- Up to 20 students are awarded grants to travel within the United States and living expenses for the seven-week, on-campus program.
- Scholars selected are not expected to contribute summer earnings in calculations of their financial assistance for their freshman year at Washington University.
- Applicants to the Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research may apply for other programs in this book appropriate to their interests and circumstances.
- Support for the Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research has been provided in part by a grant from the Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research is designed for students who will enter Washington University as freshmen in the fall. This intensive seven-week program helps participants make the transition to active learning by engaging in research prior to their freshman year. Awards include grants for U.S. travel and living expenses during the program.
The Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research
The program is designed to meet the needs of interested students from a variety of high school and ethnic backgrounds, providing accessible yet challenging research opportunities. During the first week, students work together in the lab to master basic research skills, including techniques used in molecular biology. During the remaining six weeks, they work with mentors to apply these tools to a variety of research problems. Mentors in biochemistry, biophysics, and biomathematics are available to students interested in these areas.
The summer program also includes an introduction to campus resources (professors, library, computers, etc.) and assistance with options for the freshman year. The Scholars live together in residential housing with resident advisors—upperclass students who are alumni of the Summer Scholars Program. Weekend activities introduce them to St. Louis attractions—from the Missouri Botanical Garden to Cardinals baseball.
Eligibility
Participation in the Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research is limited to students who will enter Washington University as full-time undergraduates the following fall. On the freshman application to Washington University, students must indicate an interest in one of the sciences offered in the College of Arts & Sciences or in biomedical engineering in the School of Engineering. Students are selected on the basis of their academic backgrounds, interest in scientific research, essays, and teachers’ recommendations. Minority students and women are particularly encouraged to apply.