Frequently Asked Questions

Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors in biomedical major who are US citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must be 18 years or older. At this time, regretfully we cannot accommodate international students.

These distinctions are only associated with the funding sources for paying SURF stipends. All SURF scholars undergo an identical program and are subject to the same compliance requirements. 

Prior experience is not required. However, we do require a personal statement describing your specific interest in acquiring research experience and how the SURF program will benefit your future career goals.

No. SURF is intended to provide hands-on biomedical research training and career information towards research-focused programs. For programs covering medical school training, please check STIR at Summer Training in Research (STIR) Miller School of Medicine.

1. Competitive stipend
   
2. Housing
   
3. Metrorail transit pass
   
4. Travel to and from your home institution

We receive upwards of 100 applications and unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on individual applications. 

No. As per requirements from the agencies that fund SURF, students must commit full time to SURF and cannot hold part-time jobs for the duration of the program.

No. Participation in the entire 10-week program is mandatory. We recommend that you review the start and end dates provided for the 2024 program, and ensure there are no calendar conflicts that would preclude your attendance. Please note only two absences from program events are allowed (with appropriate excuse). Chronic absence or tardiness are grounds for dismissal from the program.

No. The stipend is expected to cover the cost of meals and SURFers will have access to kitchen facilities and local grocery stores. 

Please let us know in your application if you are interested in working with a specific faculty mentor at the Medical School. We will reach out to them to discuss their participation in SURF. At no point in the application process, should applicants contact faculty directly to request SURF placement in their lab.

All mentor assignments must be finalized through the SURF program. To find out more about our faculty based on their research interests, please visit: https://med.miami.edu/faculty  

More information about Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center faculty labs can be found here.

Faculty mentors by graduate program affiliation can be found here.

You may submit preferences for specific areas of research study, or for specific mentors.  Your preferences along with the mentor’s research focus and lab availability will be considered when assigning a mentor. However, a specific mentor cannot be guaranteed as this is subject to their availability in a given summer and space in their lab.

Mentor assignments are made through very careful consideration by the SURF team. As such, mentors cannot be changed once in the program. However, exceptions can be made under extenuating circumstances. Requests must be submitted in writing and will be evaluated for merit by the SURF arbitration committee. 

Instructions will be provided upon arrival. If the emergency occurs at the Medical School, please call 305-243-6000. Please note we require all SURFers to provide proof of medical insurance.

All UMMSOM personnel are obligated to provide proof of specific vaccinations upon hire (a list will be provided). Exceptions will be made based on medical conditions requiring a letter from a doctor or religious exceptions based on letter from spiritual leaders.

Please notify the SURF coordinator, Ms. Nadelyn Harris, and your research mentor as soon as possible.

As SURF is a paid fellowship, students are expected to attend and participate in the entire 10-week program. Please plan your summer activities to ensure you can do so. UMMSOM observes all federally mandated holidays. If you have religious or cultural observances that fall outside these days, please let us know in your application so we can evaluate how best to accommodate.