Undergraduate Research Program

The Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG) welcomes current undergraduate students who are working on a bachelor’s degree with a focus in science to participate in our Undergraduate Research Program at UT Health San Antonio. This is an ideal opportunity for students who are interested in receiving hands-on lab and research experience. This is particularly important for student’s interest in pursuing graduate or medical school.

The objective of the undergraduate research program is to allow students who are considering a career in the biomedical science field first-hand experience in real-world laboratories supervised by scientists who are the leaders in their respective disciplines. Undergraduates will work side-by-side with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in our labs. Undergraduates are also invited to attend events, seminars and other weekly lectures and will be eligible to receive course credit for their efforts at their home campus.

To enroll in our program and receive course credit talk to your advisor today! Please contact the Program Coordinator, Allison Niño, ninoa2@uthscsa.edu, for more information.

Contact Information

Allison Niño

Program Coordinator
Phone: (210) 567-3952
Fax: (210) 567-6612
Email: ninoa2@uthscsa.edu

Thirumalai Kannan, Ph.D.

Program Director
Phone: (210) 562-4182
Fax: (210) 567-6612
Email: kannan@uthscsa.edu

Program Activities

  • Lab Research under faculty mentor
  • Weekly Journal Club
  • Seminars by internationally renowned speakers
  • Annual Retreats/Conferences
  • Socials events and other networking events

Admission Requirements

  • Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor degree program with a focus in science
  • Must be in the third or fourth year of study
  • Minimum overall GPA of a 3.0
  • Must have a genuine interest in lab research
  • Must be able to work up to 15 hrs. per school week

Program Information

Application Checklist

  • Visiting Student Application
  • Short paragraph describing research interests
  • Background Check Form
  • Unofficial copy of Transcripts
  • Copy of Immunization Records
  • Proof of Health Insurance

Contact the Program Coordinator, Allison Niño, ninoa2@uthscsa.edu, for the Visiting Student Application form.

Ask about application deadline for each semester! All materials must be submitted by the deadline.

Underrepresented Student Efforts:

We are partnered with neighboring Texas State University as part of a “Bridge to Biomedicine” NIH Training grant. The goal of this effort is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students from community colleges pursuing undergraduate degrees related to biomedicine. We have also initiated a partnership with Our Lady of the Lake University to offer research training to students on their campus participating in the prestigious McNair Scholars Program funded by the US Department of Education. Underrepresented students selected for this program receive special training to prepare them for graduate level studies, with the ultimate goal of diversifying the STEM workforce. Students in these programs gain research experience in active research labs to increase their competitiveness for applying to graduate and professional programs.