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 $500.00 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.  Supplemental study sessions will be held for Bio 1 and Chem 1.  Students will also participate in weekly meetings with program staff, as well as in the RISE/MARC Fall Research Symposium on the UTSA campus.  Upon completion of this one-semester program participants will receive the $500.00 UTSA Rising Researcher Award 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. 

Application due July 19, 2009.

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
• Have Exceptional Financial Need or be from a group underrepresented in the Sciences (Hispanic, Filipino/Pacific Islander, African American, Native American/Alaskan) more info!
• Majoring in Biology or Chemistry, or have biomedical interests as a Physics or Computer Science student

  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 you are classified as having Exceptional Financial Need. 

 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. Why do you want to participate in the Rising Researchers Program?
2. Why should you be selected to participate in this program?
3. What interests you about scientific research?
4. Describe any past research experiences:
5. What is your eventual career goal?
6. Any other information that is relevant to your application that you want to the committee to know.

When you have come up with answers to these questions, then proceed to the online application:

For more info, email:  ayeza.zafar@utsa.edu or come to the MBRS-RISE Offices in BSE 1.610 or 1.614.