The ODU U-RISE program funds undergraduate Juniors and Seniors, who meet the criteria, to work in research laboratories at ODU in engineering, health sciences, and sciences. U-RISE trainees must be underrepresented in the sciences for ONE of the following reasons:
- Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaskan Native;
- Financially disadvantaged (eligible for Pell grants or equivalent);
- Have a disability recognized by the ODU’s Office of Educational Accessibility.
Many first generation or disadvantaged students do not have the family or social network that can properly understand and encourage them onwards to a doctorate degree. The U-RISE program hopes to build a local support system to help them to do so. In addition, the U-RISE program helps students to build both a local and national network of peers and professional contacts. The U-RISE program is a continuation of the M-MARC (Monarchs Maximizing Access to Research Careers) program which expired on May 31, 2023.
Benefits of being an ODU U-RISE Trainee
Financial Benefits
The U-RISE traineeship program is an NIH T34 National Research Service Award and provides a stipend to U-RISE trainees for their participation in U-RISE professional development activities, and their work in the lab of their mentor. U-RISE trainees will be provided with partial tuition (60%).
U-RISE trainees receive travel expenses to attend one scientific conference plus attendance at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in their senior year.
In addition, travel & housing expenses, and a stipend are provided to U-RISE trainees during their external summer research experience away from ODU, all during the summer between their junior and senior years.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Critical thinking, verbal, written & quantitative skills workshops
- Hands-on research training by the Biomedical mentors
- Departmental seminars & scientific colloquia
- Weekly journal club in their research groups
- Networking opportunities with faculty & students
- A specialised conference attendance (see Financial Benefits section for details)
- Summer research experience away from ODU
- GRE and discipline specific Graduate Research Fellowship application preparation assistance
- Understanding the structure of graduate school applications