Nutrition Undergraduate Research Immersion in the Summer: NURISh
Program Overview
Nutrition research is a highly interdisciplinary field focused on human health, spanning from community-based to biochemical pathways and nutritional genomics. At Texas A&M, our faculty address major health issues like obesity, diabetes, cancer, metabolic health, and more. Our 10-week, 40hr/week research program offers undergraduates immersive experience in both wet and dry lab settings, working alongside leading researchers on projects supported by over $3 million in annual funding. Participants gain hands-on training, contribute to meaningful discoveries, and develop skills for future careers in science.
Travel dates: May 22 – May 24 (arrival) and July 31 – August 1 (departure)
Program dates: Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, July 31
Attend one of our Virtual Information Sessions:
Sign up by clicking this link!
Applications open November 1, 2025 – February 13, 2026
To apply you need:
- Statement of intent
- Resume
- Unofficial Transcript (official transcript will be requested upon acceptance)
- Three contacts to submit an evaluations. (Rather than a recommendation letter, we are using an evaluation survey)
- A request for an evaluation will be automatically sent to the email address you provide upon submission of your application. We strongly encourage you to contact your recommender in advance so they are aware of the request and can look out for the email (due March 1st).
Eligibility: This program is open to domestic U.S. undergraduates studying nutrition, biology, chemistry, or any life science, who will be entering their Sophomore, Junior, or Senior year in Fall 2026.
*Unfortunately, due to the source of our funding, we cannot take international students at this time.
Research Experience
Students will participate in a 10-week summer research program.
Topics include:
- Cancer Prevention
- Inflammation
- Hormonal Health
- Chronic Disease
- PCOS
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Insulin resistance
Read more about our research faculty here.
Financial Support
Students in the NURISh Program will receive the following financial support:
- $7,000 Stipend
- On campus housing
- Travel expenses up to $800
Students will be enrolled in a one credit-hour seminar style course with invited faculty discussing their current research.
- Tuition and Fees paid for by NURISh Program
Professional Development
NURISh hosts bi-weekly professional development sessions to walk students through:
- How to write a good personal statement
- Alternative science careers
- Graduate admissions process and tips
- Mentorship from award winning faculty
- Opportunity for early admission into our graduate program
Additionally, NURISh hosts several dinners and social events with peers, current students, and faculty for networking and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior research experience?
Prior research experience is not required, however is something the admissions committee considers. Experience serves as an additional layer to your application that demonstrates your preparedness for the program. Each lab has individual protocols and procedures the respective undergraduate students are trained in at the beginning of the program. Students also receive guidance throughout the program.
How are students assigned to labs?
Once students have been accepted into the program, we provide them with a list of labs that are participating in the summer alongside summaries of the research project the student would be involved in should they join that lab. Students then rank the labs in order of interest and are matched with labs based on rankings. Most labs only have one student per summer, but some take two.
Do I have to be available for the entire summer?
Yes. Because the summer program is intensive and only 10-weeks long, we require that students can commit to all 10-weeks to not miss any critical material during the program.
What is the time commitment?
The base time commitment is weekdays 8am-5pm. Labs may differ, having later start and end times or varying flexibility. Occasionally, students have been asked to come in over a weekend to complete an experiment, however this is not common and not a consistent expectation of the program.
Can I work or take a class while participating in NURISh?
You may work or take a class while in NURISh; however, because the program is full-time, we do not recommend this and expect the priority to be the NURISh program, as it is a paid position. You may not work or be enrolled in a class that requires you to be in person or online during the 8am-5pm workday period.
Contact Us
Ximena Paez-Colasante
Associate Department Head for Administration Department of Nutrition, NURISh Program Director
979-321-7088
