The following table details what programs you can qualify for, based on year of study and other qualifications.
 

OpportunityWho Can Apply?QualificationsApplications AcceptedInformation/Applications
Pathfinders ListservUndergraduate Students. Graduate Students, Postdocs, Postbacs, Faculty, and staff
  • University of Iowa affiliation
Year Round request to be added to a listserv (electronic mailing list)Information

Application
Science Alliance InternshipFreshmen or Sophomores

Apply in Fall for the Spring Term

Apply in the Spring or Summer for the Fall Term

Please see the Science Alliance program page for current information about the application due dates

Information

Application
UI-MARCJuniors or Seniors
  • Enrolled in a supported major.
  • Currently doing undergraduate research
  • Committed to PhD in science
  • 3.0 UI GPA

Apply in the Spring for the Fall Term

Please see the UI-MARC program page for current information about application due dates

Information

Application
UI-LSAMPUndergraduate Transfer Students

Year Round

Please see the UI-LSAMP program page for current information about application due dates

Information

Application
Latham FellowshipSophomores, Juniors, or Seniors
  • Interest in communicating science in the public sphere
  • 3.0 UI GPA

Apply in the Spring for the following academic year

Please see the Latham program page for current information about the application due dates

Information

Application

 

Who are Underrepresented Populations?

In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, educational and research opportunities are not equally available to all. (See https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html). NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences, such as:

  1. Underrepresented Minorities (Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders)
  2. Individuals with a disability
  3. Disadvantaged background (must meet two or more qualifications)
  4. Literature shows that women from the above backgrounds (categories 1, 2, and 3) face particular challenges at the graduate level and beyond in scientific fields. (See, e.g., From the NIH: A Systems Approach to Increasing the Diversity of Biomedical Research Workforce https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5008902/ ).

Underrepresented Minorities (URM) - 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 (see data at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians 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, as amended.  See NSF data at, https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/static/data/tab7-5.pdf.

Who are Disadvantaged Students?

Disadvantaged students are those who have hindrances to excelling in school because of detrimental circumstances beyond their control. These include financial and social hardships as well as problems within students’ families. The category also includes students who would not normally be disadvantaged and who have been affected by some sort of natural disaster.

Disadvantaged students must meet 2 or more of the following: homeless (past or present), foster care (past), Pell grant qualified, free and reduced lunch program, food stamps/WIC qualified (past or present), 1st Generation student, or grew up in a disadvantaged community (rural, low-income).