Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program
WV-INBRE is pleased to announce its 2026 Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program. This program offers nine weeks of intensive biomedical research under expert mentorship with a focus on Natural Products research. Two students from WV-INBRE lead and primarily undergraduate institutions will be selected to participate. Participants will receive formal research training while expanding their learning experience through workshops, seminars on current topics, mentoring and use of state-of-the-art facilities.
Program Dates
June - July 2026
Stipend
$7,000
Participants
2
Application Deadline
March 13, 2026
General Guidelines & Eligibility
Applications are requested for participation in the 2026 Puerto Rico Summer Research Exchange Program sponsored by the WV-INBRE and PR-INBRE, which will run from June through July, 2026. Participation is open to all students who are enrolled full-time at the institutions participating in the WV-INBRE network who will have not graduated by August 2026. Students at WVU and Marshall University are eligible to participate, however, students attending a primarily undergraduate institution will receive preference. Applications from women and members of minority groups are especially encouraged.
Interns will be required to prepare an abstract and present their findings of their summer research project at either the Puerto Rico INBRE summer symposium or the 2026 WV-INBRE Summer Research Symposium in Morgantown, WV on July 28, 2026.
Program Benefits
A stipend of $7,000 will be provided to each intern for the 9-week period. Nearby housing will be provided as will travel expenses to and from Puerto Rico.
Research Placements
One of the students selected will conduct research under the mentorship of Dr. Claudia Ospina, Dr. Eliud Hernandez Ofarrill, or a mentor in another area of biomedical research to be named later. Additional options for research mentors may also be available at a later date.
Research Mentors:
Dr. Claudia Ospina
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Expert mentorship in natural products with access to state-of-the-art facilities
Dr. Eliud Hernandez Ofarrill
UPR Medical Sciences Campus
Leading researcher in biomedical sciences with extensive training programs
Application Requirements
Application Checklist
Evaluation Criteria
Important Requirements
Traveler's Health Insurance
Required for all participants before departure to Puerto Rico
Age Requirement
Parental consent required for participants under 21 years old
Ready to Apply?
Resources
Questions?
Dr. Joseph Horzempa
Program Coordinator
West Liberty University