» Application Information

Process
Interested students and research hosts should download the UREF Application PDF file, as well as the FAQ document (see Resources below). It is important for applicants to read ALL of the application information on this page and in the application document and follow the instructions carefully. Incomplete applications, including applications where students do not meet the criteria for undergraduate enrollment and/or GPA, will not be reviewed.

Applications MUST be submitted online through the APS Online Awards Application System (see link below). The application deadline is February 1 each year and award recipients are notified in late March.

Complete applications will be reviewed and awardees selected by the APS Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee. Decisions will be final.

Eligibility

Student applicants must

• Be a 2^nd-year through 4^th-year undergraduate student, enrolled full time at the time of application
• Have an overall GPA of ≥3 .0 (0-4.0 scale)
• Have been actively involved in a physiology research laboratory for at least 9 calendar months total
• Be an APS member or join APS at the time of application
• Work with an established APS member investigator
• Be eligible to be paid by a US institution. There is no specific citizenship requirement but non-US students must have a visa that allows them to be paid.
• Provide a personal statement, describing his/her research experience and career plans. This  should not be written by the research host but should be written by the student. Applicant’s personal statement must state his/her commitment to a career in the biomedical sciences. See below under Resources for a sample.

Research Host applicants must:

• Be an APS member in good standing at the time of application
• Provide a letter documenting the student’s role in the research process, both prior to the application and planned work in the proposed fellowship year.
• Describe how the student will be involved in other laboratory activities such as journal clubs, animal care/human use training, research ethics training, poster presentation sessions, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: Previous UGSRF awardees are eligible and encouraged to apply for this award.  However, students cannot apply for the UREF award and the UGSRF award concurrently. Previous UREF awardees are not eligible for additional years of funding.

Selection Criteria
Awardees will be selected based on their academic record, interest in a research career, and plan for the summer research and additional career development activities. Special consideration is given to applicants whose socioeconomic background, access to educational opportunities, and other life experiences suggest that they would especially benefit from this type of program. Students from institutions with few or limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.