Undergraduate Research Program

Summer 2025 Research Program

Program Starts: May 27, 2025 | Ends: August 1, 2025

We are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting applications for Summer 2025 Research Program. 

Through a gracious donation from past alumni, we are pleased to be able to provide up to 5 Fellowships in the Summer of 2025 under the title of:

Douglas and A. Yvonne Mendenhall Pharm Chem Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Program Overview

• The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry offers a 10-week summer undergraduate research program for 4-8 students.
• Students perform independent research under the supervision of faculty members, applying chemical principles to problems involving drugs and related molecules.
• In pharmaceutical chemistry, the emphasis is on promoting the therapeutic effects of the drug or minimizing toxicity, or controlling delivery of the drug to specific sites of action. This involves increased attention to physical-organic, physical and analytical chemistry.
• Participants receive basic instruction in laboratory and research techniques, including laboratory safety, effective use of major university science library, and instruction in first-hand use of specialized laboratory instrumentation of importance to a given research problem.
• Opportunities will be provided to also hear and learn about research going on in the other labs.
• The summer project will end with the preparation and presentation of a poster describing the work.
• The program is designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate the possibility of entering a graduate program in the pharmaceutical sciences. As a direct result of the summer undergraduate research experience, many of our former participants have entered graduate schools and successfully completed doctoral degrees.

Eligibility

• Undergraduates currently attending any U.S. university and who have preferably completed their junior year by the beginning of the summer are eligible.
• Highly qualified sophomore students will be considered as well.
• Seniors are reminded that graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry are available and inquiries are welcome.
• Competitive stipends are provided to participants plus room and board in a University dormitory.
• Participants enroll as KU students for the summer and receive one academic credit for their research work.
• Excellent recreational facilities and other University privileges are available to Summer Undergraduate Research participants.
• The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  Applications are invited from all qualified people regardless of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, age or veteran status. Applications from minorities and women are especially encouraged. 

The program is designed to begin May 20 and ends by July 26. There is some limited flexibility in those dates.

Application

• Application review will begin Jan. 15, 2025, and continue until positions are filled.
• Selections will be made on a rolling basis.
• Students will be notified of acceptance on or before the completion of the evaluation period on February 16, 2025.

What You’ll Need to Complete the Application:

1. Unofficial Transcripts – Be prepared to upload a PDF of your unofficial transcripts, be sure to include the current semester. If you prefer, you also have the option of mailing your unofficial transcripts to the mailing address below.
   
   1. Transcripts Cannot Be Sent Via Email
      Transcripts of any kind are confidential and should only be submitted the secure online application form or sent directly via the U.S. mail to address in "Help" below.
2. Essay – Be prepared to upload a PDF or .DOCX file of an essay of 500 words or less describing your career goals and research interests.
3. Resume/CV - Be prepared to upload a PDF or .DOCX file of your current resume/CV. The document should be a summary of your educational, volunteer, job and research experiences as appropriate.
4. References – Be prepared to provide the name and relationship/title of two individuals who will you will contact independently that will provide reference letters on your behalf.
   
   1. Applicants Are Responsible for Contacting Their References
      The Undergraduate Research Program does not contact references on your behalf. We strongly encourage you to reach out to your references prior to submitting this application with your request and instructions. Letters of reference must be sent by the reference to Michelle Huslig at pharmchem@ku.edu or by U.S. mail at the address in the "Help" section below. Letters of reference sent by the applicant will not be accepted. Your application is considered incomplete until both letters of reference have been received.

APPLY FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM

Help

For additional information about the program and/or application, please contact Michelle Huslig at: pharmchem@ku.edu or 785-864-4822.

Mailing Transcripts:

If you prefer to send your unofficial transcripts via U.S. Mail, send them to:

Michelle Huslig
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of Kansas
2093 Constant Ave.
Lawrence KS 66047-3729