The American Heart Association FBRI CardioSURF program is a 10-week long summer program that gives students the opportunity to participate in hypothesis-driven independent research at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke, Virginia. Students will participate in a weekly workshop series to provide hands-on experience in the cutting-edge imaging technologies housed within FBRI to understand appropriate application of each technology in cardiovascular research. This program encompasses a full-time, 40-hour week schedule and supports CardioSURF students with a $6,000 stipend. Housing will also be provided to those students that need it.
The CardioSURF program’s objectives are:
1. To expose undergraduate students to the broad scope of visualization technologies available for interrogating cardiovascular biology
2. To provide hands-on experience within the multidisciplinary environment of the FBRI where we apply cutting-edge imaging technologies
3. To expose a diverse cohort of students to experiential learning early in their careers and foster long-term careers in STEM and cardiovascular fields
4. To develop creative problem-solving skills and train students in the appropriate application of techniques, experimental design, and data analysis
5. To provide professional development training with a focus on effective scientific communication
In addition to hands-on research projects, AHA FBRI CardioSURF students will participate in:
- Weekly workshops by FBRI Faculty on each imaging technology
- Courses on preparing for a future career in science
- Mentoring on science communication and presentation skills
- The Virginia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Peer mentoring from VT graduate students
- Social and cultural activities with fellow summer research students
ELIGIBILITY
To be considered for the CardioSURF program, an applicant:
- Must be a rising junior or senior who attends a university in the United States
- Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Must possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
- Must have completed introductory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics
- Must be able to devote yourself to full-time research for the duration of the 10-week Molecular Visualization SURF program (May 22 – July 28, 2023)
Additionally:
- Applicants who express commitment to careers in science will be preferred
- Previous independent research experience is not required
- Students from underrepresented groups (including, but not limited to, ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, students from low-income areas, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+, etc…) are strongly encouraged to apply
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applications for the American Heart Association FBRI CardioSURF program are available here.
All application materials will be due February 14, 2023.
Please note, a completed application package includes the following:
- General information about the applicant
- Three short essays describing:
- Your participation experience in independent research
- Why you are interested in cardiovascular research
- What you hope to gain from participating in the AHA FBRI CardioSURF program and how it might contribute to your career
- An up-to-date unofficial transcript and GPA (16MB maximum file upload)
- A recommendation letter/faculty letter of support from a faculty member at your current institution, or a previous faculty mentor emailed to smythj@vtc.vt.edu