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STEP-UP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) was founded in 1887. The NIH is today one of the world's foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States. The NIH, comprising 27 separate Institutes and Centers, is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by: conducting research in its own laboratories; supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training of research investigators; and fostering communication of medical and health sciences information. |
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The Short-Term Education Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) was created by the Office of Minority Health Research Coordination (OMHRC) in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is NIH’s fifth largest Institute. The STEP-UP Program was developed in order to expose underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students to research in the NIDDK mission areas including diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, obesity, and digestive, liver, urologic, kidney, and hematologic diseases. The long term goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students “in the pipeline” who are committed to a career in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social science research in the NIDDK mission areas.
To accomplish this goal, the NIDDK STEP-UP program provides research education grants to seven institutions for the support of a high school or undergraduate program that provides eligible students with research education and training opportunities that will develop both their research capabilities and their interest in pursuing a career in research.
The Undergraduate STEP-UP Program experience begins with the Undergraduate Research Training Symposium held in May at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. All travel expenses will be paid for undergraduate participants to spend 2 days on the beautiful campus of NIH. Students will meet with the STEP-UP Program Staff, interact with fellow students from all over the country, and learn first hand the responsible conduct of research and research ethics from NIH scientists. Immediately following the symposium, undergraduate students will travel to a research location of their choice within the continental U.S. to begin an intense 10 week full-time summer research experience. The STEP-UP Undergraduate Program culminates with an all expense paid trip to the Annual Undergraduate STEP-UP Scientific Session and Research Presentations in August. Students will have the opportunity to present their summer research to peers, mentors, and a panel of scientific experts from the NIH and broader scientific community.
The High School STEP-UP Program runs from Mid June to Mid August for approximately 8 weeks. High school students will enjoy a full-time 8 week research experience with an experienced scientific investigator at an institution near their home. The High school program culminates at the end of the summer with the STEP-UP High School Scientific Session and Summer Research Presentations held on the world renowned campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. All travel expenses will be provided for a 5 night trip to NIH for STEP-UP high school students to present their research. Students will present their research to an audience of their peers, mentors, and scientific experts, in addition to enjoying other exciting events such as touring NIH and the Nation’s Capitol.
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