In order to further increase the pool of Pacific Island/Alaska Native students entering into biomedical research the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Guam Public School System (GPSS), University of Guam (UOG), Public School System of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and the University of Alaska have partnered to create the NIDDK Pacific Island / Alaska Native Summer Internship Program (PI/AN SIP).

This very prestigious summer program selects four Alaska Native undergraduate students and ten Pacific Island junior and senior high school students annually. The program provides 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. Selected students will conduct research in a laboratory at UOG or University of Alaska.

Eligible Students:

• High school juniors and seniors from the Pacific Island of Guam and the CNMI
• Alaska Native Undergraduate students who have completed at least 1 year at an accredited institution
• U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status

Provisions:

• Pacific Island High School student participation ($2,000)
• Alaska Native Undergraduate student participation allowance and housing allotment ($4,000)
• Education-related expenses fee provided to the research mentor ($500)
• Accredited College Credits for Pacific Island students
• Travel expenses to the Annual Scientific Research Presentation

Location and Duration:

• The research experience is provided by experienced investigators in their laboratories for 10 consecutive weeks of full-time research. Program begins in June - August.
• Alaska Native students will conduct research at the University of Alaska, Anchorage or at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• Alaska Native Students will be required to participate in the NIDDK Research Symposium at the end of the program
• Pacific Island students will conduct research at the University of Guam
• Pacific Island students will be required to participate in the NIDDK STEP-UP symposium at the end of the program

Application Process for Pacific Island High School students:

• Complete the on-line application available here:
• First Time Users: High School Application for Pacific Islanders
• Returning Users who wish to Edit their Application: High School Application for Pacific Islanders

 

Application Process for Alaska Native Undergraduate students:

• Interested students should apply directly to Dr. Ian van Tet or Mr. Rene Contreras
• Complete the on-line application available here:
• First Time Users: Undergraduate Application for Alaska Natives
• Returning Users who wish to Edit their Application: Undergraduate Application for Alaska Natives
  

 

Application Deadline: February 15

Program Contacts:

Ms. Winnie Martinez
Program Analyst
Office of Minority Health Research Coordination
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Blvd., Room 906A
Betehsda, Maryland 20892
Tel: 301-435-2988
Fax: 301-695-9358
Email: MartinezW@mail.nih.gov

Ms. Kae Pusic
STEP-UP Program Coordinator
University of Hawaii, School of Medicine
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: 808-692-1627
Fax: 808-692-1979
Email: kae@hawaii.edu

Dr. Ian van Tets, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska 99508-8104
Tel: 907-786-4705
Fax: 907 - 786-4707
Email: afivt@uaa.alaska.edu

Rene Contreras, Ed.D.
Pathways Coordinator, WWAMI Biomedical Program
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Tel: 907-786-1019
Email: anrv@uaa.alaska.edu