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 UArizona who are seeking a summer research experience. EHS-RISE offers participants a full-time, paid 12-week research experience on a project related to environmental health sciences (environmental factors that impact human health) and provides 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.
EHS-RISE is housed under the umbrella of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) to promote relationships, connections, and continuity with the larger UArizona undergraduate research community.
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 2025 will be $15.00/hour.
- Receive free on-campus housing through UArizona Residence Life (double occupancy with another EHS-RISE student) 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 19, 2025, as well as the UBRP Ethics Retreat at Biosphere 2 in June 2025.
- Present a poster of their research at the Annual UBRP Conference in January 2026.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
- University of Arizona Native American and Alaska Native undergraduates who are graduating in December 2025 or later. Priority will be given to freshman and transfer students in their first year at UArizona 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.
- Willing and able to conduct research on a full-time basis (35 hours/week) for a minimum of 12 weeks in the interval between May 19 and August 24, 2025.
EHS-RISE Faculty Mentors:
Paloma Beamer - Public Health
Scott Boitano - Physiology
Jeffrey Burgess - Public Health
Eli Chapman - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Yin Chen - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Nathan Cherrington - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Karletta Chief - Environmental Science
Zelieann Craig - School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Xinxin Ding - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Matthew Dodson - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Joseph Hoover - Environmental Sciences
James Galligan - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Mary Kay O’Rourke - Public Health
Donata Vercelli - Cellular & Molecular Medicine
Marc Verhougstraete - Public Health
Georg Wondrak - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Donna Zhang - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Qing-Yu Zhang - Pharmacology & Toxicology
Application Process:
Download an EHS-RISE Application Worksheet and follow the directions to submit your final application online via Qualtrics by 5:00pm Arizona Time on February 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please note that as part of the application you will also need to upload an unofficial UArizona transcript and a Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal Enrollment Record. A letter of recommendation from a tribal elder or leader, or a teacher, will also be required for EHS-RISE. Please direct your recommender to e-mail the letter to Jennifer Cubeta, UBRP Director, at cubeta@arizona.edu. Your letter must be received by February 1 to be considered.
Your final online application must be submitted in Qualtrics no later than 5:00 p.m. Arizona Time on February 1, 2025. Finalists for EHS-RISE positions will be selected by March 1, and EHS-RISE staff will assist students with research placements with a faculty mentor of interest. The program begins with a mandatory full-day orientation on May 19, 2025. Attendance at the two-day UBRP Ethics Retreat in June 2025 (dates TBD) is also required.
Questions?
Please contact Jennifer Cubeta (cubeta@arizona.edu).
