The MARC GatorSTAR program has been designed to enable high ability undergraduates to pursue their PhD and careers in biomedical or behavioral science research. To achieve this, the program provides financial, academic, mentoring, advising, and administrative support.
Typical Training Timeline
| Term | Activities |
| Sophomore Spring | · Recruitment to MARC program · Interviews and placement with faculty research mentor · Develop mentoring contract |
| Pre-Junior Summer | · EH&S and IACUC training, as needed · Biomedical Research Skills course · Research Scholarship Sem. (weekly) · MH&W Process Group (biweekly) · Create IDP · Mentored research (∼30 h/wk) |
| Junior Fall | · Attend local or regional conference · Data Science 1 course · Research Scholarship Sem. (weekly) · MH&W Process Group (biweekly) · Mentored research (8-12 h/wk) |
| Junior Spring | · Arrange extramural research · Data Science 2 course · Research Scholarship Sem. (weekly) · MH&W Process Group (biweekly) · Mentored research (8-12 h/wk) |
| Pre-senior Summer | · Extramural summer extramural research experience |
| Senior fall | · Present research at national meeting (ABRCMS, SACNAS, or other) · Biweekly meetings with MARC Trainee Success Director · PhD program application workshops · Research Scholarship Sem. (weekly) · MH&W Process Group (biweekly) · PhD program applications · Mentored research (~15 h/wk) |
| Senior spring | · Biweekly meetings with MARC Trainee Success Director · PhD program interviews · Research Scholarship Sem. (weekly) · MH&W Process Group (biweekly) · Mentored research (~15 h/wk) |
The MARC Program
The MARC program is only open to students who have been selected as MARC GatorSTAR scholars. Recruitment of scholars to the MARC GatorSTAR program typically begins with UF sophomores and eligible students who have transferred or plan to transfer to UF from state or community colleges and other higher education institutions.
MARC scholars begin their research and program coursework in the summer prior to their junior year, during which the scholar completes a summer research skills and ethics course and begins mentored research with a UF (“intramural”) program faculty mentor with whom the scholar has been matched by the program. The mentored research experience continues during the scholar’s junior year under the supervision of the UF program faculty mentor. In the summer prior to the scholar’s senior year, the scholar participates in full-time, off-campus research with an external faculty research mentor at an affiliated southeast institution. The scholar then continues participation in mentored research with their UF program faculty mentor during the scholar’s senior year, culminating with the submission of an Honors Thesis.
Intramural Mentorship Program
Each MARC scholar is matched with a UF faculty mentor, with whom the scholar will participate in mentored research during the summer prior to their junior year, during the fall and spring semesters of their junior year, and during the fall and spring semesters of their senior year. See the MARC Mentored Research Page for more information.
Extramural Mentorship Program
During the summer prior to their senior year, each scholars participates in full-time extramural research with a faculty research mentor at another academic institution. Scholars receive funds for travel and subsistence and continue to receive their monthly stipend. See the Extramural Research Page for more information.
Academic and Professional Development Resources and Support
MARC GatorSTAR scholars are provided the following additional academic and professional development resources and support:
- Professional development training on research skills, scientific ethics, and scientific communication
- Personalized monitoring of academic progress
- Personalized advising and counseling to foster academic achievement
- Individual or group tutoring sessions for upper-level science and mathematics courses, as needed
- Assistance with preparation for and application to graduate school
- Orientation and regular group meetings with the MARC GatorSTAR program staff
- Presentation of a research talk or poster in the scholar’s senior year at ABRCMS or an approved regional or national scientific conference.