Before starting your application, read the following instructions carefully.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the PUMAS internship, you must:

• Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Be currently enrolled as a community college student who is planning to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
• Have successfully completed at least two semesters of college-level science courses with a lab component (chemistry and molecular biology preferred, but not required), before the start of the PUMAS internship.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50.

Emphasis is placed on identifying applicants who are historically underrepresented in biomedical research, including students of certain ethnic backgrounds (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the US Pacific Islands), students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, first-generation college students, or students with disabilities.

Application Process

The PUMAS online application form includes questions about:

• Personal contact information
• Educational history (high school, college(s) attended and cumulative GPA, start and end dates of upcoming semester, etc.)
• Career objectives (anticipated transfer school, major, etc.); interest in STEM
• Prior commitments that overlap with the PUMAS internship program dates (June 10 to August 9, 2024) or limit your participation in a 20-25–hour work week over the summer

You will also need to upload:

• An official or unofficial copy of your college transcript(s). If you have attended more than one college, be sure to include a transcript from each college. You must also upload an unofficial record of the courses you are currently enrolled in this semester.
• Your résumé (no longer than two pages). It should focus on your college activities (rather than high school), and include: name and contact information; college and anticipated year of graduation; any awards and honors received; any volunteer or work experience (e.g., church activities, community service, clubs, etc.); any leadership roles; relevant skills and strengths.

Letter of Recommendation

You will need to provide one or two letters of recommendation at the time you submit your application. Your letter(s) of recommendation must come from a scientific mentor and/or educator, such as a college science professor from whom you’ve taken a science course.

Letter of Recommendation Guide 

Your letter(s) of recommendation must come on official letterhead and signed by your mentor. While not required, we have developed a guide for your mentor to utilize in writing their letter of recommendation. View the letter of recommendation guide.

Essay Questions

As part of your application, you will need to provide your answers to essay questions in a separate document. Each question should be answered in full sentences, not bulleted lists.

Essay Questions: New or Returning Applicants
Answer the following essay questions using a maximum of two pages for all five answers.

1. Why are you interested in studying biological/biomedical science?
2. What are your career goals at present? And how do you think this program will help you reach your career goals?
3. The success of the PUMAS program depends on the active cooperation of all participants. What strengths and skills do you bring to the program that you can share with other students?
4. How would your participation in the PUMAS program contribute to the program’s goals of increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in the sciences?
5. How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue science?

Special Essay Questions: Returning PUMAS Interns
If you have previously participated in the PUMAS internship program and wish to return, answer the two following questions, instead of the five questions listed above.
Maximum: one (1) page for both questions.

1. Why do you want to continue working at Gladstone?
2. What can you get out of this summer experience that you didn’t get out of your first PUMAS internship experience?

Ready to Submit? Here’s a Final Checklist.

Ensure the following documents are ready before you start:

1. Digital copy of your college transcript(s)
2. Your résumé
3. Separate document with your answers to the essay questions
4. One to two letters of recommendation from a scientific mentor.