Welcome to the Summer Undergraduate Research Program for Underserved Scholars (SURP4US) at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

As a first-generation college student and one of the first in my family to earn a doctoral degree, I know first-hand the transformative impact of structured research opportunities. My early participation in a similar pipeline program provided the crucial mentorship and support that prepared me for graduate school, profoundly shaping my trajectory. That experience drives my commitment to providing you with the same level of investment. If you are passionate and committed to pursuing graduate training in biomedical research, we want to hear from you. While we want you to have a foundational background to understand the work, extensive prior research experience is not a requirement for acceptance to our program.

Our 10-week summer program is designed to function as a genuine path to graduate school matriculation rather than just a standalone summer experience. You will engage in intensive, hands-on mentored research, culminating in a poster day and oral presentations, under the guidance of faculty mentors thoughtfully paired with you for their proven track record of successful trainee outcomes. Because navigating a research career involves much more than bench work, SURP4US places a strong emphasis on community building and professional development. You will participate in structured workshops and mock practice sessions designed to help develop your scientific communication, presentation, and interviewing skills.

We also deeply value your psychological well-being and sense of belonging. Throughout the summer, you will have several opportunities to network and engage socially with current graduate students and more broadly with the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE), alongside group-based spaces facilitated by the Center for Scientific Workforce Excellence and Advancement (CSWEA) to openly discuss resilience, imposter syndrome, and developing your scientific identity.

My overarching vision is for SURP4US to serve as an integrated curriculum of research training, professional development and graduate school preparation, designed to train and ultimately advance and elevate the next generation of biomedical scientists. We are committed to providing the tools, community, and confidence you need to thrive.

We look forward to receiving your application and hopefully welcoming you to our Mount Sinai community this summer.

Jamilia Sly, PhD
Director, SURP4US, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Associate Professor, Population Health Science and Policy
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai