Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)

The CREATE program is an integrated summer experience for talented, motivated undergraduate students interested in a career in cancer research. Trainees will conduct independent cancer biology research under the mentorship of a CREATE program faculty mentor and engage in a weekly research seminar with other CREATE students. The research experience will be coupled with a Cancer Education Workshop that will provide an overview of cancer biology and development of key professional skills.

The HLB/Bio-LEAP program places students in labs across a wide number of disciplines including: biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, stem cell biology. The program offers high-quality, mentored independent research experiences for students who are contemplating future careers in biomedical research, pursuing advanced degrees, or combined degrees such as MD/PhD, etc. Faculty research focuses on understanding and developing better treatments for cancer, addiction and the opioid crisis, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and metabolic syndrome. Our past trainees are now applying their skills to impactful careers in academia, medicine, industry, government, law, and regulatory oversight. We are proud of our role in preparing the next generation of scientists for rewarding careers in the health sciences and related professions, and for the various other ways we give back to our community.

The Minnesota Craniofacial and Oral Health Research Experience (MnCORE) aims to introduce new generations of researchers to questions in craniofacial, oral health, and dental research. The research strengths of this training program include immunology/cancer, biomaterials, bone biology, and microbiology. MnCORE has four integrated components based on its foundational ten-week residential summer research and career development program: 1) completion of a research project, 2) weekly group seminars, 3) introduction to oral biology and dental career paths, and 4) development of professional skills. Students interested in research careers, clinical careers, and combined DDS/PhD career paths are all welcome to apply.

The PNI summer program provides mentored training on the interactions of drugs of abuse with the nervous and immune systems, integrating our understanding of these physiological interactions with their behavioral counterparts. The PNI summer program is composed of an intensive laboratory-based research experience that entails close interaction with and mentorship by a program faculty member focusing on drug abuse research. This laboratory work is supplemented by a comprehensive educational curriculum, including seminars by program faculty on topics in biomedical research, ethics, and laboratory safety.

The Neuroscience Program features a full 10 weeks of research experience in one of the many neuroscience laboratories at the University of Minnesota.  For the summer program, there are two topics to choose from: neurodegenerative disorders and drug addiction.  Although it helps to have taken some chemistry and biology coursework, our students traditionally come from a variety of backgrounds. We provide a brief classroom “Introduction to Neuroscience” to ensure all our students have a useful level of background knowledge to supplement the laboratory experience. In addition, there are Neuroscience seminars and presentations to supplement the students’ research experiences.  The Neuroscience Program is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

If you are interested in pursuing a combined MD/PhD degree and you meet the requirements below, you should select Pre-MSTP as one of your program designations on the application. Those accepted will spend 10 weeks in the lab of a physician-scientist, have the opportunity to shadow their lab mentor or another physician-scientist in clinical activities, and have regular interactions with current MSTP students. Competitive applicants for the Pre-MSTP program will have: 

• Completed their junior year of undergraduate studies at the time of entrance into the program
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5
• Letter of recommendation from a mentor that speaks to your qualifications for the MD/PhD career track

In the application, you will be able to select your top three choices for LSSURP Program participation.

We strongly prefer letters from someone who you did research under (preferably a faculty member) and it can be from any institution that they are affiliated with. Letters from faculty members that have taught your classes are also encouraged. Letters from high school teachers/friends are not advised. We are looking for someone who can write a letter that can speak to your ability to do research, work well in a team, knows your career and educational goals, and can summarize your skills to be successful in the program. However, we don't decline letters from anyone, so if you feel that someone not in these categories would provide you with the best letter, we will accept a letter from them.

LSSURP receives ~450 applications and accepts an average of 60 students per summer.

No, LSSURP is open to all students.  Race, gender, and other protected characteristics are not considered in the LSSURP admissions process. We do wish to help the scientific community attract individuals with varied life experiences and viewpoints and therefore strongly encourage students whose backgrounds encompass diversity in culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, and economic background to apply for our summer research positions.

We review applications holistically, meaning the personal and diversity statements can compensate for a difference in GPA.

LSSURP is a full time summer undergraduate research opportunity. This means that students work full time in the lab (~35 hours per week), with additional seminars and activities planned throughout the week, every week. There are no set hours for being in your lab, as each lab runs differently. During the first week of the program, the LSSURP student will work with their PI to determine what hours will be best to accommodate lab and program schedules throughout the summer.

Yes! We’ve had many participants participate for more than one year. Acceptance for returning LSSURP students is not automatic or guaranteed; a complete application must be submitted for review.

No, there is no fee to apply for LSSURP.

Yes, LSSURP does provide a $4,000-5,000 stipend for the summer. Most program research areas will also cover your flight, on-campus housing, and cost of meal plans. Each program will have its own specifics for stipend and costs covered or reimbursed.

We have many different faculty members involved with mentoring LSSURP students. The exact mentor list changes on a yearly basis and is determined after the application opens in November. The poster titles for past LSSURP participants can be found within prior year programs on the Summer Undergraduate Research Expo (SURE) website. All posters will have the faculty PI(s)’s name listed under the poster title, along with other contributing lab members or mentors. To view the most recent year’s mentors, please select the 2025 Event Program Morning Session. The Morning Session contains posters from various Research Experiences for Undergraduates across the life sciences. Physical sciences are represented in the afternoon sessions and are not affiliated with LSSURP.

Yes, most LSSURP programs will cover roundtrip air travel to and from your institution or hometown. If you opt to drive, have additional costs due to extra or overweight baggage, or have costs associated with getting to your airport of origin, these costs may not be covered. We aim to keep costs low for participants and provide (optional) transportation to and from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for LSSURP students. Students that will be keeping a car on campus will be responsible for their own parking pass, though many transportation options are available.

No, though we do highly recommend it. Students who live in our Pioneer and Centennial Hall Communities tend to form a more tight-knit community with fellow LSSURPers or other summer program participants. Housing funds cannot be transferred, meaning that we cannot provide students the money that would have been spent on the dorm for your rent, for an additional stipend amount, or other expenses. It is a use-it-or-lose-it situation due to the nature of our grant funding.

No, you will not be able to pick your own roommate. We will match personalities and schedules as best we can based on student responses after selection and before the program begins. Needs for single room accommodations can be provided, with program staff discretion, and are considered on a case-by-case basis and will require a justification to receive. Students will not be placed in single rooms based only on desire not to share, as we aim to foster community through the summer.

Yes! Most programs provide LSSURP students with a meal plan covering three meals per day. The programs that do not automatically include a meal plan will provide a stipend for purchasing food over the 10 weeks, which students may use to purchase a meal plan if desired. Additionally, commuter meal plans and to-go meal boxes are available for those that seek more flexibility than dining hall hours or meal plans traditionally allow. To-go meal boxes allow our participants to pack a lunch from the dorm dining hall to bring with them for later. In addition to the meal plan and food, some of our programmed events will have food catered, with costs covered by LSSURP.

We have a wide variety of events! A career development series, ethics seminars, personal statement critiques, weekly small group meetings, and many community-building events like an on-campus orientation and all-program picnic are all part of the LSSURP experience! We schedule some optional weekend excursions depending on weather & staff availability. The University is home to several world class attractions, such as the Weisman Art Museum, Bell Museum of Natural History, and Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Coffman Memorial Union and the St. Paul Student Center frequently host student activities. We additionally provide a comprehensive Twin Cities Summer Activity Guide and encourage you to build connections within and across programs, exploring and adventuring together in your free time.

No, you do not have to have prior research experience to be selected for participation in LSSURP.

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