U*NEXT Program

• Are you an undergraduate that is interested in pursuing a career in research?
• Do you want to get paid to learn what it would take to transition to a Ph.D. program in a STEM field?
• Have you been curious about participating in research but have not known how to get involved?

The goal of the Undergraduate Experiential Training (U*NEXT) program is to increase the number of students on a path towards successfully matriculating into a doctoral degree program and entering the scientific workforce. We are particularly focused on students interested in fields that have biomedical relevance. We align closely with the priorities of the National Institutes of Health in training the next-generation of scientists.

Program highlights

U*NEXT trainees will be selected based on a competitive application process and then matched with a host laboratory based on interests of the trainee. Over the Fall semester, all trainees will develop a set of interdisciplinary research and laboratory skills through faculty mentored research experiences, monthly professional development sessions, and specialized research-oriented workshops that expose the trainees to interdisciplinary research approaches within the biomedical field.

The current stipend for each U*NEXT trainee is $1,000 for approximately 10 hours a week throughout the Fall semester.

Eligibility of applicants

• Pursuing a program of study that falls within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences or the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
• Have a GPA of 3.4 or higher
• Have a genuine interest in pursuing a doctoral degree within a STEM field (students who plan to pursue a degree in the health field are not eligible)
• Available to dedicate approximately 10 hours a week during the program dates listed below. The 10 hours a week should optimally be spread out across multiple days and include the ability to work or attend scheduled meetings between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm.

Application process and important dates

Application deadline:
Notification of selection for in-person interviews:
Tentative program dates:

As part of the application, please be prepared to have the following information:

1. Description of your activities within the last 5 years such as volunteer work, research experience, employment, club memberships, and honors/ awards. Inclusion of high school activities is acceptable
2. One paragraph summary of your background and how you became interested in science.
3. One paragraph to describe a challenge you have faced and how you overcame it.
4. A unofficial transcript that can be uploaded (Use PipelineMT > Select Registration & Student Records > Transcript icon)

If you have questions, email U*NEXT program contacts Dr. April Weissmiller (April.Weissmiller@mtsu.edu) or Dr. Tiffany Rogers (Tiffany.Rogers@mtsu.edu).

U*NEXT program committee

• April Weissmiller (Biology)
• Tiffany Rogers (Psychology)
• Rafet Al-Tobasei (Computer Science)
• Souvik Banerjee (Chemistry)
• Dong Ye (Mathematics)

Potential participating faculty mentors and their departments:
Note: If you are already working in a research laboratory and your current mentor is willing to serve as your U*NEXT mentor, you may stay in that laboratory for Fall 2024 if you desire.

• Hanna Terletska (Physics and Astronomy)
• Emmanuel Rowe (Engineering)
• Justin Miller (Chemistry)
• Souvik Banerjee (Chemistry)
• Kevin Bicker (Chemistry)
• Katy Hosbein (Chemistry, Chemistry Education Research)
• April Weissmiller (Biology)
• Dave Nelson (Biology)
• Mary Farone (Biology)
• Liz Barnes (Biology, Biology Education Research)
• Rafet Al-Tobasei (Computer Science)
• Joshua Phillips (Computer Science)
• Dong Ye (Mathematical Sciences)
• J.C. Saunders (Mathematical Sciences)
• Ramchandra Rimal (Mathematical Sciences, Data Science)
• Sarah Bleiler-Baxter (Mathematical Sciences, Math Education Research)
• Tiffany Rogers (Psychology)
• Jim Houston (Psychology)
• Cyrille Magne (Psychology)
• Racha El Kadiri (Geosciences)