Biomedical Informatics and Behavioral Sciences (BIBS) Summer Research Program Application

Application Open: January 6th, 2025

Application Deadline: February 21st, 2025

The Biomedical Informatics and Behavioral Sciences (BIBS) Summer Research Program seeks talented students including those from groups historically underrepresented in science and the health professions. The BIBS Summer Research Program invites eligible undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students to apply. See the instructions below and send questions to the Program Coordinator at bibs@tamu.edu.

1. Review the BIBS eligibility requirements. Applicants do not need to have a specific major(s). Answer the application questions as completely as possible. If you are unsure of a definition or have a question, please feel free to reach out by email to magarcia@tamu.edu.
2. Your application must include the following documents:
   1. Transcript. Students must submit a transcript for either undergraduate, graduate, or accredited post-baccalaureate programs that include courses from the current (2023-2024) academic year. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
   2. A personal essay (500 words maximum). Details are provided in the section where you will upload your essay.
   3. A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
   4. One academic letter of recommendation from a current or former professor.
3. Incomplete applications or late submissions will not be considered.

• Applicants must be undergraduate or master's students who are currently enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States. Post-baccalaureate students who are enrolled in an accredited post-bac program may also be considered. Additionally, undergraduate applicants should have already successfully completed one academic year of post-secondary education with completion of at least two academic years preferred.
• Applicants must be in good academic standing.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Non-local applicants must be willing to relocate to the Dallas area for the duration of the 9-week program if selected. Please note that the Dallas Campus does not have dormitories. Housing is the responsibility of the participant. 
• Applicants should demonstrate an interest in oral health research and a research career post-graduation.
• Applicants who have been suspended form an institution for criminal conduct, or who have been involved in one of these situations, will not be allowed to enroll in the program, per TAMU policy. 

• If accepted into the BIBS Summer Research Program, you will be required to submit additional documentation to Texas A&M University, which will include direct deposit information to receive your stipend, immunization records, details for parking, and emergency contact information.
• Completion of the documentation must be completed in a timely manner to ensure your spot in the program.
• If you are selected to be a participant, your demographic information will be de-identified and reported to our sponsor organization, the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

An individual is considered to be from a disadvantaged background if he or she meets two or more of the following criteria:

1. Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Definition: https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento/)
2. Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families (Definition: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/foster-care)
3. Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines)
4. Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018009.pdf)
5. Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants (Definition: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html)
6. Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements)
7. Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health), or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (Qualifying zip codes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in #7 can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.