Program Overview | Faculty mentors | Seminar series | Application | UC COM S.U.R.F.

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Program Overview

The 10-week summer residential full-time ASPET SURF program offered at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center (UCAHC) will provide opportunities for 5 trainees each summer, starting in 2007. Applicants who express interest in pursuing advanced graduate degrees in pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutical sciences will be selected from a regional and national competitive pool with distinguished academic records that have completed at least two full academic years of university courses as full-time students. Each summer, the program will match a total of 5 rising junior and senior students to active research programs of available faculty mentor teams that include at least one ASPET member as mentor or co-mentor. Students will be appointed as Dalton/Zannoni Fellows and will be enrolled as student members of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Our ASPET SURF program offers an intellectually and scientifically rigorous faculty-mentored research training that incorporates contemporary laboratory approaches, technologies, and issues relevant to scientific discovery and applications in pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutical sciences. The SURF program offers structure seminars and lectures in parallel with in-depth laboratory research experiences.  A professional opportunities program as well as a social program will round out our ASPET SURF summer program.

Application and Selection Process

Interested and qualified students will apply to the ASPET SURF Program through and Online Application Form which will include a one page statement of potential research interests and career goals. While previous research experience is not a requirement, the placement process will be improved if a description of any previous experience is included. An unofficial transcript and letters of recommendation from two faculty members familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and/or potential for a career in biomedical research are requisite components of the application. The application deadline will be February 1, with admission notifications sent by March 1. Students who have completed 2 years of academic study in accredited college or university and have declared a major subject of study that logically would prepare them as a viable graduate degree program applicant will be given priority consideration. Student cumulative GPA, scope of courses, letters of recommendation (2 from faculty) and statement of how this SURF Program will assist the student in achieving their goals of completing an advanced graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) leading to a career in pharmacology, toxicology, or pharmaceutical sciences will be given strong emphasis in applicant selection. The selection committee will be review applications and rank applicants for appointment offers.

Number of SURF students and SURF Stipends

The UC-ASPET SURF Program will select and appoint 5 rising juniors or seniors as Dalton/Zannoni Fellows.  Each Fellow will receive a stipend of $4,000 for the full time 10 week research training program.  Stipends for the ASPET SURF Program student will be comparable to stipends offered to undergraduate students accepted to other SURF programs at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center.

Expected Degree of Independence Expected of SURF Student

SURF students will be trained in the research and laboratory and research project specific methods, techniques and relevant literature. The SURF student will receive necessary laboratory safety training and complete required laboratory and university procedure certifications during the first week in the laboratory. The SURF student will be expected to learn quickly and apply skills to make contribute significant to the research program by completing the goals of the research project. The supervised or co-supervised mentor team and their laboratory research tem members will provide daily guidance and weekly review of the SURF research project progress.

Graduate Programs in Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASPET SURF Dalton/Zanonni Fellows will receive orientation to features of and application processes for graduate programs in pharmacology (Schultz), toxicology (Shertzer), and pharmaceutical sciences (Cacini).

Pharmaceutical R&D Companies and Pharmacology Resources

The ASPET SURF students will be introduced to aspects and opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry by organized seminars from or visits to Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly Company. In addition, ASPET SURF students will be taken on an orientation tour of the Lloyd Library, a national resource for pharmaceutical products derived from botanicals, located in Cincinnati. The High through-put drug screening instrumentation robot and its associated chemical inventory library located at the UC Genome Research institute will be used for a local field trip.

Social Program

There will be organized and impromptu social events for the ASPET SURF students. ASPET SURF students will also join students in other SURF programs for scheduled social activities. These will include a hosted reception with faculty supervisors as the Program Director’s home, (2) mid week evening social events to orient students to the City of Cincinnati and its neighborhoods, (3) weekend social events organized with other SURF programs students. Some social events will be complimentary; others will require student expenditure for tickets, etc.

Housing

Dormitory rooms are available at student occupancy rates on the main campus of the University of Cincinnati within 0.5 miles of the College of Medicine, and can be quickly reached by the Bearcat Express shuttle service that runs every 5 minutes. SURF students can also arrange your own summer sub-lets near to the campus through a University-approved agency. University food service is optional, and prices vary with the type of food plan selected, but there are also a wide variety of other choices on campus in the new Student Center and “Main Street” outlets. Specific information about University room and board costs will be provided upon acceptance to the program, but students can visit the UC Housing and Food Service for some general information in advance.

Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 670575 Cincinnati, OH 45267-0575
Phone: (513) 558-2366   Fax: (513) 558-1169

Program Overview | Faculty mentors | Seminar series | Application | UC COM S.U.R.F.

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