Summer Internship in Microbiology Research
Are you interested in exploring a rewarding career in biomedical sciences with a focus on infectious diseases? SIMR will provide you the opportunity to see if graduate school is the right path for you.
What is SIMR?
The Summer Internship in Microbiology Research (SIMR) Program aims to support undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds seeking to pursue doctoral (Ph.D.) training in infectious disease-related research, including virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and immunology. Our interns join active infectious disease research labs at the University of Florida (UF) while also receiving tailored guidance on graduate school admissions, career development, and so much more.
Current UF undergraduates: UF students are eligible to apply. If already involved in research on campus, students can request to continue their project in their current lab provided it is infectious disease-related.
International students: International students that are currently studying at a U.S.-based university and have a valid U.S. student visa are eligible to apply.
Contact: SIMR is directed by Dr. Stephanie Karst. You may contact our program by sending an email to SIMR@microbiology.ufl.edu .
SIMR is a 9-week paid research internship hosted by the NIH-funded Training Program in Basic Microbiology & Infectious Disease (BMID) and supported by the UF Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and the UF Health Cancer Center. The program will run from Tuesday, May 28 to Friday July 26, 2024. We accept applications from college students studying at any U.S. based university who are not already accepted into postgraduate programs. All students interested in an infectious disease-related research career, and especially women and groups that remain disproportionately underrepresented in the sciences, are encouraged to apply.
SIMR interns are offered housing and a stipend of $500 per week. Preference is given to students who have completed their junior year by May, 2024 and are interested in pursuing microbiology research in graduate school.
What will your SIMR Experience look like?
The most important element of your SIMR experience is carrying out a research project in a microbiology lab being mentored by a UF graduate student and their Principal Investigator (PI). You will be expected to perform independent research and other lab duties as a full-time member of the lab. A unique element of SIMR is your mentorship by a graduate student. This provides you day-to-day guidance while simultaneously enhancing the graduate student’s mentoring skills – it’s a win-win partnership that fosters lasting bonds between you and your mentor!
SIMR interns attend a weekly microbiology seminar series that highlights research at UF spanning the full spectrum of infectious disease-related research. Importantly, we ask our speakers (including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and professors) to also discuss their career paths and long-term goals so our interns can appreciate the varying journeys and career trajectories in biomedical research.
SIMR interns also attend a weekly career development workshop that covers topics intended to prepare you for graduate school. We help you develop a professional CV and personal statement for your graduate school applications, introduce you to scientific writing and public speaking, and discuss the importance of professional networking.
During the last week of the SIMR experience, we celebrate everything you’ve accomplished by hosting a SIMR Mini-Symposium where you will present your research findings; hosting mock interviews with faculty members to prepare you for graduate school interviews; and a host a farewell dinner.
Throughout the summer, our graduate student mentors organize informal social activities to build community within our SIMR family.