The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) in Microbiology and Immunology is designed to provide stimulating and rewarding research opportunities for undergraduates considering graduate education in Microbiology or Immunology. The program is sponsored and administered by the Program in Microbiology and Immunology (PMI) at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine. The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine is a premier research center and provides an exceptional environment for students to gain research experience under the guidance of internationally recognized immunologists. The PMI faculty includes over 100 members, whose labs study such areas as basic immunologic mechanisms, microbiology, virology, autoimmunity, transplantation, cancer, and infectious disease.
Goal
The goal of this program is to provide undergraduate students who have an interest in microbiology and immunology with the opportunity for a hands-on research experience. The program is intended to support and encourage the interests of highly motivated students who are considering the pursuit of an advanced degree in microbiology or immunology.
Program Description
Under the guidance of a selected PMI faculty member, the student will participate in the ongoing research efforts of the laboratory. In the ten-week program, all SURP students will gain experience in basic laboratory skills, participate in lab meetings, and connect weekly with other SURP students in the form of a journal club, seminar series, lunch meeting with selected speakers, and social activities. There will also be program-specific events tailored to inform SURP students in PMI of how to build a research career in microbiology or immunology. For more information on the overall goals and structure of SURP please visit the SURP homepage.
Eligibility
Interested students entering their junior or senior year will be selected on the basis of the completed application. For information on how to apply, visit the SURP application site. Please indicate whether your major interest is in microbiology or immunology, and include any reasons or experiences that help to explain your interest.
For further information contact the program-specific PMI faculty:
IMMUNOLOGY
Dr. Penelope A. Morel
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The Assembly, 5051 Centre Avenue, Room 3037
Pittsburgh, PA 1513
Tel: 412.624.0343
E-mail: morel@pitt.edu
MICROBIOLOGY
Dr. Thomas Hooven
Rangos Research Center, Room 8128
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
4401 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224-1334
Tel: 412-692-9448
E-mail: thomas.hooven@chp.edu