The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program for undergraduate research in biotechnology and bioengineering at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont, CA provides undergraduate students the opportunity for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research in the areas of applied molecular and cellular biology, bioengineering, computational biology, drug discovery and development, as well as exposure to related ethics and business topics.

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2023 Dates (online and in-person)

  • June 20 – July 28

2023 Tracks

Pharmacoeconomics, June 20 – July 7 (online)

  • This track will focus on how healthcare decision-makers use health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) to help make decisions.

Next Generation Sequencing, June 20 – July 7 (online or in-person)

  • This track will focus on the principles of Next Generation Sequencing and its applications in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer, rare inherited diseases, and infections.

Public Health and Virology, June 20 – July 7 (online)

  • This track will focus on an intro to viruses, pandemics/outbreaks, an overview of viruses (flu, HIV, herpes, poxvirus, coronavirus, filoviruses, e.g., Ebola and Marburg), and vaccines.

Population Health, June 20 – July 7 (online) and July 10 – July 28 (in-person)

  • This track will focus on analytics and statistical programs

Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine, June 20 – July 7 (online)

  • This track will focus on precision and predictive health

Immunology, June 20 – July 7 (online)

  • This track will focus on basic immunological concepts, gene characterization, and RNAseq data analysis.

Drug Discovery, June 20 – July 7 (online) and July 10 – July 28 (in-person)

  • This track will focus on principles of drug discovery, development, and management of the pipeline (from a business perspective) will be introduced through a series of seminars and team-based research project assignments.

Biotech Industry Careers, June 20 – June 30 (online) and July 10 – July 28 (in-person)

  • This track will introduce students to the wide range of careers available in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare IT industries. That will include completing an advanced team project that integrates science, business and regulatory deliverables, and personal career mentorship by faculty and industry professionals to help identify each student’s most promising career opportunities.

Individual Projects, June 20 – July 28 (in-person)

Areas of Research

  • Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Development
  • Bioprocessing
  • Medical Diagnostics and Devices
  • Systems Biology and Computational Biology
  • Management Research

Want to find a faculty expert? View our expert directory.   

Application Procedures and Requirements

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    Application Deadline

    • March 30

    Application Requirements 

    An online application form is required that contains questions about your personal and educational background. Additional requirements (below) can be submitted along with your online application or separately:

    • Personal Statement
      • Please provide a brief statement of why you are interested in conducting summer research at KGI. Please also describe what you would like to do once you complete your undergraduate degree. And please briefly describe which SURE tracks you are most interested in and why.
    • Resume
    • Letter of Recommendation (optional)
      • Contact information for one recommender is optional during the application process. This person should be able to evaluate your qualification and potential for success in our program (such as an instructor, advisor, mentor, etc). More than one recommender can be submitted but is not required. 
      • Recommenders will be contacted via email to submit their recommendation online. If they prefer otherwise they can email or mail a copy to the Admissions Office along with this recommendation form. 
    • Transcripts
      • Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for evaluation purposes. Official transcripts are not required for admission but may be substituted for unofficial transcripts for admission review.

    Application Review

    All completed applications will be reviewed after the March 30 deadline. We take a holistic look at each applicant, and place great importance on letters of recommendation and your personal statement. We will strive to notify you about the status of your application as soon as possible.

  • The SURE program is appropriate for motivated undergraduate students majoring in biology, chemistry, engineering, or related disciplines. One of the program goals is to promote the success of women and underrepresented minorities in science and engineering

  • There is a $20 application fee.

    If you are in need of an application fee waiver, please contact admissions@kgi.edu.

    Students participating in the in-person program sessions are financially responsible for their transportation, housing, and food throughout the program.

    Thanks to the generous grant support from The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, each undergraduate student participating in the in-person SURE program will receive a $500 scholarship. The SURE program is not an academic degree program and does not charge participants for their summer research experience at KGI. Therefore, the $500 scholarship is considered taxable income, and each participant may receive an IRS 1099 form. For more information, please contact a professional tax advisor or review the IRS publication.

 

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