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Frequently Asked Questions

When does RTP start?

Most of our trainees participate in the program during the summer months.  In general, undergraduates start summer research in May and high school students begin in June.  We make every effort to contact our undergrad trainees by mid-April for the upcoming summer to let them know if we have been able to pair them with a mentor, and high school students in mid-May. High school and undergraduate students can also participate in research training throughout the year.

What days of the week will I be in training?

Specific structures (start date/end date, days per week, hours per week) will vary according to the trainee’s individual learning agreement with their mentor. 

What is the duration of the program?

Most trainees participate in summer training for around 10-12 weeks. However, some local students can also participate in research throughout the academic year.

How are students matched with labs?

Each student in the program will have a faculty mentor. We balance many factors in matching students with labs.  Available mentors will be drawn from the various research faculty members in the schools of the health sciences.  We will make every effort to find interested trainees a place in a lab, but we cannot guarantee a placement.  

What types of research opportunities are available?

We provide research training opportunities in a wide variety of biomedical sciences.

The trainee will have daily direct mentoring and supervision by a faculty member and/or a staff member in his/her lab.

What are the requirements for participation?

Students must be age 16 or older, in good standing at their academic institution, and excited to learn about research. 

When will I hear if I've been matched with a mentor?

We will make every effort to find interested trainees a place in a lab, but we cannot guarantee a placement.  With a plethora of students applying for limited research experiences, we simply don’t have enough time to respond to every student who applies for the Research Training Program.

How do I apply for the RTP?

High school students (must be at least 16 years of age) submit information online here:

Submit Contact information Here

Undergraduate students (current University of Pittsburgh undergraduate student or undergraduate student at another university) submit information online here:

Submit Contact information Here