Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program Scholarship Opportunity

We are excited to announce that Gustavus has partnered with the Mayo Clinic thanks to a generous donor to offer the Gilyard/Peterson Scholarship. This scholarship will provide funding to selected students to participate in the Mayo Clinic SURF program.

To be considered for the Gilyard/Peterson Scholarship you need to complete the Mayo Clinic SURF application by Sunday, December 10th at 11:45 pm and submit this form.

If you have any questions, please contact Jill VanOsdol ’10 at jvanosdo@gustavus.edu

Mayo Clinic SURF Program Information

The Mayo Clinic SURF program website can be found here. The SURF program runs from Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Friday, August 2, 2024.

SURF Admission Requirements:

You can apply for the SURF Program if you:

• Have completed two or three years at a U.S. College or university at the time the SURF program begins
• Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale)
• Are seriously considering a biomedical research career as a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.
• International students who are attending a U.S. college or university as full-time students are eligible to apply.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the Mayo Clinic Application instructions:

Please complete and submit the SURF application by December 10th at 11:45 pm to be considered for the Gilyard/Peterson Scholarship, directions below for the SURF application.

1. Create an account to begin the Online Application for Admission

• Select School of Study – Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Science
• Select a Research Area of Interest:
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SURF
  • Biomedical Engineering & Physiology, SURF
  • Clinical & Translational Science, SURF
  • Immunology, SURF
  • Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, SURF
  • Neuroscience, SURF
  • Regenerative Sciences, SURF
  • Virology & Gene Therapy, SURF
• Select Campus Location
• Select Start Date – June 2024
• Select Entry Term – Spring/Summer 2024

2. Create a New Application (blue button)

• Select “Start a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Application (blue button)
  • Program of Interest
    • Select Program Type – Select Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
    • Select Track/Research Interest
      • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SURF
      • Biomedical Engineering & Physiology, SURF
      • Clinical & Translational Science, SURF
      • Immunology, SURF
      • Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, SURF
      • Neuroscience, SURF
      • Regenerative Sciences, SURF
      • Virology & Gene Therapy, SURF
      • Check if you are interested in a SURF experience which focuses on Nephrology and Urology
    • Confirm Campus Preferences (transferred in from beginning of application along with desired beginning date and entry term).
  • Enter Personal Information, Demographic Data, Education (Gustavus will pop up once you start typing and remember that everyone at Gustavus receives a Bachelor of Arts degree), Additional Information, and Signature and Submit
  • Remember to Save application or Save and Continue after each section.

3. After submitting application, submit required Supplemental Items and Documents

• Under the Action column, select View
• Select the Supplemental Items & Documents Tab
• Submit all Supplemental Items
  • Personal Statement: include a one to two page description of your career goals, and the steps you have already taken to achieve those goals. (email Jill for support in creating this document, jvanosdo@gustavus.edu)
  • Unofficial/Official Transcripts: upload unofficial transcripts of courses from all colleges or universities attended. An official transcript is preferred.
• Submit Recommendation Requests
  • Two letters of recommendation are required. Within the Recommendation Request section, you will provide contact information for each letter writer. Each recommender will receive an email with a link to complete a rating form and upload a letter.
  • Recommendation letters do NOT need to be submitted by the December 10th deadline, it is preferred that they are completed and submitted by January 3, 2024. The Gustavus Scholarship Committee will NOT receive a copy of the recommendations.
  • DO enter in the information of two academic references/recommenders
    • Enter in the Recommender Name
    • Enter in the Recommender Email
    • Check Yes/No – I waive my right to access the requested recommendation
    • Use the space to include a personal note in the notification email that is delivered. Suggested example of the personal note:
      • Thank you for your willingness to be a writer for my application to the Mayo Clinic SURF program. I am turning in my application by December 10th at 11:45 pm to be considered for the Gilyard Peterson Scholarship. My recommendation letter and rating form for the Mayo Clinic SURF program would preferrably be completed by January 3, 2024, but needs to be completed by the February 1st, 2024 application deadline.

Additional Requirements

If selected to receive this scholarship you will be asked to write thank you cards to the donor and provide a reflection and pictures from the experience to be used for marketing purposes, including social media.