Carnegie Mellon University

Summer Research Institute

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for rising sophomores in technical fields - the Summer Research Institute (SRI). The SRI program is an immersive research experience for rising sophomores at Carnegie Mellon that has been offered since 2002. If you are interested in doing research in molecular biology and biochemistry in the upcoming summer, please read on and apply by the deadline shown below. Please note carefully the changes from previous years.

Students who are accepted into SRI will be eligible to receive 12 units of research credit through the Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship (SURA) program through CMU’s Undergraduate Research Office.  Visit the SURA site for more information.

Eligibility and Length of Program

We are offering the Summer Research Institute (SRI) for Carnegie Mellon students who will complete their first year in the Bachelor of Science and Arts Degree Program, Mellon College of Science, Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Carnegie Institute of Technology or School of Computer Science. The program will be held during the summer session at Carnegie Mellon and will run for 9 weeks.

PROGRAM DATES

The 2024 program dates are Wednesday, June 5th – Friday, August 2nd.

Research

All students and the affiliated teaching personnel will work together and be immersed in doing research from day one of the 9-week program. Students are expected to fully participate in the entire program and they should not plan other educational activities, other research, or extensive travel plans during this period. SRI research projects will involve recombinant DNA techniques and biochemical methods directed towards the functional analysis of proteins and enzymes. Additional approaches may be involved in specific projects. In addition to wet laboratory techniques, students will use bioinformatics software for DNA and Protein analysis and experimental design.

Requirements

Students must have rising sophomore standing (i.e. students in the second semester of their first year) with at least one college-level course in biology and chemistry (03-121 or 03-151 and 09-105 or 09-107; or equivalent AP credit or transfer) at some time prior to the start of the program.

Application Process

The following items will be part of your application:

  1. Questions addressing your interest and motivation for participating in the SRI experience.
  2. The name of a professor or teaching assistant (and their contact information – department, phone, email) who is willing to provide a reference for your application. A letter of recommendation is NOT required, but the application reviewers may contact your reference, if necessary.

Previous research experience is not required, however research experience may be considered as part of the application. Students who took the FADS course are also encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications for the 2024 session of SRI are now closed. More information for the next cycle will be posted in Spring 2025. 

Please email Dr. Lynley Doonan with a 2-3 sentence description of how participation in the program would help you achieve your academic/professional goals and the name and contact information for a professor or teaching assistant who is willing to provide a reference for your application. A letter of recommendation is NOT required, but the application reviewers may contact your reference, if necessary. If accepted, you will receive a reply with further instructions on how to register for the program.