SURF is a nationally competitive 10-week program that immerses students in hands-on, innovative biomedical research. It is funded by an NCI R25 grant to expand its oncology research focus through the CREATE scholars sub-program and by the Office of the Graduate Studies to fund Dean’s scholars who want to pursue non-oncology-based biomedical research. In total, SURF hosts 30 scholars every summer. SURFers graduate from the program with comprehensive preparation and training in multiple aspects of research, including overarching education about bioinformatics, academic entrepreneurship, clinical translation of basic science and data science. In addition, SURFers benefit from a full schedule of career development sessions, including learning how to write and present research effectively, critical reading of scientific literature, and rigorous ethical conduct of research. They are also provided information regarding the spectrum of research-oriented, higher degree-granting programs offered at the Miller School, including our program in Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program, our NIH T32-funded M.D./Ph.D. Program, and several master’s programs.
SURFers will have the opportunity to work in the laboratories of our exceptional faculty members spanning the UMMSOM departments, in the following disciplines:
SURF alumni are making waves! Over half have completed their undergraduate degrees, and 91% of those graduates are now in graduate school, medical training (MD or MD/PhD), or professional roles in science, health, and research.
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics & Epigenetics
- Microbiology & Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Public Health Sciences
