Students must be enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate program. First-year students, sophomores and juniors are welcome to apply. Senior students who are graduating after the end date of the SURF program may be eligible.
In addition, students must be United States citizens or permanent residents with a minimum grade point average of 3.2.
A special emphasis is placed on identifying and recruiting participants from disadvantaged backgrounds. Including, individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (e.g., Black, or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native; and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders). Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. And other individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as individuals who meet two or more of the following criteria: were or currently are homeless; were or currently are in the foster care system; were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years; have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree; were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants; received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child; grew up in a U.S. rural area; or grew up on a designated low-income and health professional shortage area. (As defined by Populations Underrepresented in the Extramural Scientific Workforce by the NIH).