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Student Research Opportunities
Dr. Larsen researching with a student
Students interested in participating in stimulating research projects have numerous choices available at DMU. The student research experience adds depth and breadth to classroom knowledge and provides a clear picture of how research affects the roles of health care professionals.
Students who have become involved in research experiences have had scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals, traveled to scientific meetings across the country to present their research abstracts and won prestigious national research awards, fellowships and scholarships. At the annual DMU Research Symposium in April, students have the opportunity to display poster presentations of their research projects.
Contributions from students are vital in helping move campus research forward. Research experiences can be tailored to fit students' needs, such as informal work with a researcher on an ongoing laboratory project, part-time work in a research laboratory or full-time summer research work.
DMU Student Research
DMU Students may join faculty research programs as part of a 'for credit' course or as a paid or unpaid research student in ongoing research.
IOER Summer Research Scholarship
A valuable research opportunity for DMU students is the Iowa Osteopathic Educational and Research (IOER) Summer Research Scholarship Program. This annual competitive scholarship is awarded to four students in good academic standing who demonstrate a strong desire to conduct scientific research with a faculty mentor. Recipients of this award each receive a $5,000 tuition credit. A Call for Applications is posted online on the Student Portal in late December, and applications are due in early March. Student applicants are required to schedule meetings with faculty researchers participating in the summer research program and together develop a research project. Applications are evaluated by the University's Research and Grants Committee.
The Summer Research Program allows students to work in faculty researchers' laboratories for up to 8 weeks during the summer on projects in microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and physical therapy. Applications must be received in the University Research Office by 4:00 p.m. on March 3, 2008. Please send applications by e-mail attachment to Research@dmu.edu.
Summer Research Program Application Guidelines
Purpose
The purpose of the Summer Research Program is to provide promising students opportunities to participate in basic science and applied research as co-investigators with faculty mentors.
All students, whether they are applying for the IOER scholarship or want to receive a stipend, must follow these instructions.
All students who are selected and who complete the Summer Research Program will receive four hours of credit.
Scholarship / Stipend
The IOER Summer Research Scholarships will be awarded to four (4) full-time students in the 2008 summer period. Recipients of these awards will each receive a $5,000 tuition credit for the 2008-09 academic year.
Students selected to work in stipend positions will be paid $8.00 per hour for up to 40 hours per week for eight (8) weeks.
If you are not selected for a scholarship position, you will be considered for a stipend position.
Student Applicant Instructions
- A listing of faculty researchers with a brief description of their research interests is attached below, is available in the University Research Office (Ryan 209), and is on the DMU student portal in the document search box in the upper right hand corner.
- Student applicants must schedule interviews with the faculty members with whom they wish to conduct research during the 2008 summer period. The applicant and the faculty mentor will determine together the aspects of the faculty member's research on which the applicant will work.
- Each student applicant must write a two page application that includes the following information.
- The applicant's name, class year and mentor's name must appear in the top left hand corner of each page of the application.
- Applicants must indicate at the top right hand corner of the application whether they want their application considered for a scholarship position, stipend position or both.
- The applicant must describe the aspect of the mentor's research with which he/she will be working.
- The applicant must explain why the opportunity to do this particular research is of interest.
- The applicant must discuss the goals he/she hopes to achieve from the research experience.
- The applicant should describe his/her previous research experience. (Lack of prior experience does not disqualify an applicant.)
- Student applications that exceed two pages will be returned without review.
- Application materials must be received by the University Research Office (Ryan Hall Room 209) by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2008. Late applications will not be considered. Please send applications by e-mail attachment to Research@dmu.edu.
Instructions for Faculty Mentors
- Each faculty mentor must write one letter of recommendation in which he or she indicates his or her recommendations for all DMU students applying to work in his or her lab.
- The letters of recommendation must be received by the University Research Office by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2008. Letters received after this time and date will not be considered. Letters may be sent by e-mail attachment to Research@dmu.edu.
- More than one IOER Summer Research Scholarship recipient can do research in a single faculty member's lab.
Selection Criteria
Scholarship and stipend applications will be reviewed by members of the University's Research & Grants Committee. The evaluations of this group will focus on the following areas.
- Student applications must demonstrate a strong desire to conduct basic and/or applied research.
- Applicants must be able to devote up to eight (8) full weeks (up to 40 hours/week) to the research project during the summer months.
- Student applicants must be in good academic standing at the University. The University's Research Office will verify student academic standing with the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
- Applicants will be expected to present their work either in laboratory meetings or at occasional all-labs luncheon meetings.
- View a listing of faculty research projects (updated list to come)
High School Research Apprentice Program
This program provides a work opportunity for outstanding high school students who want an introduction to biomedical research and to employment in that field.
Undergraduate Summer Research Program
The Des Moines University Undergraduate Summer Research Program is committed to providing an array of research experiences to undergraduate students. Selection of applicants is based upon academic performance in the sciences, statement of career and academic goals and letter of recommendation from a biology or health science faculty member. Selected students will work with faculty researchers for an eight-week period usually in June and July, on projects in microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and physical therapy. The online application form for the Summer 2008 Undergraduate Research Program is due by 4:00 p.m. on March 3, 2008. Students receive a stipend of $8.00 per hours, but no housing is provided. Students are required to work up to 40 hours per week. If you have any questions, please send an email to Research@dmu.edu.
Friday Research Seminar Series
Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend the DMU Friday Research Seminar Series of scientific presentations by DMU faculty researchers and outside investigators from various local institutions. For schedule information, please contact:
Dr. Marie Nguyen, Assistant Professor of the Microbiology/Immunology Department at: (515) 271-1507 or Marie.Nguyen@dmu.edu.
Dr. Samina Akbar, Assistant Professor of the Microbiology/Immunology Department at: (515) 271-1647 or Samina.Akbar@dmu.edu.
