Program Overview
The Undergraduate Research Fellowship summer programs run for ten weeks each summer, from late May to late July. Participants must be available and willing to attend in-person for the full ten weeks of the fellowship. Our REACH, NIH R25, and CNU programs also include a preparatory course in the spring semester prior to the onsite summer fellowship. Fellows are provided with housing in VCU dormitories (at no cost to the student) for the duration of the summer program. All fellows receive a stipend during the summer; total stipends vary depending on a student’s specific fellowship type.
Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, fellows pursue a cardiovascular research project over ten weeks, then present their research and findings in a formal poster presentation at the close of program. Over the course of the summer, fellows also attend required group activities including:
- Skills & Foundations with Program Director Dr. Greg Hundley – a weekly workshop to gain understanding of the processes contributing to cardiovascular disease
- Journal Club with Dr. Jennifer Jordan – a weekly workshop to review and discuss scientific articles
- Professional Network - weekly presentations from VCU faculty and administration about their career paths and research
- Clinical Rotations - weekly rotations through cardiac care departments throughout the hospital including:
- Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiology Consults
- Cardiopulmonary Testing
- Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU)
- Electrophysiology Lab
- Echo/Stress Testing
- Heart Failure and Transplant Clinic
- MRI Lab
In addition to these pre-programmed group activities, there may also be occasional events where students to pursue volunteering opportunities outside of working hours, e.g. assisting with a community blood pressure education initiative, volunteering with the American Heart Association, etc.
Sample Weekly Summer Program Schedule
Please note: this is just an example; actual schedules will vary.
Monday
- 9 AM - 4 PM – Working on research
Tuesday
- 9 -9:45 AM – Journal Club
- 10 - 11:30 AM – Skills & Foundations
- 12-4 PM - Working on research
Wednesday
- 8 AM - 12 PM – Clinical rotation
- 12 - 4 PM – Working on research
Thursday
- 8 AM - 2 PM – Working on research
- 3 - 4 PM – Professional Network
- 5 - 6 PM – Social activity
Friday
- 9 AM - 4 PM – Working on research
- 5 - PM - Volunteering activity