About U-RISE
Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, the University of New Mexico’s Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for student Enhancement (U-RISE) (formerly the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program) offers research training and support to prepare our scholars for graduate school. U-RISE supports talented UNM undergraduates with training that directly prepares scholars for careers in biomedical research. Fields of research supported include biology, chemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, biophysics, mathematics, psychology, pharmacology, biochemistry, epidemiology, engineering or computer science. Our goal is to increase the number and competitiveness of underrepresented minorities engaged in biomedical research. Only five new scholars are admitted to this honors undergraduate research program each year, which enables us to create a small supportive community of undergraduate scholars. Students conduct independent research with UNM faculty and receive academic and professional training through a weekly seminar and program-specific classes. Students are supported by a monthly stipend, receive tuition assistance, and attend national conferences.
EligibilitY Requirements
Be a full time student at the University of New Mexico-Main Campus
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher preferred
- Be 2 years away from graduation
- Have a commitment to pursuing a Ph.D. in a biomedical research field
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a member of an underrepresented group: individuals belonging to ethnic or racial groups underrepresented in the biomedical science or from a disadvantaged background
- Have completed at least the first 2 years (60 credit hours) of the curriculum leading to a B.S. degree in Biology, Psychology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering (or other fields related to biomedical science)
Program Requirements
- Scholars conduct a research project for 2 years under the mentorship of a faculty member in the department of
- their choice, working 15 hours per week during the academic year AND 40 hours per week in the summer
- Students may not have any additional paid employment
- Students must take all U-RISE courses and participate in a weekly (biweekly during the first summer) seminar
- Students must spend the summer between their junior and senior year conducting research at another institution in a Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (or similar programs)
- Students must take the GRE in the spring of their junior year and and apply to graduate school in their senior year (Funded by the U-RISE program)
- The U-RISE scholars participate in three required courses (RCR, and two writing classes) and must select one class among four electives we have identified to build their quantitative/computational competency
- We do not support students interested in earning an MD or other health professional degrees (e.g., DDS, Pharma, etc.), this program is intended only for students intent on earning a doctoral degree with the ultimate goal of having a career in biomedical related research
- Students will enroll in a doctoral program after graduating from UNM and earn a PhD or MD/PhD (or similar doctoral degree)
The U-RISE Program Funds
- Travel to scientific meetings with your mentor to present your research results
- Critical thinking, writing, and ethics courses
- One summer conducting research outside of New Mexico (required)
- Stipend of $13,644 per year for your 2 year research project (monthly stipend of $1,137)
- UNM tuition after all other scholarships and/or grants have been applied (subject to available funding and NIH funding limits)