WV-INBRE Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program
Program Summary
WV-INBRE is pleased to announce its 2025 Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program. This program is nine weeks of biomedical research under the mentorship of Dr. Lisandro Cunci or Dr. Abel J. Baerga. Dr. Cunci is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. Dr. Baerga is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. Two students from WV-INBRE lead and primarily undergraduate institutions will be selected. One student will work under the mentorship of Dr. Cunci and the other will work under the mentorship of Dr. Baerga. Participants will receive formal research training while expanding their learning experience through workshops, seminars on current topics, mentoring and use of state-of-the-art facilities.
General Guidelines and Eligibility
Applications are requested for participation in the 2025 Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program sponsored by the WV-INBRE and PR-INBRE, which will run from June through July, 2025. Participation is open to all students who are enrolled full-time at the institutions participating in the WV-INBRE network who will have not graduated by August 2025. Students at WVU and Marshall University are eligible to participate, however, students attending a primarily undergraduate institution will receive preference. Applications from women and members of minority groups are especially encouraged. A stipend of $6,000 will be provided to each intern for the 9-week period. Housing at the Molecular Sciences Research Center will be covered as will travel expenses to and from Puerto Rico.
Interns will be required to prepare an abstract and present the results of their summer research project at either the Puerto Rico INBRE summer symposium or the 2025 Summer Research Symposium in Huntington, WV on July 29, 2025.
Research Placement
One of the students selected will conduct research under the mentorship of Dr. Lisandro Cunci at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. The other student selected will conduct research under the mentorship of Dr. Abel Baerga at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.
For more information on Dr. Cunci’s research, see here: https://natsci.uprrp.edu/chemistry/lisandro-cunci/
For more information on Dr. Baerga’s research, see here: https://cicim.upr.edu/faculty-members/abel-baerga/
Application Checklist
Cover letter
Curriculum Vitae
Transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended
Letters of recommendation from two professors
Application Deadline
All application materials are due by the end of the business day, March 31, 2025. Application materials should be sent to: [email protected]
Evaluation Criteria
Academic record, particularly in science related courses
Laboratory experience
Stated interest in biomedical research and career goals
Why the applicant would like to participate in the program
Recommendations from two faculty members at the applicant's institution and others, if relevant
Additional Information
The individuals selected to participate in the WV-PR research exchange must acquire traveler’s health insurance prior to their departure to Puerto Rico. Proof of this insurance is required. Travel dates and lodging arrangements made by the WV- and PR-INBRE programs must be followed.
Because the age of consent in Puerto Rico is 21 years, participants under the age of 21 are required to have written consent of their parents or prior legal guardians.