The West Virginia University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences offers an undergraduate summer research internship opportunity that is supported by the WVU Visual Sciences Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE). The 10-week vision research internship program from May 24, 2023 - August 2, 2023 will take place in-person at West Virginia University's Health Sciences Center in Morgantown.
The highly selective program will emphasize components of basic vision research with regards to ocular diseases and exploration of new diagnostic and treatment methods. Undergraduate students with career interests in vision, neuroscience, biochemistry and molecular medicine basic research topics are encouraged to apply. Upon selection, students will receive a $5,000 participant compensation for cost-of-living expenses in Morgantown over the 10-week-long program duration.
Each student will be assigned a mentor currently conducting research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences laboratory space and will complete a small-scale research project to be presented at the completion of the fellowship. Projects will focus on mechanisms behind ocular diseases and exploration of possible treatments. Students will also have the opportunity to sit in on a weekly graduate-level visual sciences course taught by Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences faculty.
2022 Summer Undergraduate Vision Research Fellowship Students (From left to right: Ciersten Rose, Concord University; Dana Goodman, Fairmont State University; Kamden Dulaney, Fairmont State University; Emmanuel Frimpong, Claflin University; Patricia Best, Fairmont State University; Marion Cahill, West Virginia University; Jason Borst, University of Virginia; Jack Evans, West Virginia University)
Full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a U.S. university or college (International students enrolled in a U.S. university or college are responsible to obtain their own visa and work permit if accepted to the program).
Undergraduate applicants must be entering sophomore status or higher.
Post-graduates or students from non-US institutions will not be considered.
Academic record demonstrating interest in the sciences and achievement
Previous research experience
Applications are closed for 2023. Please check back in 2024.