Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the UT NIH Undergraduate Summer Research Education Experiences in the Environmental Health Sciences?

• The University of Tennessee (UT) is pleased to host undergraduate students for immersive 10-week summer research opportunities in the environmental health sciences. Through funding by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), undergraduate students will be challenged in hands-on research and discovery under the mentorship of university faculty and staff. In addition, students will participate in classroom level learning to gain appropriate knowledge in hypothesis testing, research design, ethics, and effective science communication. This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to state-of-the-art explorations and challenge yourself in an intensive research environment that is intended to launch you into an exciting science/engineering career.

How is the program funded?

• Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS website).

What is ‘environmental health sciences’?

• Environmental health sciences broadly seeks to understand and discover how the environment affects people, and then to use that knowledge to promote healthier lives. Environmental health scientists will study environments and ecosystems to determine, for example, the presence of harmful pollutants, and then use toxicology, exposure sciences, and epidemiology to ascertain disease relationships, and apply environmental engineering approaches to remedy harmful environmental factors and improve environmental quality. Microbiologists, chemists, biochemists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, clinicians, biomedical engineers, and environmental engineers are some of the professions involved in the environmental health sciences.

How many students will participate in this summer program?

• We expect to accommodate ten students.

What are my chances of getting admitted?

• The program is competitive, with well over 100 applications expected to be received, but don’t let that discourage you from applying. Admittance to our program does not simply hinge upon a great GPA, as we recognize hidden potential in all of our applicants. We will evaluate you as a whole and will consider many criteria such as your commitment to a career in science, how well your interests match those of our faculty, how highly your references speak of you, and whether this would be an opportunity you could not receive at your home institution.

When do I arrive in Knoxville? When do I leave Knoxville?

• You will need to arrive in Knoxville on May 25^th, 2022. You will leave Knoxville on August 1^st, 2022.

Will I get paid?

• Yes, each student will receive a stipend of $3,700. Your on-campus housing is also paid for as is your travel to and from Knoxville, TN. Meals are NOT paid for.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants must be actively enrolled as undergraduate students at their home institutions at the time of program initiation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Can current seniors apply?

• Most current seniors would not be eligible to apply since they will be graduating prior to the start of the summer research program. However, if you are of a senior status and you will still be actively enrolled as an undergraduate student during the entire summer session of this program, then you can apply.

Do I have to be a United States citizen or permanent resident?

• Yes. To be eligible for this program, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (i.e., hold a green card).

Is there an application fee?

• No, there is no fee to apply for the program.

How do I apply?

• CLICK HERE for application

What do I need in order to apply?

• Applicants must submit the following application material. The preferred file format for document uploads is Adobe PDF (.pdf extension).

1. Completed on-line application form.
2. Academic transcript(s) (they need not be official versions of your transcript(s)).
3. A brief personal Statement of Interest (maximum of 500 words, font size 11 or larger, one inch margins, single or double spaced) on your research interests, previous experience/training (if any), and how participation in this summer research program will contribute to your academic and professional development.
4. Resume or CV with current and accurate contact information.
5. Contact information (name, email, phone) for two individuals willing to provide a reference for you. We will directly contact your references to solicit your recommendations.

When must I apply?

• We will begin accepting applications in early December. The application deadline is March 15^th 2022.
  You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete prior to the application deadline. We will operate using a rolling admissions process so it is to your benefit that you submit your application as early as possible.

What are the selection criteria? What is the selection process?

• Applications are reviewed by the program coordinators. Acceptance into the program is based on multiple criteria including academic performance, research interests, career goals and reference recommendations. Candidates are notified as soon as possible after selection.

When do I find out if I have been accepted into the program?

• We will begin accepting students as early as January 1^st. We expect to notify all applicants no later than April 1^st. We would appreciate you letting us know if you have accepted another offer for summer research as soon as possible.

What are the typical work hours?

• Hours are determined by your mentor and the project you are working on, but generally you should plan on putting in a minimum of eight hours per day, Monday through Friday, with some potential weekend hours if your experiment requires it. There are no concrete start or end times to your day.

Is the start date and end date of the program flexible?

• The start date and end date is not flexible.

Where will I live during my stay at The University of Tennessee?

• You will be living in on-campus dormitories, in what we refer to as living-learning centers, with undergraduate students from across the U.S. who are participating in similar summer research activities.

Do I have to participate for the full ten weeks of the program?

• Yes, you must be present during all ten weeks of the program.

Can I take classes at UT while I am participating in the program?

• No, the program is a full-time commitment.

Who pays for my travel to/from UT?

• We will pay for your flight or, if you are driving, we will reimburse you for mileage. Once you are accepted into the program, we will contact you to help with travel arrangements.

What if I still have questions or comments?

• If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at UT.NIH.UndergraduateResearch@utk.edu