Alaska WWAMI Programs

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

2009 Program Dates: June 28 - August 15, 2009

Application Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2009
Deadline Extended to Sunday, March 1st!

The purpose of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease's 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 fee for participation in the program, and dormitory housing is provided at no charge. Stipends may be provided to cover food costs and miscellaneous expenses of participating in this program.

At the end of the summer, NIH NIDDK students travel to Washington, DC, where they 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 NIH conference. Students who completed successful research projects during the 2004-2006 summer programs were 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 this year's annual conference. In addition, the Program Director, Dr. Ian van Tets, won an award recognizing his "Outstanding Commitment to Excellence." To read more about the 2007 program and student awards,   click here.

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.   Learn more about undergraduate NIDDK summer programs for Alaskan 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.

UAA NIDDK Student Publications

Read more about the NIDDK STEP-UP Program (formerly the NIDDK Summer Research Apprentice Program) and elibibility requirements: 2009 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 UAA Della Keats/U-DOC and NIH NIDDK Summer Programs are Generously Supported and/or Administered by: WWAMI - Alaska's Medical School The Imaginarium / 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)