UTSA Rising Researchers

Did you know that UTSA Faculty are involved in cutting-edge biomedical and chemical research here on the UTSA 1604 campus?  Among many other topics, our researchers are exploring how learning takes place in the brain, methods of fighting anthrax infection, applications of nanotechnology and liposomes, how to replace toxic chemical reactions with "green" chemistry to make new products and drugs, and the mechanics underlying arteriosclerosis.

If you will be entering UTSA as a freshman...
       and these topic sound interesting to you...
       or if you have always loved science and want to be a researcher
       or if and would like to learn more about research as a career
       or if would like to delve into the Ph.D. as a career path
       or if you wish to learn how to enter and succeed in a UTSA research laboratory

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU!

The UTSA Rising Researcher Program and award can help launch you towards these goals.  This $300.00 award and first-semester program features a special Freshman Seminar section that can be used for COR credit.  This course will provide an introduction to laboratory research and a variety of study leadership skills, and will include laboratory tours, scientific seminars, and visits by UTSA faculty.  Emphasis will also be placed on successful transition into College Life.  Students will also in the RISE/MARC Fall Research Symposium on the UTSA campus.  Upon completion of this one-semester program participants will receive the $300.00 UTSA Rising Researcher Award through UTSA Financial Aid (in the following Spring semester) and will be assisted in applying for additional campus research programs or in finding a research laboratory in which to volunteer.

Participants:  First semester UTSA Freshmen who are disadvantaged or underrepresented are invited to apply for the UTSA Rising Researcher Program and Award. 

How this works:  You will be enrolled in our special section of the freshman seminar.  This is a normal UTSA course and will cost you tuition, etc.  However, this course counts towards completion of your core curriculum, as a Social and Behavioral Science course.  So...you get credit for the course, and we essentially award you $300 for getting an A or a B.
 

Applications are being accepted for Fall 2013!
 

To successfully apply to the UTSA Rising Researcher Program (for first semester freshmen) you must....

• Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Be a Full Time UTSA Student
• Plan to stay at UTSA throughout undergraduate years (Not a CAP student)
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA from High School
• Have an interest in working in a research laboratory and learning about research science as a career
• Majoring in Biology or Chemistry, or have biomedical interests as a Physicist

AND

EITHER you are a classified as being from a group that is underrepresented in the sciences

• Hispanic
• African American
• Native American or Native Alaskan
• Filipino/Pacific Islander

OR eligible for financial aid (EFN preferred but not mandatory)  more info

 Online Application

Hints on the Online Application:  The Rising Research Application is an electronic document which asks for contact, academic, career goal, and demographic information.  As you finish individual pages of the application you will be able to pause, then restart again if needed.  Instructions are given on the first page of the application.

On the application are six independent questions that together comprise a personal statement.  You may want to pre-think and write these, so that you come up with your best answer.  Don't stress out with these questions...just answer them as best as you can.

The questions are:

1. What is your eventual career goal and why did you choose it (NOTE:  it's okay to be uncertain of your career)
2. Why do you want to participate in the Rising Researchers Program?
3. What interests you about scientific research?
4. Describe any past research experiences (If any):
5. Any other information that is relevant to your application that you want to the committee to know.

For more info, email: Ms. Ayeza Zafar at ayeza.zafar@utsa.edu, call 210-458-6550 or come to the MBRS-RISE Offices in BSB 2.03.02J.