U-RISE at UMBC is a research training scholarship program for undergraduate juniors and seniors majoring in the life sciences, physical sciences, engineering and mathematics. To be eligible for a U-RISE award, students must have an outstanding academic record, a strong desire to pursue a Ph.D. degree and career in biomedical research, and a demonstrated commitment to increasing the number of persons from underrepresented groups who pursue these goals.
The program provides U-RISE Scholars with individualized academic advising, guided preparation for graduate school, continuous administrative support and professional development activities to ensure a competitive edge in today’s scientific arena. Critical to this development is participation in sustained research that is conducted throughout the academic year. Under the tutelage of an approved mentor, this extended research experience provides “hands-on” training while helping U-RISE Scholars develop the critical thinking skills necessary to become a successful researcher. As a result, many of our scholars have co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals while still undergraduate students. Additional activities include opportunities to interact with renowned research scientists, travel to national conferences and opportunities to present their own research in a scientific setting. These advantages make UMBC U-RISE Scholars extremely competitive enabling them to gain admission to the top PhD and MD/PhD programs in the country.
U-RISE Scholars receive comprehensive academic and research support, and are required to live in campus housing. To be eligible for U-RISE Scholar status, applicants must have a minimum of 60 academic credits in addition to meeting academic performance standards.
A U-RISE Interest Meeting Video from 2021 can be found here.