The American Heart Association sponsored SURF program

The American Heart Association-sponsored SURF program at UC offers five undergraduate students the opportunity to do research in either a cardiovascular or stroke-related research laboratory for 10 weeks during the summer. The objective of this program is to identify, recruit and enroll undergraduates from various disciplines and backgrounds and provide them with a rewarding research experience that will kindle a passion for a research career in cardiovascular and stroke research.

The AHA-SURF program will expose undergraduate students to intriguing research challenges and discoveries in cardiovascular disease and stroke, with the goal of encouraging these students to pursue research in these areas as they mature into scientists. Students will experience hands-on learning in some of the broad domains of clinical, translational, population, basic science, bioengineering and biotechnology, public health, and team science.

The program lasts for 10 weeks and each student will work with a mentor for 40 hours a week and receive $4000 for the entire program. At the end of the 10-week program, students will present their work in poster form at the College of Medicine SURF Capstone Poster Symposium where they will compete with other SURF students for awards.

In addition to research, it is vital for the students to interact with each other and with those students from other COM and CCHMC SURF programs. To that end, the collaborative SURF programs have scheduled enrichment activities for the students to enjoy during the summer. These include scientific sessions, professional development activities, scientific writing seminars, and a few social events such as the opportunity to attend a Welcome Picnic, a tour of the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Wildlife at the Cincinnati Zoo, a scientific lecture, and a tour of the Hoxworth Blood Center, and an Ice Cream Social. The students will also be able to participate in multiple networking symposiums, sponsored by the COM, the Cincinnati chapter of the AHA, and the ECVR (Early-career Cardiovascular Research committee).