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Environmental Health Sciences - Research for Indigenous Student Engagement (EHS-RISE)

EHS-RISE is an introductory summer research program which aims to increase the representation of Native Americans in the STEM workforce, while supporting students’ cultural identity.

The program is designed uniquely for Native American and Alaska Native freshmen, sophomores, and first-year transfer students majoring in STEM at the University of Arizona (UA) who are seeking an introductory summer research experience.  EHS-RISE offers participants a full-time, paid 12-week research experience on a project related to environmental health sciences (defined as research related to environmental factors that impact human health) and provides on-campus housing, professional development workshops, and spiritual and community activities.  The content and structure of EHS-RISE has been designed to address the whole person, complementing the Native traditional belief that the body, mind, and spirit are interrelated.

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EHS-RISE is housed under the umbrella of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) to promote relationships, connections, and continuity with the larger UA undergraduate research community, and is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grant #1-R25-ES34923-01.

EHS-RISE participants will:

• Be provided a lab placement with an EHS-RISE faculty mentor of interest (see list below), with whom they will conduct research on a full-time basis (35 hours/week) for 12 weeks of the summer.  The hourly pay rate for Summer 2027 is anticipated to be $15.50/hour.
• Receive free on-campus housing through UA Residence Life (double occupancy) for the summer.
• Attend weekly professional development workshops and scientific seminars with the UBRP community, and have the opportunity to participate in optional educational field trips, social events, and community service activities.
• Participate in spiritual and cultural activities, peer mentoring, and networking activities with fellow Native American and Alaska Native college students.
• Attend a full-day orientation session on May 17, 2027, as well as the 2-day UBRP Ethics Retreat at Biosphere 2 on June 10 & 11, 2027.

• Present a poster of their research at the Annual UBRP Conference in January 2028.

   

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• University of Arizona Native American and Alaska Native undergraduates (enrolled in 6 or more units) who are graduating in December 2027 or later.  Priority will be given to freshman and transfer students in their first year at UA, as well as those who do not have prior research experience, but all applicants will be considered.
• Majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math field, and has a suitable interest in obtaining research experience in environmental health sciences.
• In good academic standing (holding an overall University of Arizona GPA of 2.0 or higher)
• U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
• Be at least 16 years old by the start of the program (May 17, 2027).

• Willing and able to conduct research on a full-time basis (35 hours/week) from May 17 to August 6, 2027.

   

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EHS-RISE Faculty Mentors:

• Paloma Beamer - Public Health
• Scott Boitano - Physiology
• Jeffrey Burgess - Public Health
• Yin Chen - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Nathan Cherrington - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Zelieann Craig - School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences
• Cherie De Vore - Chemical & Environmental Engineering
• Xinxin Ding - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Joseph Hoover - Environmental Sciences
• James Galligan - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Ellis Robinson - Chemical and Environmental Engineering
• Donata Vercelli - Cellular & Molecular Medicine
• Georg Wondrak - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Qing-Yu Zhang - Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Chi Zhou - School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Application Process

EHS-RISE Applicants will use the UBRP Application to apply for EHS-RISE

Download a UBRP Application Worksheet and follow the directions on the worksheet to submit your final application online via Qualtrics between 9:00AM on December 15, 2026 and 11:59PM on February 1, 2027 Arizona Time (see directions on the worksheet).  All applications submitted during this timeframe will be considered equally; late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To apply for EHS-RISE, a letter of recommendation from from a tribal elder or leader, or a teacher is required. Your letter of recommendation must be emailed directly from the letter writer to the UBRP Director, Jennifer Cubeta, at cubeta@arizona.edu by 11:59PM on February 1, 2027 to be included with your application for consideration. Please note that as part of the application you will also need to upload an unofficial UA transcript and a Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal Enrollment Record.

Finalists for EHS-RISE positions will be selected in March, and EHS-RISE staff will assist students with research placements with a faculty mentor of interest by April 1.  

The program begins with a full-day UBRP orientation on Monday, May 17, 2027.  EHS-RISE participants will also be required to attend the Annual UBRP Ethics Retreat that will take place June 10 - 11, 2027.

All complete and timely EHS-RISE applications will also be entered into the UBRP application pool. Applicants will be asked if they would like to be considered other UBRP Research Programs that they are eligible for (check eligibility here). Consideration for these other programs may require answers to supplemental questions and/or additional steps. EHS-RISE Applicants may also eligible for NACP; refer to their website for more information.

Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by mid-March, 2027. 

Given the current landscape of research funding, we strongly encourage all applicants to also apply to as many of our other UBRP Research Programs as they can (check eligibility here), as well as any other research program or funding opportunity for which you are eligible.  

Questions?

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