Undergraduate Research Program

Our program includes:

• Full summer research and mentorship program (40 hours/week) and a school year research opportunity (10 hours/week)
  
• Research opportunities include environmental causes of kidney disease and cancer, climate and environmental justice, effects of chemical threat agents and inhaled pollutants, effects of climate-related exposures (e.g. wildfires), exposures to PFAS and pesticides, biomonitoring of environmental exposures.
• Mentoring on careers in environmental health sciences, applying to graduate or professional schools, responsible conduct in research
• Weekly presentations during the summer portion on many areas of environmental health sciences such as environmental justice and equity, environmental carcinogens, microbiome and environmental health, environmental exposures in kidney disease, and PFAS and health effects.
• Field trips during the summer, such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal, a former EPA superfund site for chemical weapons development. 

Our 3-pronged approach to developing student commitment and interest in environmental health sciences research:

The following selection criteria will be used to select the undergraduate students who will become trainees for our program:

(a) We welcome applications from any undergraduate student. As a goal of this program is to make sure the health science community reflects the US population, we particularly encourage individuals from groups underrepresented in health-related sciences to apply. This includes students from underrepresented minority populations, students with disabilities and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.

(b) Individuals who are currently undergraduate science majors in their Junior or Senior year at the DTC or other local undergraduate institutions. There will be no preference on prior research experience, rather, we will base selection upon their interest in environmental health sciences.

(c) Individuals who have an exceptional academic record and potential as evidenced by:

(i) High School and College GPA ≥ 3.0,

(ii) SAT ≥ 30,

(iii) Stellar non-academic achievements records

(d) Individuals who have a desire to pursue a career in environmental health sciences research as evidenced by their application, the assessment of their teachers and advisors and/or any prior research experience.

(e) Individuals who are United States Citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States or individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e. in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Card I-55 or some other legal verification of such status).

It is not necessary that applicants meet all of the above criteria. The selection committee will review each candidate and aim to select individuals who will be competitive for acceptance into a high-quality EHS graduate programs or professional schools and have a clear interest and aptitude for conducting research in the future.