Submitted by Councillor Tina Abrams
USET has partnered with Dr. Julie Hudson & Dr. Billy Hudson since 2013 with the goal of attracting USET youth to this unique, challenging, and valuable STEM experience at Vanderbilt University. In addition to providing USET youth with a great educational opportunity, it also allows USET to establish relations with some of our best and brightest youth who might consider USET for their future place of employment as an option to give back to our communities.
Since the partnership, 18 Tribal Nation students have completed the summer research internships at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Ten have graduated from high school. Six have gone on to college and majored in STEM courses of study
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One joined the U.S. Armed Services and one did not attend college. And one is a current USET employee!
Please see the information below and share! Please note the January 6, 2021 deadline for applications.
Aspirnaut™ Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease at Vanderbilt University Me11dical Center
May 31, 2021 – August 7, 2021
The Aspirnaut™ Program invites you to apply for the Summer 2021 Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee. It is supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Participants will spend ten weeks in a full-time research experience as a member of a team of scientists, conducting research and engaging in professional and personal skills development. They will attend the KUH/NIDDK Summer Undergraduate Research Conference in Dallas, Texas, at the conclusion of the program. More information can be found on our website: https://www.aspirnaut.org/
Summer research interns will receive a stipend of $600 per week for the ten-week period. This salary is intended to cover all participant costs associated with the program including housing, food, and travel to and from Nashville. Costs to attend the research conference are covered by the program.
Application Process
To apply, visit the link below and click on Aspirnaut™ Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease*: https://www.aspirnaut.org/what-we-do-2/summer-research-internship-for-undergraduates/
Applications close 11:59PM CST on January 6, 2021
Alternatively, scan the QR code to be taken directly to our website & application. Please contact Rachel Baugh, Associate Director, at researchinternships@aspirnaut.org or at 615-875-8723.
More Information
In addition to the application, we require the following:
• Official transcript with the most recent semester’s final grades
• Two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a math/science faculty
Eligibility Criteria
• Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale and who are in good standing at their primary institution are eligible. Rising seniors should have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education at the start of the summer program.
• Applicants should have already completed college courses in biology and chemistry.
• Candidates should demonstrate interest in/potential to pursue graduate study (i.e., Ph.D., M.D., M.S.) toward an advanced degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields and biomedical research.
• Internship recruitment is targeted to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, American Indians/Alaska Natives and those from geographically- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the federal government.**
• Interns must be a documented U.S. citizen or non-citizen national or permanent resident in possession of an alien registration receipt card (I-551) or other legal document of such status. International citizens studying in the United States with an F-1 visa are not eligible for these spots. Individuals seeking asylum or refugees are not eligible.
• Interns must have valid, current health insurance at the start of and for the duration of the program.
- Note: Students from Berea College should apply through “Berea/Aspirnaut™ Hal Moses Summer Research Internships” link on the same page see website for information regarding federally defined groups
**Please note that the residential Aspirnaut™ Summer Research Internship Program may be modified or canceled at any time due to institutional, metro, state, or federal recommendations or mandates related to COVID-19.
QR code to be taken directly to their website & application 
