Eligibility Requirements for program Participants:

You Must:

  • Be a US citizen or Permanent Resident.
  • Come from an under-represented minority community in biomedical & behavioral research (including, but not limited to African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American or Pacific Islander). You must NOTARIZE acceptance/admission to this statement in the RISE application form.
  • Be enrolled in a full time B.S. degree program in Biological, Natural, computer Sciences, or Mathematics at MEC.
  • Be committed to pursue a Ph.D. program. In very special cases, your willingness to pursue MD-Ph.D. degree in biomedical research could possibly be considered provided your application demonstrates convincingly to satisfy various parameters such as extraordinarily high GPA, participation in extra-curricular activities, like debates, sports, leadership skills, club memberships and other aspects of your application in one of the most competitive programs in most medical schools. Just stating your interest may simply not be enough for such consideration. This RISE program is highly competitive paid and taking someone’s spot who is simply interested in pursuing research leading to PhD may not be fair to that individual/applicant when your ultimate goal is completing MD.
  • Understand well enough that you will not be eligible for RISE program if you intend to apply for M.D. programs.
  • Have completed 30 science credits with a minimum GPA of 2.8 in sciences and have not completed more than 50 credits (sophomore preferred).

Application and Selection Process:

  1. Eligible students must apply by filling out a prescribed form available in the program office at AB-1/403A or downloading from the RISE WEB site.  Qualified candidates shall be interviewed by a selection committee.  Selected candidates shall be notified thereafter.

RISE Program Policies for Participants:

  • Must maintain a full time status (12 credits in the semester). Students must notify Program Administrator prior to withdrawal from courses. At the beginning of the semester, your schedule of all courses and RISE program work schedule in lab (set with your mentor) must be given to program office.
  • Maintain a high standard of academic honesty and GPA of 2.8 or higher.
  • Take courses per program guidelines.
  • Must conduct mentored research for 940 hrs including annual leave hours in a budget year (April 1 to March 31) that includes 15 hr/week during spring & fall semesters, 35 hours/week for two weeks during winter intersession break and ten weeks during summer. Two weeks during winter-session and summer are mandatory unpaid vacation times. These hours are subject to budget allocations by the NIH-NIGMS-RISE program office. Students paid by the external host institutions during summer shall not be paid by the program.  Participants must submit a bi-weekly time sheet signed by their mentor for the payment.  Participants may take permissible sick leave only when they are sick. You would then be required to submit verifiable documentation to RF-CUNY office if more than two days of sick days are claimed at a time.
  • Fully participate in program’s required course work, and other career enrichment workshops, events and meetings. Must meet with the program staff as and when requested.
  • Attend at least two conferences, one local and one national level and present research work in at least one conference. The program reimburse expenses towards registration, transportation, hotel and food (restriction applies).
  • Must NOT register for MCAT preparatory course or MCAT test unless the student could qualify for and agrees to apply exclusively for admission to program leading toward an M.D.-Ph.D. degree.
  • Renewal of participation shall be subject to a satisfactory annual progress report.
  • Are required to take GRE towards the end of their junior year or at a time recommended by the program and make the score available to program office prior to entering in your senior year.
  • Are required to apply to at least ten graduate schools during their senior year. Updated statements must be made available as and when requested by the program office.
  • Attend at least one external summer undergraduate research internship program.
  • Take part in any evaluation/surveys, including but not limited to meeting with the program’s external evaluator, program director/administrator and annual evaluation by completing their information in the RITA system.
  • Failure to comply with the program policies may lead to termination from the program.
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