U-RISE | Become a Fellow
Become a Fellow
Start preparing now so that you will be a strong candidate when it is time to apply. Go ahead and try to reach out to a faculty mentor in your discipline area about getting involved in research!
The next application Period Will be December 2, 2024 – January 31, 2025
Why Should You Become A Fellow?
- A generous monthly stipend (total of approximately $14,340 yearly)
- Tuition at UNCG is paid at the in-state level
- UNCG Health Insurance fee is paid by the program
- Undergraduate research in a faculty mentor’s lab
- Paid summer research experiences
- Specialized courses and workshops
- Guidance in applying to graduate school
- Travel funds to attend approved national scientific conferences
- Opportunities to publish and present their work
- During the regular school year, agree to conduct research part-time (approximately 8 hours weekly) in a faculty mentor’s lab
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in the program
- During the 2 summers of the program, agree to conduct 10 weeks of paid full-time research
- Attend specialized professional development activities, such as workshops, seminars, and meetings
- Complete the required elective class “Race and Human Diversity” (usually offered by the UNCG Anthropology department during Spring semester of junior year)
- Upon graduation, plan to enter into a biomedical focused Ph.D. program
Who Should Apply?
Students are eligible to apply to the UNCG U-RISE Program (previously known as the MARC U-STAR Program) if they meet the following criteria:
- Are a Sophomore attending UNCG full-time with a biomedical science major, such as Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Kinesiology, Nutrition, *Psychology, *Public Health Education, *Anthropology, *Computer Science. (*These majors must have a focus on biomedical aspects.)
- Have at least two full years remaining at the university.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Plan to pursue a Ph.D. (not a medical degree/M.D.) in a biomedical science.
- Demonstrate an interest in the diversification of the biomedical research workforce.
- Are citizens, noncitizen nationals or permanent residents of the United States.
- Agree to fulfill all program requirements including a sustained research project with an approved mentor from UNCG.
- Self-Identify as an underrepresented population (summarized below. Click here for the full NIH definition of underrepresented students):
- Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders).
- Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Females from the above backgrounds (categories A, B, and C).
Application Info
Below you will find a list of application materials to submit during the application period. After reviewing applications, the top applicants will be interviewed. The program begins during the summer (at the end of May) when the new U-RISE Fellows will begin 10 weeks of full-time research with a UNCG faculty member in their area of interest.
To apply to be a U-RISE Fellow you will need to submit the following documents to urise@uncg.edu. Please list the subject line of all emails “U-RISE[YOUR FIRST NAME] [YOUR LAST NAME].”
- Your completed and signed U-RISE application. Click HERE to download the application. It includes a short essay on your professional goals, aspirations for graduate study, research experience, and areas of research interests. Please save the file as “U-RISEApp[YOUR FIRST NAME] [YOUR LAST NAME].”
- PDF copy of your unofficial academic transcript (it can be generated from UNCGenie)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation, two of which will need to be from UNCG professors or instructors. Your references should be directed to send their letters on your behalf to urise@uncg.edu.