Group photo of undergraduate students in a lab

Minnesota Craniofacial & Oral Health Research Experience

The Minnesota Craniofacial and Oral health Research Experience (MnCORE) is a summer research and career development experience for undergraduate students.

Program at a Glance

10 weeks
Length of Program
June 1 - August 10
Dates of program for 2024
Compensation
Stipend, Room & Board, Travel to/from Minnesota

Applications are due February 16, 2024 by midnight.

Apply Now

group of undergrad students conducting research in a lab for MnCORE
students observing another student's lab work on a laptop with MnCore
Portraits of three students in the lab for MnCore

About our program

The Minnesota Craniofacial and Oral Health Research Experience (MnCORE) aims to introduce new generations of researchers to questions in craniofacial, oral health and dental research. Research strengths of this training program include immunology/cancer, biomaterials, bone biology, and microbiology. 

MnCORE has four integrated components based on its foundational ten-week residential summer research and career development program:

  1. completion of a research project
  2. weekly group seminars
  3. introduction to oral biology and dental career paths
  4. development of professional skills. Students interested in research careers, clinical careers, and combined DDS/PhD career paths are all welcome to apply.

MnCORE partners with the University of Minnesota’s Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) to provide students with the best experience. LSSURP brings together nine summer research programs, with approximately 70 students in total, providing professional development experiences, social events and general student services throughout the summer. 

LSSURP provides  students that have been traditionally underrepresented in the life sciences with experience and training that enhances their ability to pursue a career in research. This represents a long-standing commitment to increasing the impact and quality of life science research at the University of Minnesota, which is strengthened when there is diversity in our faculty and students. We strongly encourage students whose backgrounds encompass diversity in culture, disability, ethnicity, gender and economic background to apply for our summer research positions.

MnCORE will begin with a joint LSSURP orientation weekend, followed by participation in a 10-week research project under the direction of a University of Minnesota faculty mentor and numerous special activities focused on professional development as well as social interaction. The summer research experience concludes with a poster symposium and banquet in August.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents, enrolled full time in an accredited 2- or 4-year institution, who are interested in pursuing a PhD, DDS or MD in the life sciences in the future, and able to commit full-time to the program throughout the entire 10-week program. Students from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Take the Next Step

Two students in a MnCORE lab working

Applications are submitted through the LSSURP Program. The online application requires two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a brief biosketch, a diversity statement, and unofficial transcripts. THERE IS NO FEE TO APPLY.

Applications are due February 16, 2024 by midnight.

Apply Now