same-sex roommate assigned by the program and have access to amenities including a communal kitchen, laundry, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a bus stop with Cambus service to downtown Iowa City.
What will students do during the program?
Besides performing research full-time (40 hours/week) in the lab of your mentor, you are expected to attend lectures and, at the end of the program, deliver a short oral presentation on your work and present a scientific poster at a poster session. You will also be provided with the opportunity to attend career development workshops and social events, as well as possibly shadow a physician, if time permits.
Do students need to attend for the entire 10 weeks?
Yes.
What benefits can students expect the program to provide?
The benefits provided by the program include:
- $6,000 stipend
- Housing on the University of Iowa campus, if needed
- Hawkeye Dollars to pay for laundry if staying on campus
- Travel expenses covered by the program
- Free summer passes to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, a fitness space with a climbing wall, two swimming pools, and over 200 pieces of training equipment and free weights
- Student parking passes in the Hancher Lot, if needed
- $100 Instacart gift card to help pay for food before your first stipend payment arrives
- And more!
How can students get around town?
Besides walking, biking, or driving, you can take advantage of the three bus systems in the Iowa City area: the Cambus (University of Iowa) bus system, the Iowa City bus system, and the Coralville bus system. Riding on Cambus or Iowa City buses is free, while Coralville bus fare is generally $1.00 per trip. You can download the free Transit app to receive information about bus routes and predicted arrival times.
What is Iowa City like?
Iowa City is a medium-sized college town of about 75,000 people located on the Iowa River in eastern Iowa. The college campus is intertwined with downtown Iowa City, making it easy to shop, grab a bite to eat, or attend a concert after classes. While it’s quieter than a major metropolis like Chicago, there’s still plenty to do. The University of Iowa features several museums on-campus, and several major art festivals happen downtown during the Summer of the Arts. Summer temperatures generally range from 60 F to 90 F in the summer. The weather changes frequently and ranges from hot, sunny days to thunderstorms and tornadoes, so dress lightly and bring an umbrella or raincoat just in case.