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A4gzS74gCUbt58Q7qg22XPdRsRdW8ejrA24U57eR2eRA

2026 MSTP Undergraduate Research Program Application

Returning?

A A A

Applications are due by Sun., February 1, 2026, end of day. Letters of Recommendation will be accepted via email through February 8.

Selection is based on a holistic review of your application, including a personal statement and a letter of recommendation.

The program dates are Wednesday, May 27 - Friday, July 31, 2026.

Please contact Lori Hart at lorihart@iu.edu if you have any questions.

LAST Name

* must provide value

FIRST Name

* must provide value

Preferred name or nickname (if different from above)

Date of Birth
(MM-DD-YYYY)

* must provide value

Telephone Number

* must provide value

Permanent Home Address (please include street address, city, state & zip)

* must provide value

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University Email Address

* must provide value

Personal Email Address
This is the email where we will send followup information to your application.

* must provide value

Gender

* must provide value

Female

Male

Non-Binary

Prefer not to say

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Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident of the United States (i.e., possess a valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551 aka Green Card).

Please confirm.

* must provide value

I am a US Citizen I am a Permanent Resident of the US

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Name of the college/university you currently attend

* must provide value

Major(s)

* must provide value

What will be your academic standing as of June 2026, when the summer program begins?

* must provide value

Rising sophomore (current freshman)

Rising junior (current sophomore)

Rising senior (current junior)

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Cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) as of today

* must provide value

Dates of attendance at your current university
Example: August 2023 to present.

* must provide value

Anticipated degree and date
Example: B.S., 2026

* must provide value

Does your college or university use a semester hour or quarter hour system?

* must provide value

As of May 27, 2026, how many college credit hours will you have completed?

* must provide value

Please check all the courses you have completed-or will complete-by the start of the summer 2026 program.

* must provide value

Biology Lecture Biology Lab Chemistry Lecture Chemistry Lab Physics Lecture Physics Lab Engineering Lecture Engineering Lab Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral sciences

Which of the following careers are you seriously considering?
(check all those that apply)

* must provide value

MD/DO medical degree (clinical career only)

MD-PhD (Physician-Scientist or Engineer - clinical + research)

PhD (Biomedical Research or BME - research only)

PhD (in another field)

PA (Physician Assistant)

NP (Nurse Practitioner)

RN (Registered Nurse)

Public Health (MPH, policy, epidemiology)

Pharmacy (PharmD)

Dentistry (DDS/DMD)

DVM (Veterinarian)

Other Degree

No further degree plans for now

Have you conducted research independently or as part of a team, beyond the requirements of your lab classes?

* must provide value

Yes No

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If yes, how many semesters or summers of research will you have completed outside of lab course requirements by the start of this program in May 2026?

Note: Please count each summer of research as one semester.

1-2 semesters/summers 3-4 semesters/summers 5-6 semesters/summers 7+ semesters/summers

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Please select the areas of research you're most interested in exploring over the summer.
Check as many as apply.

Indiana Research Areas: https://medicine.iu.edu/dual-degrees/md-phd/faculty

* must provide value

Biomedical Engineering

Cancer and Hematologic Disease

Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease Cancer and Hematologic Disease

Diabetes/Metabolic Diseases

Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics

Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Disease

Musculoskeletal Disease

Neuroscience & Addiction

Please share your preferred area(s) of research. This will help the directors identify potential research and clinical mentors for the summer experience.
Also, you may add additional area(s) of research or clinical interest if they were not mentioned above.

*Please note that we will do our best to match your area of research interest with summer mentors, but we cannot guarantee an exact match.

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Are you applying to any other summer programs offered by the IU School of Medicine or Indiana University?
If yes, please list the name(s) of the program(s).

Note: This information is for tracking purposes only and will not impact your eligibility or chances of admission to the MSTP Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP).

Please list any known schedule conflicts you may have during the program dates: Wednesday, May 27 - Friday, July 31, 2026. If you have no conflicts, enter "None."

Be sure to include a brief explanation for any dates you list.

You must be available on May 27 for Orientation.

* must provide value

Campus Housing

Students who live more than 30 miles from the Indianapolis campus will be provided housing.

Students residing within 30 miles of campus are not expected to receive housing, but may indicate interest in on-campus accommodations if space becomes available. Local commuting students will receive an additional $250 stipend and a parking permit.

Note: This question is for planning purposes only and will not affect your acceptance into the program.

* must provide value

I live more than 30 miles from campus and require on-campus housing.

I live less than 30 miles from campus and can commute to campus.

I live less than 30 miles from campus and prefer to live on campus, but can commute to campus if necessary.

How did you learn about the MSTP Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP)?
Please be specific.
Examples: A particular conference or graduate fair, the IU School of Medicine summer program webpage, AAMC website, a recommendation from someone, a conversation with a recruiter, etc.

Please upload a personal statement (500-800 words) that reflects your unique journey, interests, and goals. We encourage you to write freely and authentically.

To help guide your writing, you may choose to address topics such as:

Career Goals: What are your aspirations as a future physician-scientist or physician-engineer? What motivates you to pursue this dual career path?
Program Fit: How do you see the Indiana MSTP USRP contributing to your educational and career development? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
Research Experience: Describe any laboratory or research experiences you've had outside of your coursework.

Feel free to include other experiences, reflections, or insights that help us understand your passion for science and medicine.

* must provide value

Upload file

Letter of Recommendation (LOR) - Required

Preferred Recommender: A faculty member who has supervised your lab work and can speak to your research skills, contributions, and potential as a physician-scientist.
Acceptable Alternatives:
- A research team member (e.g., postdoc, research scientist, or senior graduate student) who has closely supervised your work may also write a letter, especially if they can provide detailed insight into your research skills and contributions. If possible, the letter should be co-signed or endorsed by the faculty PI.
- A faculty member who can speak to your academic strengths and interest in research.

Requirements:

Must be on official letterhead.
Should provide insight into your qualifications, work ethic, and potential for success in a research-intensive career

Submission Instructions:

Email Option: Your recommender can email the letter directly to INmstp@iu.edu with the subject line: "MSTP USRP LOR - (Your Name)"

Upload Option: You can upload the letter through this application portal before submission. We will acknowledge receipt with a thank-you to your recommender.

A strong LOR can significantly enhance your application. Choose someone who knows your work well and can speak positively to your skills, character, and commitment to research.

Upload file

Transcript Upload

Unofficial (student-downloaded) university transcripts are accepted.
Ensure that your files are not passcode-protected and can be opened without special access.

Alternative Submission Option:

If you prefer, you may email your transcripts directly to INmstp@iu.edu.

Upload file

RESUME or CV (Optional)
If you choose you may upload your resume or curriculum vitae here.

Upload file

Race
(for data reporting purposes only. The selection committee will not have access to this information)

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

White

Multi-Racial

Unknown

Prefer not to say

Ethnicity
(for data reporting purposes only. The selection committee will not have access to this information.)

Hispanic or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

Unknown

Enter your name to verify that you have completed this form with accurate information to the best of your ability.

* must provide value

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