UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Summer Translational Cardiovascular Science Institute (STCSI) program is accepting applications from now until March 1. The program is open to any undergraduate student at the University with a demonstrated interest in cardiovascular science. 

STCSI will provide a stipend of $6,000 to 10 undergraduate students to conduct research related to cardiovascular disease, focusing in particular on the cellular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease pathology, the determinants of cardiovascular disease risk across the lifespan and the development of cardiovascular device technology to address disease. 

“STCSI is a great opportunity for students to engage in summer research with Penn State faculty who study cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States,” said Keefe Manning, Penn State professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering and of surgery in the College of Medicine and program director for the STCSI program. “We hope that the program will encourage students to pursue careers to improve health outcomes associated with this disease.” 

The program is open to undergraduate students from any institution. Priority is given to students who demonstrate a strong interest in cardiovascular science and have articulated specific interests in a participating faculty mentor's research. The complete list of faculty mentors, along with other details about the program including the list of application materials, can be found on the STCSI webpage. 

In addition to conducting research, students will attend seminars related to professional development and a weekly seminar series throughout the summer that will focus on four main areas:  

• Understanding cardiovascular disease risk incidence and assessment from infancy to old age 

• Identifying the mechanisms that underlie cardiovascular pathophysiology using human and animal models 

• Understanding behavioral intervention research strategies to positively affect cardiovascular disease risk 

• Identifying core technologies and novel applications of nanoscale biotechnology to better understand cardiovascular disease biology and develop novel therapeutic interventions 

The Penn State Summer Translational Cardiovascular Science Institute is sponsored by the American Heart Association and also supported by the Penn State Department of Biomedical Engineering, the College of Health and Human Development, the Eberly College of Science and the Schreyer Honors College.  

For more information about application materials or general questions about the program, contact Ariel Christine, undergraduate program assistant in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, at ajr311@psu.edu. Applicants can expect notification within four weeks of the deadline.