Program Requirements and Support

Rising junior and senior undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for the UTMB SIBDS. Priority admission will be given to disadvantaged students and to students from small liberal arts colleges which do not offer substantial coursework in statistics or biostatistics. Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a biological science major with a mathematics focus (e.g. mathematical biology, biochemistry) or a quantitative or computational based major (e.g. business, physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, bioengineering, statistics, or data science) are eligible to apply. We will review each situation on a case by case basis as well. We seek students that have an interest in biomedical issues.

Minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0)

College graduates who have not started a graduate program are eligible to apply. African Americans, Alaska Natives, Hispanic, Latino, Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, other Pacific Islanders, and also disadvantaged students are especially encouraged to apply.

Anticipated enrollment for the 2024 SIBDS program is 20 students.

Support

2024 Support Details

Support packages for SIBDS participants, funded by NHLBI/NIAID, include:

  • $1,400 meal allowance
  • $1,600 stipend
  • Travel reimbursement (up to $800 per scholar)
  • Housing

Housing

Scholars in the SIBDS program will be housed in the recently constructed dorms at Galveston College. SIBDS students will be housed in double rooms (each room includes two twin beds) with private bathrooms and a shared common space which includes a full kitchen and living area. Students will receive a food stipend and the rooms include basic cooking appliances.

Housing is located in the middle of Galveston island, and students will commute by a college bus to the UTMB Campus.

Interaction with Faculty and Graduate Students

Participants have the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of stellar faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch through available lectures and interaction with research project leaders. Graduate student research assistants also provide guidance with the projects.

Distinct From Other Summer Programs

There are numerous other summer programs in STEM fields available for undergraduates. The Summer Institute for Biostatistics and Data Science is quite unique. Our scholars will gain hands-on research experience in the intersection of big data, biostatistics, and human health.

This is a federally funded educational program. Compliance with the Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate is strongly encouraged.