R25AI189409
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
The National Summer Undergraduate Research Project: Virtual Programming and Mentoring in Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology - Project Summary
The National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP) was created as an eight-week virtual summer research program in the microbial sciences that matches underrepresented minorities in STEM undergraduate students nationwide with faculty mentors worldwide to address the barriers presented by COVID-19 cancelations.
NSURP mentees conduct research from any location with an internet connection, allowing students to learn how to conduct impactful research by forming and testing hypotheses.
As individuals returned to in-person programs, NSURP found a population unable to travel, independent of COVID-19, due to financial, familial, geography, and health constraints.
As we see an increased demand from these individuals, post-pandemic, who can’t travel to in-person opportunities, we seek to expand our ability to serve these undergraduates with research opportunities in our program and provide them with year-long mentoring and professional development.
NSURP seeks to apply its virtual research model to human health-related topics, such as the basic and applied disease research conducted within the purview of the NIAID, both in microbiology and immunology.
Implementing NSURP within the NIAID infrastructure will create more opportunities for URM scientists and ultimately aid in developing a diverse biomedical research workforce.
The central premise of NSURP is to meet undergraduates where they are, facilitate exposure and pursuit of a scientific opportunity, and give them the tools and confidence to continue in their scientific careers.
To maximize the contribution of NSURP within the NIAID mission, we will 1) provide virtual biomedical-specific summer research opportunities within the NIAID mission for minoritized undergraduates, 2) facilitate synergistic virtual scientific and career multi-level mentoring relationships, and 3) assess program impact by evaluating educational outcomes of NSURP participants and conducting longitudinal studies on the effects of culturally-responsive virtual mentorship training.
The National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP) was created as an eight-week virtual summer research program in the microbial sciences that matches underrepresented minorities in STEM undergraduate students nationwide with faculty mentors worldwide to address the barriers presented by COVID-19 cancelations.
NSURP mentees conduct research from any location with an internet connection, allowing students to learn how to conduct impactful research by forming and testing hypotheses.
As individuals returned to in-person programs, NSURP found a population unable to travel, independent of COVID-19, due to financial, familial, geography, and health constraints.
As we see an increased demand from these individuals, post-pandemic, who can’t travel to in-person opportunities, we seek to expand our ability to serve these undergraduates with research opportunities in our program and provide them with year-long mentoring and professional development.
NSURP seeks to apply its virtual research model to human health-related topics, such as the basic and applied disease research conducted within the purview of the NIAID, both in microbiology and immunology.
Implementing NSURP within the NIAID infrastructure will create more opportunities for URM scientists and ultimately aid in developing a diverse biomedical research workforce.
The central premise of NSURP is to meet undergraduates where they are, facilitate exposure and pursuit of a scientific opportunity, and give them the tools and confidence to continue in their scientific careers.
To maximize the contribution of NSURP within the NIAID mission, we will 1) provide virtual biomedical-specific summer research opportunities within the NIAID mission for minoritized undergraduates, 2) facilitate synergistic virtual scientific and career multi-level mentoring relationships, and 3) assess program impact by evaluating educational outcomes of NSURP participants and conducting longitudinal studies on the effects of culturally-responsive virtual mentorship training.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Arizona
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
University Of Arizona was awarded
Project Grant R25AI189409
worth $368,681
from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in May 2026 with work to be completed primarily in Arizona United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NIAID Research Education Program Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 5/21/26
Period of Performance
5/13/26
Start Date
4/30/31
End Date
Funding Split
$368.7K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$368.7K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
R25AI189409
SAI Number
R25AI189409-2146946209
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75NM00 NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Funding Office
75NM00 NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Awardee UEI
ED44Y3W6P7B9
Awardee CAGE
0LJH3
Performance District
AZ-90
Senators
Kyrsten Sinema
Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly
Modified: 5/21/26