NIDDK Short-term Education Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP)

Program Purpose:

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease’s STEP-UP Program is designed to provide short-term research education for high school and/or undergraduate students from racial and ethnic minority or disadvantaged backgrounds to expose them to research within the mission area of NIDDK. 

The Program exposes students to research in areas of diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, obesity, digestive, liver, urologic, kidney, and hematologic diseases.

The Program provides support for 8 - 10 consecutive weeks of basic or clinical research education and training during the summer provided by experienced faculty currently active in research related to the mission of NIDDK.

Eligible Students (At the time the research begins):

• High school students who have completed the eleventh grade
• Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year at an accredited institution
• U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or legal permanent residents

Provisions:

High School Program

• Student Participation Allowance ($2300)
• Education-related expenses fee provided to the mentors
• Accommodations and travel expenses to the Annual High School Scientific Session and Research Presentations in August in Bethesda, Maryland are provided
• The output cost of the scientific poster is included
• Housing is not provided.  All housing expenses are the responsibility of the student
• NOTE:  Travel to and from the research internship location, to include the cost of parking, is not provided and is the responsibility of the student

Undergraduate Program

• Student Participation Allowance ($4000)
• Education-related expenses fee provided to the mentors
• Accommodations and travel expenses to the Annual Undergraduate Scientific Session and Research Presentations in August in Atlanta, Georgia are provided
• The output cost of the scientific poster is included
• Housing is not provided.  All housing expenses are the responsibility of the student.  For students opting to perform their research with a mentor at one of the coordinating institutions, a limited amount of on-campus housing may be available, and students should inquire within that institution
• NOTE:   Travel to and from the research internship location, to include the cost of parking, is not provided and is the responsibility of the student

Location and Duration:

High School Program

• The research experience is provided nationally by experienced investigators in their laboratories for 8 consecutive weeks of full-time research.
• The STEP-UP Program will match students with a research mentor at their choice of a research institution when possible.
• Students will conduct their research in their home town, either nearby or within commuting distance of their residence.  Students are not required to relocate in order to pursue their research internship.

Undergraduate Program

• The research experience is provided nationally by experienced investigators in their laboratories for 10 consecutive weeks of full-time research.
• The STEP-UP Program will match students with a research mentor at their choice of a research institution when possible.
• Students may do their research at one of the four undergraduate coordinating institutions:  University of Maryland Baltimore County, Virginia Commonwealth University, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Penn State University/Hershey Medical Center; or at another site of their choosing.