Undergraduate Research for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) Program is a research training program for undergraduate students across scientific and engineering disciplines at Marquette who are interested in biomedical research and in pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical related fields. The program is funded by the National Institute of Health with the goal of increasing participation from students traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research to pursue Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degrees and biomedical research careers. Through an evidence-based and culturally validated curriculum, U-RISE scholars progress through this two-year program focused on developing research expertise, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM and affirming one’s identity as a biomedical researcher and contributing member of the scientific community. Mentoring, professional development and inclusive community are three core elements of the U-RISE at MU program, designed to meet the mission of U-RISE to enhance preparation of students traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research for entry and success in a Ph.D. program. U-RISE scholars may choose from over 40 on-campus research labs within the Colleges of Health Sciences, Engineering and Arts & Sciences to conduct research. The U-RISE course work is designed to complement the students’ experiential training in biomedical research labs to equip them with knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in a research environment and to persist in further research training as a Ph.D student.
Students apply to the program in early spring of sophomore year. Upon acceptance, students are notified prior to advising week so that they can enroll in the first program courses and begin to explore laboratories. Students engage in the U-RISE curriculum (9 credits) and mentored research throughout junior and senior years. When students complete the program, they earn a concentration in undergraduate research for student enhancement (U-RISE), which is noted on their transcript. For more information, contact Dr. Kimberly D’Anna-Hernandez at urise@marquette.edu.
Undergraduate Research for Student Enhancement (U-RISE), Concentration
Students who complete all of the required elements of the U-RISE program earn a concentration in Undergraduate Research for Student Enhancement (9 credits).
Students who wish to pursue the concentration in Undergraduate Research for Student Enhancement must apply for admission to the U-RISE program. The program is highly competitive and applications are only accepted from students in their second year on track to graduate at the conclusion of the 2-year program.
Applications and all pertinent deadlines are published in the fall on the U-RISE program website. Applications are typically due by mid-February. Students are asked to submit an online application including responses to several short essay questions, an unofficial transcript and one letter of recommendation. Once applications are received, a selection committee selects the top candidates for an interview. Upon acceptance, students are notified prior to advising week so that they can enroll in the U-RISE program courses, begin to explore laboratories and make arrangements to participate in the in-person summer bootcamp that begins the Monday before the start of the fall term.
To be eligible to apply for the program, students must:
- Be enrolled as a second-year, full-time undergraduate student at Marquette with a major in a STEM discipline, and on track to graduate after completing the 2-year program (4 semesters, 1 summer)
- Transfer students must have two years remaining on campus to complete the program
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.700/4.000 at time of application
- Are citizens, noncitizen nationals or permanent residents of the United States
- Committed to pursuing a research-based Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D in a biomedical field after graduation
- Be a member of an underrepresented group in the biomedical sciences as defined by the NIH. This includes individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, with disabilities, and from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Required program elements include:
- 4 semesters of faculty-mentored research that has a biomedical or behavioral application
- Participation in an extramural summer research program
- Attendance at least one scientific conference each year
- Participation in a 1-week summer bootcamp before junior year and before senior year. The first bootcamp is to orient students to the U-RISE at MU program, to research and to careers. The second bootcamp is to develop a personal statement and written plan of graduate study for predoctoral fellowship applications and graduate school applications
- Applications to ten (minimum) Ph.D. programs during fall of senior year
- BISC 2010 Path to Researchwhich orients students to the process of research and introduces them to basic research skills, research ethics and the responsible conduct of research, and scientific communication.
- Four U-RISE seminar courses, taken each semester for 2 years that complement the students’ experiential apprentice-style training in biomedical research labs. These seminars are designed to make the invisible culture of research and mentor/mentee roles visible to novice researchers, free from a discipline-based content focus and to equip them with knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in a research environment and to persist in further research training as a Ph.D student.
Required Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BISC 2010 | Path to Research | 3 |
| BISC 3954 | U-RISE Entering Biomedical Research Seminar 1 | 1.5 |
| BISC 3955 | U-RISE Entering Biomedical Research Seminar 2 | 1.5 |
| BISC 3956 | U-RISE Entering Biomedical Research Seminar 3 | 1.5 |
| BISC 3957 | U-RISE Entering Biomedical Research Seminar 4 | 1.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
