Contact Person:
Timothy A. Mietzner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Email: mietzner@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-648-9244
Fax: 412-624-1401

Application form and instructions; see web site
http://www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu/summer_surp.aspx

Application deadline: March 1 each year
Notification of acceptance into the MVM SURP program will be by the end of march each year

Students from the MVM Summer Research Program

GOAL:
To provide undergraduate students who have an interest in Post Graduate Research Careers Microbiology or Virology with the opportunity for a hands-on research experience. The student will take on a research project and gain an understanding of the scientific process as the application of state of the art techniques. The program is intended to support and encourage those highly motivated students who would like to pursue an advanced degree in Microbiology or Virology.

ELIGIBILITY:
Students should have completed their second year of college and be entering their Junior or Senior year in the summer for which they will be applying. The application requires a personal statement describing their interests and career goals, an unofficial transcript from the student's undergraduate institution, and letters of recommendation from the student's advisors and faculty members familiar with the student's academic performance.

STIPEND AND COMMITTMENT:
Students will receive a stipend of $3500 for the ten week research program. The program begins at the start of June each year and extends through to the begining of August. Students are responsible for housing and travel costs to Pittsburgh, although we will provide some assistance in finding housing.

THE SURP PROGRAM:
The program is focused on giving the student the opportunity to conduct a research project in an MVM labortatory. All SURP experiences are designed to be project orientated. Under the guidance of a participating faculty member, different areas of research in infectious diseases are offered, including vaccine development, gene expression, immunology, molecular basis of infectious disease, and gene therapy, both on viruses, bacteria and parasites. Approximately 6-10 positions are offered each year. The ten week program includes weekly meetings with current Ph.D. enrolled graduate students in the MVM program in an informal research seminar series, and also keynote speakers on careers in Research at Pittsburgh. Several social events are planned each year. At the conclusion of the research program, students will present their work at a Research Presentation Day to other MVM SURP and Graduate students