Biochemistry Scholars Program

The Biochemistry Scholars Program provides hands-on research experience to our first-year (freshman) undergraduate majors. Applications will open by the end of February of your first year at UW–Madison. Applications open by the end of February each year and are usually due in late March. Students who are accepted are notified in May and are assigned to a lab in the Department of Biochemistry, with research projects expected to begin no later than the fall semester of the same calendar year.

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Program Outline

  • Students will participate in one or more research projects for a period of up to three years. Each semester, students will generally enroll in two to three credits of the relevant Independent Study course, typically BIOCHEM 299 to start.
  • Students will receive training from laboratory personnel. In addition, each student will meet regularly with that laboratory’s mentor.
  • A general meeting of program participants will take place every fall, during the first week of classes.
  • After one year in the program, an assessment will take place. This will be an opportunity for a few students to change laboratories according to changing interests, or halt participation if they find that laboratory research is not for them.
  • In the spring of junior year, students are encouraged to apply for research awards and senior thesis fellowships (Hilldale, Mary Shine Peterson, etc.).
  • Junior and Senior students may present their work in a brief presentation to the full Biochem Scholars group as part of a mini symposium in a Biochem building
  • All program participants are encouraged to join the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) UW–Madison Student Chapter. Joining the student organization will result in being a student member of the national ASBMB organization.
  • In April of their senior year, program students are encouraged to travel to the ASBMB meeting and will present their research in the ASBMB undergraduate poster competition. These meetings are held in great cities across the U.S.
  • Many (hopefully most) participating students will eventually co-author papers based on their research.

Requirements

  • A scholar must be a declared biochemistry major.
  • A scholar must be in their first year of their undergraduate education.
  • Motivation to pursue biochemistry research.
  • There are no specific GPA requirements.
  • There are no requirements for previous research experience.

Application Process

  • To apply complete application must include:
  • A cover letter that introduces you and highlights your relevant qualifications.
  • A Personal Statement (one page or less) that tells us more about yourself and your interests.
  • The student’s unofficial transcript (Student Record), available via Student Center.
  • We cannot guarantee space for all applicants.