The Institute for Symbiotic Interactions, Training, and Education in the Face of a Changing Climate (INSITE)
Summer 2025 Application
Apply by March 28, 2025
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As faculty for our NSF Summer Undergraduate Research Training program, we are excited to invite you to apply to be part of our 2025 INSITE Scholars Summer Cohort!
Our grant, INSITE at the University of California, Merced, aims to promote research and public eduction on the important roles beneficial bacteria play in the resilience of animal hosts experiencing climate change. INSITE brings together a multi-disciplinary team at the University of California, Merced and Michigan State University seeking to understand how symbiotic interactions will evolve under potential climate futures from molecular to ecological scales. Our summer program will provide you with the opportunity to work alongside faculty, postdocs, and graduate students on active research projects, learning new computational and laboratory skills to address biological problems, and training in professional practices and science communication though the UC Merced Summer Undergraduate Research Institute.
Benefits:
- 9 Week Summer Fellowship
- $3,000 Stipend
- Personal Mentorship by Faculty and Graduate Students
- Laboratory Research Experience
- Scholastic Summer Field Trips
- Paid Summer Housing and Meal Plan
- Graduate School Preparation and Career Coaching
The following materials are needed to complete the INSITE application
1. "Submit" an Online Application
2. Two letter of recommendation (preferred from a professor or faculty member)
- Emailed written letter of recommendation on letterhead (pdf)
3. 1 page Resume or CV highlighting your academic achievement
4. Responses to two essay questions:
- Statement of Purpose: in a 500-word essay, please discuss why you are interested in INSITE. Explain how INSITE will aid your goals for graduate studies or research, and ultimately your future career or profession. Please specify your interests in molecular lab experience, modeling and applied math, terrestrial systems, and/or marine systems. Please include any information on previous lab experience. If none, then why are you interested in getting lab/research experience.
- Personal Statement: a 500-word essay describing your academic challenges to date, how do you see this program helping you to advance your career and academic objectives? How do you see advancing your training in research skills will help achieve your academic goals?