Alaska WWAMI Programs

UAA NIH NIDDK SHORT-TERM EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR UNDER-REPRESENTED PERSONS (STEP-UP)

2010 Program Dates: June 13 – August 15, 2010
Application Deadline:   Monday, February 8, 2010 – To Be Extended

The purpose of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' (NIDDK) STEP-UP Program is to encourage high school students from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds to enter the fields of medicine and biomedical research. Each NIDDK STEP-UP participant is paired with a seasoned UAA researcher and completes a research project under his or her mentorship. Participating students also take some academic classes with Della Keats/U-DOC Program participants. Della Keats/U-DOC and NIH NIDDK program participants share the university campus and dormitory experience and extracurricular activities.

There is no cost to participants in the program, and dormitory housing is provided at no charge. A small stipend is provided to help cover food and miscellaneous expenses.

At the end of the summer, NIH NIDDK students travel to Washington, DC and present their research and findings at the program's national conference. Students from all over the United States, including Puerto Rico, are represented at the NIDDK STEP-UP conference. Participants who completed successful NIDDK STEP-UP research projects have been able to publish their research in the medical journal  Ethnicity and Disease. To read more about the national NIH NIDDK STEP-UP Program,  click here.

Three of the eight participants in the 2007 NIDDK Program won prestigious awards at the annual conference. In addition, the Program Director, Dr. Ian van Tets, won an award recognizing his "Outstanding Commitment to Excellence."  2007 Program and Student Awards

Students who successfully participate in NIDDK STEP-UP as high school students have the opportunity to continue in NIDDK summer research programs as undergraduates, and they are given priority when applying. NIDDK Summer Programs for Alaskan Undergraduate Students

Alaskan high school students from
under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds
who are currently enrolled in the
11th or 12th grade are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline:   Monday, February 8, 2010 – To Be Extended
Download the Application Form [Includes Recommendation Form]

UAA NIDDK Student Publications

Read more about the NIDDK STEP-UP Program and elibibility requirements: 2010 NIDDK STEP-UP Program Flier

Dr. Ian van Tets, Director Della Keats/U-DOC and NIH NIDDK Summer Programs UAA WWAMI Biomedical Program 3211 Providence Drive, ENGR 331 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone:    (907) 786-4789 FAX:       (907) 786-4700 E-mail:    wwami@uaa.alaska.edu

The 2009 UAA Della Keats/U-DOC and NIH NIDDK Summer Programs were generously supported and/or administered by: WWAMI – Alaska's Medical School Anchorage Museum – Imaginarium Discovery Center/ North Star Project NIH NIDDK Office of Minority Health Research Coordination (OMHRC) Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) South Central Area Health Education Center Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC)