SURE program offers college undergraduates 10-week, paid lab experience

College students interested in research/health sciences careers are encouraged to apply for this year’s SURE internship program at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota.

All application materials must be postmarked no later than March 1 to be considered for The Hormel Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) internship program. Each application is required to have at least a completed application form (available on The Hormel Institute’s website), résumé, two letters of recommendation and an official transcript from the applicant’s college.

The SURE program typically provides 9-10 paid internships every summer that run for 10 weeks – June 13 through Aug. 19 this year – for college undergraduates. A priority is placed on applicants who are majoring in a science-related field and will be entering his or her junior or senior year following the internship but students who will be sophomores next fall and those with a medical/research-related major also are encouraged to apply.

Interns are selected based on their high level of academic achievements and plans to pursue careers in science or medically related fields.

The Hormel Institute’s long-running, annual internship program pairs each intern with a scientist as a mentor for a summer of laboratory work in one of the Institute’s 14 research sections. One of the many ways The Hormel Institute performs educational outreach throughout the year, the SURE program has the interns work on research projects that expand their knowledge of basic research. They also learn about equipment and techniques not generally available in undergraduate academic programs.

“Our SURE program opens the doors to greater opportunities by providing each college intern with a direct experience in our state-of-the-art labs working with some of the best cancer researchers in the world,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute.

SURE information and application forms are available to download online at www.hi.umn.edu/opportunities/sure/ on The Hormel Institute’s website. All application items should be mailed to: Mandie Siems, SURE Coordinator, The Hormel Institute, 801 16^th Ave. N.E., Austin, MN, 55912.