Position Description
- Students will be assigned a faculty mentor and scheduled work hours at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year.
- No stipend is associated with this appointment, as the students receive credit for their participation (HON 498).
- Students will collaborate with a Mayo Clinic investigator on a research project. In some cases, the research project may evolve into the honors thesis project, if approved by the thesis chair and the Mayo Clinic investigator.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate a scholarly approach to biomedical problems and a willingness to learn new skills/ techniques that are needed to solve biomedical problems.
- Describe the critical role of basic science, clinical, epidemiological and translational research and scholarship in understanding and alleviating disease and disability from disease.
- Describe the steps needed to identify a suitable biomedical research question, formulate a hypothesis, design a suitable experimental procedure, obtain and properly analyze data.
- Work with a faculty mentor to analyze a research question and analyze and interpret the data collected.
- Demonstrate command of the domain of research project and present data coherently and effectively.
- Describe the process of preparing research materials for publication or presentation.
Eligibility
Exceptional Arizona State University (ASU) Barrett Honors College students are eligible for participation.
Applicants must:
- Be an active Barrett honors student in good standing.
- Will be enrolled in your third or fourth year at ASU in the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Have a grade point average of at least a 3.5 (4.0 scale).
- Plan to participate and enroll in HON 498 for the academic year Fall and Spring terms during the Mayo UBRI appointment.
- Be available for assigned work and meetings at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, approximately 10 hours a week. Note- Three consecutive days each week with uninterrupted laboratory time of 3-4 hours each day is preferred, but not required. Exact schedules will be determined with your Mayo Clinic Mentor.
- Be responsible for your own transportation to the Mayo Clinic.
- If planning a thesis, have an ASU faculty co-director for the thesis if the Mayo Clinic investigator does not have an academic affiliation with ASU.
Applications will be initially reviewed by Barrett, The Honors College and eligible applicants will be submitted to Mayo faculty for further review.
Attachments must include:
- Respond to a short answer prompt describing your experience and interest in the program.
- Responses to the program questionnaire outlining your interests and experience.
- A copy of your ASU transcript (unofficial is acceptable).
- A copy of your current resume.
- A Letter of Recommendation Evaluation form from a faculty member or current or previous supervisor.
Expectations of student researchers
- Register for 3 credits of HON 498
- Be present for all agreed-upon hours of research work at Mayo.
- Be familiar with all background materials in preparation for research work.
- Complete all work (laboratory/clinical work, writing, presentations, etc.) on time and excellently.
- Be responsive to all feedback and requests by research mentor in regard to the research experience.
Expectations of investigators
- Be available to student researcher.
- Offer guidance in the research work.
- Ensure that student researcher has adequate space, materials, and access to equipment.
- Provide mentoring to student researcher.
- Provide an evaluation of student’s research work at end of semester (the independent study will be graded with pass/fail).
