Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunities
The Graduate Studies Program at the Albany Medical College is offering three research programs for undergraduates interested in furthering their training in science, and in exploring career options in research. Programs are available during the summer in which students will have their own research project, be advised by a faculty mentor who will provide guidance and insight, and will be able to take advantage of a variety of Enrichment Activities designed to illuminate the profession of a researcher in the biomedical sciences. Stipends are available for these summer opportunities on a competitive basis.
All three programs use a common application which can be downloaded from the link at the right.
Programs are for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.
Questions for all of these programs should be directed to:
Jean Cornwell or Dr. Thomas Andersen
Office of Graduate Studies
Albany Medical College
(518) 262-5253
email: graduate-studies@mail.amc.edu or anderst@mail.amc.edu
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"Cross Training" in Biomedical Sciences Undergraduates Majoring in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Sciences, Engineering and other "Quantitative" Sciences.
Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Graduate Studies Program of the Albany Medical College offers "cross-training" opportunities for undergraduates majoring in the quantitative sciences (expressly excluding Biology). The rationale is that the explosion of information generated in the biological sciences over the next several decades (the so called 'post-genomic' era) will provide job opportunities for, and will require the skills and expertise of, individuals who are comfortable with the power of mathematics, physics, computer sciences, engineering and similar 'quantitative' sciences, and who are conversant in the biological sciences. The intent is to provide a summer opportunity for undergraduates to contribute their talents and expertise to a meaningful, authentic, mentored research experience in a laboratory centered in the biomedical sciences. The long-term goal of this project is to have an appreciable number of program alumni(ae) find careers at the interface of the biological sciences and the quantitative discipline of their choice.
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The Summer Undergraduate Research Program: Increasing Diversity, Decreasing Health Disparities
This program is designed to provide a 10-week research-intensive training opportunity for undergraduates who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, or individuals with disabilities. Oftentimes, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, or from racial minority groups, or who may have a physical disability do not realize that they have an important contribution to make to the future of biomedical science. Undergraduate students who spend some time in a biomedical research laboratory will become more comfortable with the idea of investing their career in research environments that address health disparities. This program is intended to provide opportunities for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to participate in activities leading to research careers, especially in areas relevant to cardiovascular disorders, and to increase the short supply of qualified investigators from diverse backgrounds.
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All Other Undergraduates interested in Biomedical Research
Funded by the Graduate Studies Program of the Albany Medical College as a recruitment tool, the program offers opportunities for undergraduate science majors who are interested in preparing for graduate school and who are interested in the areas in which we offer strong, competitive programs. The intent is to provide a summer opportunity for undergraduates to do meaningful, authentic, mentored research in a laboratory focused on areas of research that are of interest to the student. The vision of this program is to recruit highly talented undergraduates to the graduate school at Albany Medical College and to careers in research so that they can make meaningful contributions to the scientific community.
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All three programs consist of a 10-week session designed to allow undergraduates to spend 90% of their time doing important biological research, supplemented with activities to facilitate written communication skills, develop an understanding of the responsible conduct of science, examine career opportunities, enhance biomedical information search and retrieval skills, and develop a broad overview of biology through interactive seminars. A stipend of $3,000 will be paid to students for this competitive program. Only U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible.
A wide variety of research projects are available. To see brief descriptions of faculty research interests, click on each of our four Centers (listed below), then enter "Faculty" from the box on the right side of each Center page.
- Center for Cardiovascular Sciences
- Center for Cell Biology & Cancer Research
- Center for Immunology & Microbial Disease
- Center for Neuropharmacology & Neuroscience
- Basic research scientists are organized into four interdisciplinary centers to facilitate bench work discoveries and to translate them into medical innovations at patients' bedsides. They are conducting research in many exciting areas including infectious disease, addiction, cancer, pain, and stem cells therapy.
