I’m trying to figure out how feasible it would be to get into a REU/Amgen Scholars/other research-based program for summer 2017 to see which ones I should apply to in the coming months. Here’s some of my background info so hopefully some people can throw some advice my way on whether or not I’m competitive for such high-caliber research programs:
-I’m a sophomore at Saint Louis University majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in French with a 3.82 GPA.
-I’m involved in Biomedical Engineering Society, Engineering Health Collaborative (EHC), and a service and faith group on campus called Micah.
-For 3 summers I worked for a company testing a device that reduced transfusion risk by purifying blood components. Eventually the device was approved by the FDA, and is now used by the Red Cross. It was only a dry lab, though.
-I should be able to get solid LORs from my Computing, Mechanics, and maybe Calc III professors.
-This and last semesters I’ve been working in preliminary lab work through EHC on a new research project aimed at synthesizing an antimicrobial pattern through electrospinning. We will be at the bench within the next week.
Sadly, I’m not currently doing any research with a professor because I am studying abroad in Madrid next semester, which is why I’m trying to figure this out now. Worrying about getting LORs and transcripts when I’m abroad doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. Let me know if there’s anything else I should include to get a better idea of how qualified I might be for an REU or Amgen program position. I’m especially interested in the Amgen Scholars programs at Wash U, Columbia, and UC Berkeley, the Duke REU program, SUIP at UPenn, and BioMedRap at Wash U. Please tell me if you think I have no shot at this kind of thing, that would be helpful to know. Brutal honesty is best. Thanks!