LSU Health Shreveport’s Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences (CCDS) has been chosen by the American Heart Association (AHA) to join its Supporting Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program. This prestigious program aims to support individuals from underrepresented groups interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).
LSU Health Shreveport is among 19 institutions nationwide invited to participate in the program, which kicks off in 2024. The AHA SURE program spans eight weeks during the summer and offers selected undergraduate students valuable mentored research experiences. Participants will receive a $6,000 stipend, coverage for travel expenses and housing, the opportunity to attend AHA Scientific Sessions with all expenses paid, and exclusive networking events with fellow students and AHA scientific leaders.
Initiated by the AHA in 2019, the SURE program has been instrumental in cultivating STEMM majors from underrepresented populations. Having launched over 100 undergraduate STEMM majors since its inception, the program continues to expand. LSU Health Shreveport joins renowned institutions such as Boston University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University in this national effort.
Dr. Karen Stokes, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Assistant Director of Scientific Excellence for the CCDS, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with AHA, highlighting the center’s longstanding commitment to promoting diversity in research. Under Dr. Stokes’ leadership, LSU Health Shreveport has been hosting the NIH-funded Cardiovascular Undergraduate Research Initiative fOr Underrepresented Students (CURIOUS) program since 2019.
Applications for the AHA SURE program are currently open, with a deadline of February 28, 2024, coinciding with the deadline for the CURIOUS program. Interested students can apply online through the LSU Health Shreveport website.
For more information about summer research opportunities at LSU Health Shreveport, students are encouraged to visit the research section of the LSU Health Shreveport website.
About LSU Health Shreveport: LSU Health Shreveport is a key component of the Louisiana State University (LSU) System, serving as one of two health sciences centers and hosting the only academic medical center within a 150-mile radius. The institution’s primary mission is to teach, heal, and discover in order to advance the well-being of the state, region, and beyond. LSU Health Shreveport encompasses various schools, graduate programs, and a robust research enterprise.