Improving Access to Research and Training (IMPACT) is a federally funded program supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to increase the number of future PhD level scientists from underrepresented backgrounds who pursue research careers related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep-disordered conditions. The IMPACT program invites students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, as well as students with disabilities, to apply for this immersive mentored experience to enhance your research skills and develop strong pre-doctoral application materials that lead to admission to graduate school.

The IMPACT program supports students for eight full-time consecutive summer weeks of basic or clinical research opportunities with faculty mentors at Penn State who have active federal grants in NHLBI priority areas. At the end of the program, students will present aspects of their research experiences to peers, mentors, and experts from the scientific community, both at Penn State and in their home institutions.

COVID-19 Notice:

The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 presents challenges for many research institutions and summer research experiences due to the closure of laboratories and limited in-person contact. Consequently, IMPACT’s ability to offer on-campus research experiences during summer 2023 may be limited and/or modified. 

The IMPACT team is working to deliver a safe and enriching experience for students; however, applicants should be aware of the potential limitations due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

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