Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE-REU) Program in Molecular Biosciences at UNC-Chapel Hill provides talented undergraduate students the opportunity to carry out independent research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors in the following areas: biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, cellular biophysics, structural biology, computational biology, genetics, genomics, and proteomics. For 10 weeks during the summer, undergraduate students are immersed in the SURE-REU (REU program in Molecular Biosciences) experience; they work side-by-side with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty who serve as role models and as mentors. They discover how modern biological research is formulated, carried out, and reported in an environment that stresses collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. SURE-REU undergraduates acquire skills critical to success in research and teaching careers and to gaining entry to top graduate departments of their choice. Making informed career choices is a major theme of the Program; participants hear about careers and lifestyles in forums with scientists inside and outside of academia and with current graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at UNC-Chapel Hill. Our journal club and seminar program expose students to emerging areas of research and provide insight into the scientific method. At the end of the Program, all students present their work at our annual Summer Research Symposium and Poster Session.

Although we give preference to students with little prior independent research experience, all talented undergraduates with a genuine desire to pursue a career in biological research and teaching are encouraged to apply. Admission is limited to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors; first generation college students and students from groups under-represented in the sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application update March 19th, 2012 -- Thank you to all who applied to the SURE-REU program this year.  All slots for summer 2012 have been filled.  If you won't be graduating until 2014, we encourage you to apply again next year.