470 UCB Boulder, CO 80309-0470
Phone: 303-492-8230, Fax: 303-492-4916,
BSI.colorado.edu
Sponsored by the University of Colorado at Boulder
Bioscience Undergraduate Research Skills and Training Program (BURST)
2014-15 Academic Year Application
BURST supports undergraduate students in gaining an entry-level research experience. Students who receive
funding through this program work on biomedical/bioscience projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Preference for awards is given to sophomores and juniors.
BURST awards are given out in two cycles, one for the academic year, and one for the summer. Students are
paid an hourly wage of $9.00. They may earn up to the amount of their award. Typically, these amounts are
$2,000 - $2,500 for the academic year (10-12 hours per week), or $2,500 for the summer (30-40 hours per week).
BURST does not provide an allowance for supplies, equipment, travel, or other research expenses.
Eligibility
 Undergraduates currently enrolled in a degree-seeking (Bachelor’s) program at CU Boulder.
 Students must take at least 12 credits per semester during academic year BURST awards and at least 12
credits in each of the semesters before and after summer BURST awards.
 Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
 Students who will graduate before or plan to graduate during the term of the award are not eligible (This
includes students graduating in May of the academic year for academic year BURST awards and students
graduating in August for summer BURST awards).
 Students are not expected to have prior experience in bioscience research.
 Students must not have received a BURST or a UROP grant before (UROP Assistantships okay).
 Students with or without work-study are eligible for this program.
 Students may not receive independent study credit for the same research position during the term of the
award
Students: As a requirement of this award, you are expected to participate in various professional development
seminars and activities throughout the program. These skills and trainings are designed to both inform and enrich
the undergraduate research experience. To start the program, students will attend a mandatory orientation that
will be held in the late afternoon/evening of Friday October 3rd. Students who are not able to attend the
orientation will not be able to participate in the BURST program. During this orientation, BSI will go over
program information, lab organization, keeping a lab notebook, experimental design, safety and more. During the
program, students will attend other workshops, and the program will culminate with all students doing a short
presentation of their research and submitting a written research proposal. Lastly, students will be required to
complete various evaluations of both the individual sessions and the entire program.
Important notes:
Funding - Due to the limited availability of research funding for undergraduates on campus, students may not
receive a BURST award in addition to another source of wages, such as a UROP or departmental grant, for
their research at the same time.
Background Check - The University of Colorado at Boulder is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and
living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for
employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial
and/or motor vehicle history. Students will not be accepted into the program until BSI receives an approved background
check from Human Resources.
Mentors: As a requirement of this award, you are expected to attend a mentor training session. This training,
mandatory for all graduate students and post-docs who oversee the day-to-day training of undergraduates, is
designed to create a meaningful mentor/mentee relationship. The training will provide participants with the skills
and training on designing meaningful research projects for undergraduates and on orienting their mentees to the
lab. In addition, mentors will receive information on recommended strategies for working with students; will
receive tips for issue management and conflict resolution; and will receive information on campus resources.
To apply, please complete the application and return it to the BSI main office, Porter B058, by noon on Friday
2014-15 Academic Year BURST Application
September 12, 2014. Questions can be directed to BSI@colorado.edu or 303-492-8230.
Student Information:
Full Legal Name
Last
First
Middle
Student ID Number
CU Employee number (if applicable)
Username for Desire-2-Learn
(same as Identikey Username)
Permanent Mailing Address
Number and Street or P.O. Box
City
State
Zip
State
Zip
Current Contact Information
Number and Street or P.O. Box
City
Telephone
Birth Date (year optional)
Email address
(mm/dd/yyyy)
Gender
Male
Female
Race/Ethnicity (optional)
Are you a first-generation college student?
Do you have work-study funds?
Did you receive (or are you eligible for) a Federal, Colorado or CU grant for Fall 2014?
Major(s)
Current cumulative GPA (2.5 minimum)
Year in school as of September 2014
Expected Graduation date (month/yr.)
Will you have any other job this academic year (paid or volunteer)? If yes, how many hours will you work
per week?
How many credit hours are you taking in the fall 2014 semester?
Please list the courses you will be taking this fall with meeting days and times.
2014-15 Academic Year BURST Application
How many credit hours are you taking in the spring 2015 semester?
Will you be receiving course credit or independent study credit for research during the term of the BURST
award? If so, how many credits and in which semester(s)? Please describe the research project and list
the faculty mentor/instructor for the research project/course.
Have you applied for any other source of funding for your research? If so, please describe.
Are you planning to be away from CU Boulder for more than the regular semester breaks? If so, please
describe (study abroad, leave of absence, extended vacation, etc.)
2014-15 Academic Year BURST Application
Faculty/Lab Information:
Lab PI(s):
Department:
Email address(es)
Campus Box:
Day-to-day BURST mentor (if different from PI)
Email address
Lab phone
Mentor is a (please check one):
faculty member
graduate student
postdoctoral fellow
Other (please specify)
Beginning and end dates of proposed research:
(Possible dates range from: October 6, 2014 to May 8, 2015)
Based on the hourly wage of $9/hr., please calculate the total award you are requesting below:
$9.00 x
(hrs. per week) x
(weeks) = BURST grant request
(amount must not exceed $2,500)
Please indicate which of the following trainings the student will require for his/her project: such as animal
care, hazardous material, radiation safety, etc. and whether they have already completed it or not.
Undergraduates awarded this opportunity will need to attend the
mandatory orientation on Friday October 3rd, 2014 and workshop series.
Failure to attend these sessions may result in expulsion from the program.
In addition, students will undergo a background check before final acceptance into the program.
Graduate students/post-docs/lab technicians who oversee the day-to-day activities of the
undergraduate mentees are required to attend the mandatory mentor training. Failure to
attend may result in the exclusion of this lab from further BURST student sponsorship.
We have read the requirements of this program and agree to its terms.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Mentor
Student
The application deadline for Academic Year 2014-2015 is noon on Friday September 12, 2014. Turn in
applications in person to the main BSI office, Porter B058.
2014-15 Academic Year BURST Application
To be completed by the Faculty Mentor in collaboration with the prospective BURST applicant: (Please
complete on separate sheets and attach to application)
1. Project title.
2. Please describe the research in your laboratory.
3. Please describe the project the student research assistant will be assisting with and what their responsibilities
will be.
4. Who will have the primary responsibility of working with and training the student research assistant and what
are her/his qualifications? How will this student be integrated into your lab?
5. a) How do you view your role as a mentor and what can the student expect of you?
b) What do you expect from the student as a research assistant?
To be completed by the BURST applicant:
For each question below, please do not exceed 1 page. Minimum of 10 pt. font and 1” margins. You
do not need to include the questions.
1. Please address the following points in an essay format.
 What is your motivation for doing research and/or why do you like science?
 Why do you wish to do research in this lab and participate in this type of research?
 How would this research experience fit in with your future academic/career goals?
 What (if any) experience do you have in a research laboratory and/or what qualifications/contributions do
you bring?
2. Describe your past work/volunteer experiences (non-research). What specific things did you contribute as an
employee or volunteer? What specific things about your work/volunteer experience did you find rewarding? If you
do not have a previous job/volunteer experience, please describe an extra-curricular experience and describe
your contributions and what you found rewarding.