Eligibility, Application, and Selection
We are committed to the well-being and success of all community members. Columbia complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not engage in illegal preferences or discrimination.
Applications Open!
Final Deadline: January 10, 2025
Eligibility
Our funding from the National Institutes of Health sets certain eligibility criteria to participate in the program.
- Applicants to the program must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate institution or community college. Rising Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, in addition to Seniors who graduate Spring of 2025 are all eligible.
- Applicants must either be a U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident, or an individual granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Aligned with the goal of the STAR U Program and NIH’s interest in diversity, eligible students may include students from any of the following groups:
- Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis.
- Individuals with disabilities--a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Individuals who have/have experienced certain disadvantages (e.g. first-gen students, rural or urban education, Pell Grant recipients, free/reduced lunch, and more).
- Students can explain how they qualify for the program in the STAR U Application.
- For more information and to explore your eligibility for this program please reach out to staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu. We're happy to work with you and answer questions!
- Priority given to: Students with clear research-career interests and students with graduate school ambitions
Application Requirements
- Completed application form submitted electronically by January 10, 2025@ 11:59 PM EST
- The application form consists of demographic questions, uploading your personal statement/resume/academic transcript, and a short answer question about your research interests and mentor preferences.
- All applications must be submitted electronically in the online application form.
- Personal Statement (600 words maximum, saved in PDF form):
- Reasons for your interest in brain aging
- Your academic and career goals
- What has inspired or motivated you to pursue these goals? (Expand on community involvement, volunteer experiences, previous research, personal life experiences, etc.)
- How will participating in STAR U help you reach your goals?
- Any other information about yourself that you would like to share
- Resume/CV (in PDF form)
- Academic transcript (in PDF form; official or unofficial)
- Visitor Registration Form (in PDF format)
- Top section of page 1, non-electronic signature, and date ("To Be Completed by Visitor") and page 6 (name, date, and non-electronic signature)
- Scan as one PDF and attach it to the online application
- Personal Information Form (in PDF format)
- Please find this form in the "Documents" section of the main page.
- We ask for these forms to accelerate the on boarding process in the case that you are selected as a final candidate for the STAR U 2020 Program.
- 2 pieces of supporting documentation:
- The first piece of supporting documentation must be in the form of a letter of recommendation. Letters should be emailed by your reference directly to the STAR U Program Coordinator: staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu. by February 1st, 2025. A reference may include:
- an undergraduate professor
- academic advisor
- work/volunteer/community service supervisor
- college teaching assistant
- high school teacher
- other community member who knows you in an academic or professional capacity
- We recognize that students have interests and passions beyond this application. The second piece of supporting documentation is meant to provide students with the opportunity to share additional material that would help us get to know you better. This may include a writing sample, presentation/project, video clip, etc. Alternatively, you may request a second letter of recommendation for this category (emailed by reference to staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu). Supporting documentation can be uploaded directly to the STAR U Application in the "Supporting Documentation" section.
- If you have any questions regarding supporting documentation, please email the Program Coordinator, at staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu.
- Please note: your application is not considered complete unless we have received your completed application form, which should include your demographic information, personal statement, short answer response, resume/CV, and academic transcript, short term visitor form, personal information form, and one letter of recommendation (two letters of recommendation are required if you do not choose to submit a second piece of supplemental material such as a writing sample, presentation/project, video clip, etc.) by the deadline of January 10, 2025. Reference letter(s) are due by February 1, 2025, and must be emailed directly to the STAR U Program Coordinator at staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu.
Selection Process
- Only complete applications, which include submission of all documents and online forms, submitted by the deadline will be reviewed.
- Once the application deadline has passed, the STAR U Review Committee will begin the review of complete applications.
- If selected for an interview, applicants will be notified by February/March 2025.
- If selected to participate in the 2025 STAR U Cohort, applicants will be notified by March/April 2025.
Timeline:
- Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 @ 11:59PM EST
- Letters of Recommendations Deadline: February 1, 2025 (sent to staru_neurology@cumc.columbia.edu)
- Notification if selected for phone interview: February/March 2025
- Program Starts: June 9, 2025
- Program Ends: August 9, 2025
- Applications Open Now!