Internship Programs

• For MU Undergraduates
• For Undergraduates Enrolled at Other Institutions

Research Internships for MU Students

Program Background

The Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (LS UROP) is pleased to announce Research Internships for the 2008 Summer and 2008-2009 Academic Year. Undergraduate interns will participate in basic, theoretical and/or applied life science research with MU faculty mentors. Research may be conducted in the field and/or in a laboratory setting. This program is ONLY for MU students.

Students must make arrangements with a faculty mentor prior to submitting an application. Students are encouraged to seek faculty mentors outside of, as well as within, their own department.

Students who plan to enter masters or doctorate level graduate programs in the life sciences or who are considering a research-related career in the life sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.

Faculty mentors conducting life science research have appointments in a variety of MU colleges, schools and departments including, but not limited to: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Fisheries and Wildlife, Forestry, Nutritional Sciences, Plant Sciences), Arts and Science (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics), Veterinary Medicine (Biomedical Sciences, Medicine & Surgery, Pathobiology), and Medicine (Anesthesiology, Biochemistry, Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Ophthalmology, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences). Several interdisciplinary programs, including the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Food for the 21st Century Program, Neurosciences, the Genetics Area Program, and Conservation Biology Program also provide exciting opportunities for undergraduate research. Students are encouraged to check individual department and program Web sites for information on faculty mentors’ research areas.

Summer 2008 Program

Summer Program interns conduct research on campus with a faculty mentor for a minimum of nine weeks (June 2 to Aug. 2, 2008). There will be mandatory orientation sessions on June 1 and 2. Because ten weeks of research provides a more meaningful experience, we strongly encourage interns to begin their research project in May.

This is a full-time research program. Students are not allowed to enroll in formal coursework while participating as an LS UROP-funded summer intern. Permission to take a class (other than for research credit) may be granted only in extremely rare and exceptional circumstances but must be obtained prior to accepting the internship offer. Interns will be required to attend evening seminars and meet regularly for brown bag lunches to discuss their research projects. The Summer Program culminates with a recognition ceremony and formal poster session on Thursday, July 31, 2008 in which all interns present their research project results.

Summer interns receive a $3,400 stipend, paid in two installments (end of June, end of July). Stipends are considered as “scholarship income” [see special note here]. Students are encouraged to enroll for 3 hours of research credit (honors credit if eligible) through their major department. (Note: LS UROP does not cover enrollment fees and educational expenses.)

The application deadline (including recommendation letters) for the Summer Program is Thursday, Feb. 14, 2007. Recommendation letters will not be accepted after Feb. 15. Students graduating in May 2008 are not eligible.

Academic Year 2008-2009 Program

Academic Year Program interns conduct research on campus with a faculty mentor for an average of 15 hours/week during both semesters (fall and winter). Interns will be invited to a variety of seminars or workshops during the academic year and are expected in the spring to provide a project abstract and present their research orally or in a poster format at the Spring Forum.

Interns receive a $2,400 stipend, paid in four regular installments of $600. Stipends are considered as “scholarship income” [please read the special note here]. Students are encouraged to enroll for 3 hours of research credit (honors credit if eligible) through their major department each semester. (Note: LS UROP does not cover enrollment fees and educational expenses.)

The application deadline (including recommendation letters) for the Academic Year Program is Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Recommendation letters will not be accepted after February 15. Students graduating prior to May 2009 are not eligible.

Intern Stipends

Undergraduate research stipends are considered to be “scholarship income”and will be processed through the MU Office of Financial Aid. Upon acceptance of the LS UROP internship in April, the MU Office of Financial Aid will be provided with your name, student ID number, and stipend amount. This will be calculated into your financial aid package. The stipend MAY impact your financial aid package. Students are encouraged to discuss this with their MU financial aid advisor prior to accepting the LS UROP award.

After the MU Office of Financial Aid processes the stipend payment, the payment will be placed in your MU student account. If you have any outstanding payments owed to the University (ie, bookstore charges, housing, parking tickets, etc.), these payments will be taken care of first, before a refund check is issued. More detailed information will be provided in April to students who are selected for LS UROP internships.

NCAA Athletes: If you are an intercollegiate athlete, your internship stipend (as scholarship income) may impact your athletic scholarship or eligilibility. You should discuss participation in the research internship program with your compliance officer before accepting a LS UROP award.