AHA Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE)

The AHA SURE scholars program at UC offers three undergraduate students the opportunity to do research in a cardiovascular research laboratory for 10 weeks during the summer. The program is designed to help students overcome particular personal challenges that are obstacles to completing their professional education in a relevant field of study or career, such as:

• Individuals who have faced challenges or obstacles to their career.
• Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
  • Were or currently are homeless.
  • Were or currently are in the foster care system.
  • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years.
  • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants.

At a minimum, SURE recipients:

• Must be interested in a health care-related field.
• Must display exemplary academic performance.
• Must be full-time undergraduate, rolling into their sophomore, junior or senior year.
• Must be able to dedicate 8-10 weeks between the end of May and mid-August.
• Must present at a symposium at the end of the program.
• Must meet immigration requirements: At time of application, the student must be a United States citizen, or a foreign national holding a valid student, exchange or permanent resident visa, including an F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, TC or TN visa.

The AHA SURE program at UC will expose undergraduate students to intriguing research challenges and discoveries in cardiovascular disease, with the goal of encouraging these students to pursue research in these areas as they mature into scientists. Students will experience hands-on learning in some of the broad domains of clinical, translational, population, basic science, bioengineering and biotechnology, public health, and team science. At the end of the 10-week program, students will present their work in poster form at the UC College of Medicine SURF Capstone Poster Symposium where they will compete with other SURF students for awards.

• $6,000 stipend per scholar for each 10-week summer experience (full-time effort of the scholar during the two-month research experience).
• AHA will cover UP TO $7,000 in housing and meal costs for each student who is not local and therefore needs room and board.
• AHA hosts a virtual symposium each August and requires each SURE scholar to present a brief talk about their research project. This symposium is attended by all scholars and mentors.
• AHA will cover the cost for SURE scholars to attend Scientific Sessions in November following the completion of their summer research experience.
• AHA will cover the cost to fly summer scholars to their destination institution (if needed).
• Application website: Online COM SURE Application