Eligibility

The eligibility requirements are:

• Must be currently enrolled in a health professional program
• Must be Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States
• Must be from one of the following underrepresented student populations: Ethnic identity as African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Southeast Asian, or Pacific Islander, low-income/financial need, or first-generation college attendee

Program Activities

GEMS-HP interns will participate in an intense nine-week program consisting of lectures, professional-development workshops, and a mentored laboratory research assignment. Participating laboratories are drawn from basic science as well as clinical science Departments at the UC-Denver Anschutz Medical Campus (UCD-AMC) performing research relating to heart, lung and blood (HLB) diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), vasculopathies, pulmonary inflammation, acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, stem cell regenerative medicine (as it relates to HLB applications), COPD, pulmonary hypertension and pediatric pulmonary disease (i.e Bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Research projects in the fields of biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell and developmental biology, human medical genetics, immunology, microbiology and molecular biology in the context of an HLB disease are common.

Other program activities will include lectures in molecular and biochemical techniques, research seminars presented by program faculty and professional development workshops. Also, GEMS-HP participants will be expected to serve as 'peer coaches' to the undergraduate GEMS students. However, the majority of the time, students will be expected to work on their research project.

Before arriving to the program, students will be matched with a research mentor. During the first week of the program students will design and develop their research project with advice and guidance from their research mentor. With guidance from their research mentor, GEMS interns will write a manuscript-style report of their results and deliver their research findings in a 15-minute oral presentation at the end of summer

Application Requirements

Students from around the nation (continental US and US territories) are welcome to apply. GEMS-HP interns are selected on the basis of interest in biomedical science research careers.

Accepted students must agree to attend the entire length program. Please note that all of the following components must be received by the deadline, March 1st, in order for the application to be considered:

1. Undergraduate transcripts (official or unofficial) showing a minimum undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 and 3.2 in sciences;
2. Transcript or letter of good standing from current institution
3. Two (2) letters of recommendation from recent professors or advisors (at least one from a science professor) that address the applicant's professional goals and describe their interest in a reseach career
4. A personal statement with discussion of future career goals and a description of how the GEMS-HP Program fits into your career goals; and
5. Completion of the online application form
   

Evaluation

With guidance from the research mentor, GEMS-HP interns deliver their research findings in a 15-minute oral presentation. Program participants will be evaluated on their oral presentations and their overall participation and performance throughout the summer. The student with the best overall performance will receive a travel award to a national scientific conference to present their summer research project.

Stipend / Living Allowance

GEMS-HP interns will receive a stipend/living allowance. Out-of-State GEMS-HP participants will be housed in shared student dormitories on our undergraduate campus. Students will need to pay for meals and for a portion of the room and board expenses (approx. $500) out of the stipend. GEMS staff will set-up the housing accommodations.

Transportation

Interns will receive round-trip transportation to and from Denver. Airfare will be paid by the GEMS program and students who choose to drive to Denver can be reimbursed for mileage up to the cost of the airfare for the equivalent trip.

Anschutz Medical Campus

The University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado houses modern clinical facilities in the in-patient hospital, the Cancer Center, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes and the Anschutz Out-Patient Pavilion. It is also home to updated and well-equipped research facilities. Two hundred research laboratories, including all the basic science departments, moved to this new state-of-the-art facility in the summer and fall of 2004. Available facilities include those for general biomedical research and a full range of specialized research facilities with state-of-the-art equipment including instruments for flow cytometry, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry / proteomics, NMR, ORD, CD, surface plasmon resonance (BiaCore), fMRI, DNA sequencing, gene array analysis, and electron and confocal microscopy.

 GEMS rafting on the Arkansas River

The Denver Metropolitan Area

A modern metropolis of over two million residents, metropolitan Denver offers a wide variety of cultural and recreational facilities. The climate in Denver and its environs is exceptionally pleasant, with mild, sunny winter, and warm, dry summers. Numerous year-round recreational opportunities are afforded by the Rocky Mountains and other nearby attractions.