Eligibility Requirements

Are you interested in Research?

Each year interested Pre-URISE students will apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year to the URISE Scholarship Program. The URISE Program Steering Committee will then select 4 applicants to participate in the URISE Scholars program based on the criteria below:

Strong commitment to matriculation into either a Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree and a strong commitment to a research career in biomedical sciences.

Participation and completion of the pre-URISE program and curriculum.

U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident.

Full-time sophomore with a major in biology, biochemistry, mathematics, or chemical engineering.

Overall GPA of at least 3.0

Submission of two strong letters of recommendation.

Research

All URISE Scholars / Pre-URISE and Affiliates will:

Participate in two 10-week summer research experiences, at approved URISE extramural research institutions, beginning in the summer following the sophomore academic year.
Conduct mentored research for 8-10 hours per week with an approved intramural/extramural URISE research mentor during the junior academic year.

Academics

All URISE Scholars / Pre-URISE and Affiliates will:

Complete the requirements for graduation with a bachelor’s degree in years.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the duration of participation in the program.
Meet with their assigned URISE faculty advisor at least once a month to discuss progress through the curriculum and share any concerns; meet with the URISE Director at least once a semester.
Successfully complete all courses and workshops required in the URISE program curriculum.
- BIO 105 (Intro to Biology or higher Biology);
- CHE 201-202 (General Chemistry);
- CHE301/302 (Organic Chemistry);
- MAT130 or MAT151/152 (Calculus);
- BIO 311 (Biotechnology Exploration);
- Statistics course CSC 395, MAT 205, MAT 305, MAT 312, ESC 301-Biometry or PHA 332-Biostatistics or equivalent).
- BIO 425 (URISE Research Seminar)
Other URISE Requirements:
1. Participate in the Responsible Conduct of Research Seminar or course
2. Participate in interactive instruction in methods for enhancing reproducibility (IMER)
3. Participate in the URISE Journal Club in the Department of Biological Sciences during both their junior and senior years.
Complete these two capstone activities below during the senior year:
1. Write a senior thesis based on either the academic year or summer research and orally defend it in the BIO 425 – URISE research seminar.
2. Work as a teaching assistant for one semester in one of the special sections of URISE-funded laboratories.

Other Activities

All URISE Scholars / Pre-URISE and Affiliates will:

Apply to at least five biomedical-related Ph.D. (or MD/Ph.D.) programs at competitive, research-intensive universities by no later than the fall of the senior year. Submit proof of application to Drs. Njoki or Asojo by the end of November of senior year.
Notify the URISE Program Director in writing of the final decision to attend a particular graduate program by April 30th of the senior year.

Required Conduct

All URISE Scholars / Pre-URISE and Affiliates will:

Uphold the Hampton University Code of Conduct and Dress Code during all intramural and extramural URISE program activities.
Arrive on time for all URISE activities and meetings and provide documented notification in advance of absences.
Respond in a timely manner to all requests made by URISE faculty and the designated URISE evaluator through email or other communication modes.

Failure to comply with any of the URISE requirements as listed in the signed URISE Scholar/Pre-URISE and Affiliate Award Participation Letter during the course of matriculation in the URISE program will result in the dismissal from the URISE Program and termination of the URISE Scholar /Trainee award.