Undergraduate Pipeline Network

The Undergraduate Pipeline Network summer research experience will work to cultivate students' interest in research while helping them attain skills needed to apply for and succeed in post-baccalaureate education. The program provides the opportunity for students to choose from three types of research – basic science/laboratory, clinical/translational, and community-based. The program period covers 8 weeks and students participate in the program a minimum of 40 hours per week.

The program includes elements that strive to increase students’ competency in presentation skills, preparing applications to graduate programs (writing the essay, interviewing skills), working with mentors, professional skills and research etiquette, responsible conduct of research, being a member of a multi-disciplinary team, and understanding career options in clinical and translational science. The students have the opportunity to observe research activities in different settings, such as within core facilities and within clinical and community-based settings, and are exposed to other facets of clinical and translational research that are different than the one to which they are assigned.

Each undergraduate student is mentored during the program by a faculty member. In addition, students will have regular contact with a graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, medical resident, clinical fellow, or research staff member during the entire period of their program.

Each undergraduate student has a research project that falls within at least one of the three types of research, and provides the student with sufficient opportunity to demonstrate his/her ability to conduct independent research. Students will then present their research to the scientific community during the program’s poster session.

The UPN program awards each student a summer experience package to cover a stipend, some meals, activity fees, and tuition. The total package is worth approximately $5,000.

Goals

Cultivate an interest in research through exposure to various types of research and the development of research skills
Prepare participants for graduate education in the health and social sciences

Expectations

Participants are expected to give full-time commitment to their research.
Participants are expected to attend the weekly seminar series.
Participants are expected to attend all activities.
Participants are expected to prepare a poster and present their research at a poster session.
Participants are expected to complete all evaluations in a timely manner.
Participants are expected to treat all members of the UNM community in a respectful manner, recognizing the impact that their attitude may have on others.
Participants are expected to promptly seek help regarding any problem s/he is experiencing, at a minimum reporting the problem to someone in a position to help.
Participants are expected to follow the UNM Code of Conduct. Students who violate this code may be dismissed from the program.
Participants are expected to submit weekly time sheets approved by their mentor by noon each Friday.

Eligibility

Priority is given to students who attend one of the eligible institutions.
Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Students must have completed at least 30 and no more than 100 credit hours by the end of the Fall 2012 semester.
While there are no definitive quantitative requirements, we are looking for highly-qualified students with an interest in:
- basic science/laboratory research or
- clinical/translational research or
- community-based research