Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) in Microbiology and Immunology is designed to provide stimulating and rewarding research opportunities for undergraduates considering graduate education in Microbiology or Immunology. The program is sponsored and administered by the Program in Microbiology and Immunology (PMI) at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine. The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine is a premier research center and provides an exceptional environment for students to gain research experience under the guidance of internationally recognized immunologists. The PMI faculty includes over 100 members, whose labs study such areas as basic immunologic mechanisms, microbiology, virology, autoimmunity, transplantation, cancer, and infectious disease.

Goal

The goal of this program is to provide undergraduate students who have an interest in microbiology and immunology with the opportunity for a hands-on research experience. The program is intended to support and encourage the interests of highly motivated students who are considering the pursuit of an advanced degree in microbiology or immunology.

Program Description

Under the guidance of a selected PMI faculty member, the student will participate in the ongoing research efforts of the laboratory. In the ten-week program, all SURP students will gain experience in basic laboratory skills, participate in lab meetings and connect weekly with other SURP students in the form of a journal club, seminar series, lunch meeting with selected speakers and social activities.  There will also be program-specific events tailored to inform SURP students in PMI of how to build a research career in microbiology or immunology. For more information on the overall goals and structure of SURP please visit the SURP homepage.

Eligibility

Interested students entering their sophomore or junior year will be selected on the basis of the completed application. For information on how to apply, visit the SURP application site. Please indicate whether your major interest is in microbiology or immunology, and include any reasons or experiences that help to explain your interest.

For further information contact the program-specific PMI faculty:

IMMUNOLOGY

Dr. Penelope A. Morel
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
E1055 Biomedical Science Tower 200 Lothrop St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Tel: 412.624.0343
Fax: 412.383.8098

E-mail: morel@pitt.edu

 

MICROBIOLOGY

Dr. Kathy Shair
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, lab 1.8
5117 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Tel: 412.623.7717
Fax: 412.623.7715

E-mail: kas361@pitt.edu