10/19/2023 Bethan Owen
This summer, eight bioengineering undergraduates had the chance to participate in the Mayo Clinic's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. Now that the program is over, students had an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on their experiences.
Written by Bethan Owen
This summer, eight bioengineering undergraduates (Milica Barac, Katerina Baxter, Alicia Kim, Jonathan Louis, Varshini Murugesh, Walker Rickord, Megan Zhou, and Roy Zhou) had the chance to participate in the Mayo Clinic's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. This program, hosted annually by the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, offers undergraduates from across the nation a unique opportunity to engage in groundbreaking biomedical research at one of the world's most prestigious medical institutions.
Mayo Clinic's SURF program is renowned for its excellence in fostering young talent and providing these students with practical research experience. For 10 weeks, students are given the opportunity to work alongside Mayo Clinic faculty on various research projects, and bioengineering students contributed to ongoing research ranging from antidepressant drug responses to magnetic resonance elastography.
It’s a hands-on fellowship that closely replicates the kind of environment students will experience in a professional setting.
“Mayo Clinic’s resources are incredible,” said SURF participant Walker Rickord. “Getting to take advantage of the resources they had in the laboratory was amazing. Not only the physical resources but the people, too; the people I worked with in the lab gave me really useful advice. I loved that aspect.”
In addition to collaborating with scientists at the forefront of medical technology and working in cutting-edge labs, this immersive experience provides students with a glimpse into the world of biomedical research, helping them gauge their interests and determine whether a career in this field is the right fit for them.
“The SURF program gave me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a research setting and made the idea of working in a healthcare setting a lot more exciting!” said SURF participant Milica Barac. “I learned not only a lot about research careers but other careers as well. Having this experience certainly gives me confidence as I pursue my post-graduation endeavors.”
This experience concluded with a poster session and celebration that allowed SURF participants to reflect on their time with the Mayo Clinic and share their research with professors and fellow students.
“I really enjoyed the poster presentation,” said Rickord. “You get to have so many meaningful conversations with people. Any time you get the opportunity to talk about your research and practice turning something specific and technical into something that people can understand is a good experience, especially for undergrads.”
The Mayo Clinic’s SURF program is an incredible opportunity for undergraduates to delve into research and explore future prospects. As part of the longstanding partnership between the University of Illinois and Mayo Clinic, up to seven of these prestigious fellowships are reserved for University of Illinois students, and applications are now being accepted for the 2024 SURF cohort! Learn more here.