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Answers

1. Q. What is the purpose of the RISE Program?

A. The purpose of RISE Program is to increase the interest, skills, and competitiveness of undergraduate students for careers in biomedical research. The CSU program offers support for student development activities which include workshops, specialty courses, on- and off-campus research experiences, and travel to scientific meetings.

The measureable goal of the CSU program is to increase the numbers of graduates admitted to academic graduate programs leading to a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. To see how we are doing in achieving the program goal, click here.

2. Q. Am I eligible to participate in the RISE program?

A. You are eligible for support by the RISE program if you (i) are majoring in biology, chemistry, physics, math or psychology, (ii) intend to go on to Ph.D.-level graduate work, (iii) have a grade-point-average of close to 3.0, or better, and (iv) are a US citizen or permanent resident.

3. Q. I am a biology pre-med major. Am I eligible to be a RISE student?

A. As indicated before, the goal of the RISE Program is to encourage and prepare students to go on to graduate school to earn the Ph.D. degree in preparation for careers as biomedical scientists. RISE students are not encouraged to be physicians unless their ultimate goal is to have a career in medical research.

4. Q. I am not sure what “biomedical research” is all about. Can participation in the RISE Program provide the answer?

A. Participation in two of the RISE Program projects will give you the answer and clarify whether you would be comfortable with a research career. The TILT Project is a summer workshop in which you will learn many research techniques, how to formulate a hypothesis, test it, and interpret experimental data. After TILT you can choose among several ongoing biomedical research projects directed by CSU research faculty and participate as a paid "ASPIRE" intern both during the academic semesters and in the summers.

5. Q. I am majoring in biology (or chemistry, or physics) and close to graduating. I have a good GPA. How do I go about getting into a good Ph.D. program?

A. Speak to either the Dr. Sherman or Dr. Kanis about the GRASP Project. GRASP is a part of the RISE Program and it is the project that prepares you for the final step of both choosing and getting into graduate school. GRASP will help you prepare for the General GRE Exam (a requirement for admission into all graduate programs) and will also help you with other aspects of the graduate school application process. GRASP will cover all costs of the graduate-school application for eligible RISE students.

6. Q. Are there any financial benefits from participation in the RISE Program?

A. Yes. But, the benefits vary between the different RISE Project activities. Students participating as P TILT and ASPIRE interns receive pay on an hourly basis at a rate based on their seniority. The current range is from $8.00 to $9.00 per hour. Similarly, tutors in the PLTL Project are also paid at the hourly rate of $10.00 per hour for their tutoring activities.

Reimbursement for RISE activities is through the CSU Student Employment mechanism. Each RISE student completes a Student Employment Timesheet and returns it to the MBRS Office on each semi-monthly pay day. To view the regulations governing RISE-student empolyment, please click here.

7.Q. Does the RISE Program offer scholarships?

A. No. The financial benfits for RISE students are in the form of work-study opportunities for which undergraduates are paid on an hourly scale ranging between $8.00 to $10.00 per hour, depending on seniority and activitiy.

8. Q. Eventually I would like to apply to a Ph.D. program. But I think that I am not quite ready or have not decided on which program. What are my choices?

A. There are a number of Ph.D. "bridge" programs hosted at universities around the nation. A complete listing of programs supported by the NIH may be found at the NIH website. A particularly attractive bridge program is here at Chicago State University. This bridges an M.S. degree in life sciences with the Ph.D. program at Northwestern University. More information may be found at the CSU - Northwestern Bridge program website.

9. Q. I have aleady spent 4-5 years of my life getting my B.S. degree. How can I afford to pay for 4 year or more going to graduate school? How will I support myself and how can I pay the tuition?

A. Most (if not all!) students who are accepted into a Ph.D. program in one of the biomedical sciences are eligible and get a generous fellowship and full-paid tuition. One of the sources of these fellowships is the NIH. For more information go to the NIH website http://grants.nih.gov/training/FTAwards.htm