Undergraduate Student Opportunities
Events and opportunities appearing in the NSM Undergraduate Update will be listed on this page. New listings are added regularly.
Events
The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) South Regional Meeting is open to undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and any health professions students interested in the physician-scientist pathway. This meeting offers opportunities for students to present their research orally or through a poster session, along with breakout and networking sessions. This meeting will be held at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and there is no cost to enter.
Date: Fri, Feb 21, 2025
Submission Deadline: Fri, Jan 10, 2025
Tutoring
NSM’s Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) offers free tutoring to UH students enrolled in the science, computer science and mathematics courses listed on the Scholar Enrichment Program Tutor Schedule.
Tutoring is available for:
- Biology I
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- General Biochemistry I
- Evolutionary Biology
- Human Physiology
- Chemistry I, II
- Organic Chemistry I, II
- College Physics I, II
- University Physics I, II
- College Algebra
- Precalculus
- Calculus I, II, III
- Intro to Programming
- Data Structures
- Computer Science & Programming
- Internet Application Development
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am–5 pm
Location: University Libraries, Room 56
Enter through the southeast entrance at the back of the M.D. Anderson Library across from the Student Center. Go down the stairs and to the far hallway. Turn right, just past the Technology Commons front desk.
Learn more about the tutoring centers available through the various NSM departments.
Undergraduate Research
Are you interested in doing research as an undergraduate? NSM’s Outside Undergraduate Research Opportunities page lists multiple opportunities outside UH. Opportunities are categorized as in Houston, in Texas and out of state. Some applications are open already, others will open closer to the end of the year. Here are just a few examples of the 30+ opportunities listed on the page:
- Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Houston Methodist Summer Undergraduate Research Internships (multiple fields)
- M.D. Anderson UPWARDS Summer Program
- Data Science for Social Good Research Experience for Undergraduates: Southern Methodist University
- Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
- Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) - Other Universities (comprehensive list of NSF-funded REU programs nationwide)
Additional resources and information about finding research opportunities on campus can be found in NSM’s Undergraduate Research webpages.
Careers & Career Fairs
Have you ever considered teaching? The teachHOUSTON Program is an NSM Capstone that prepares mathematics and science majors to teach grades 7–12! While in the program, you will receive quality hands-on mentoring via convenient online instruction that will prepare you to be a successful teacher.
Qualifications for Program:
- Classified as a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior
- Received a grade of B or above in Calculus I, and
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5
Your journey begins with the first course, Introduction to STEM Teaching (CUIN 4397). View the teachHOUSTON Course Sequence for an overview about how math and science majors move through the program.
Scholarship Opportunities and Alternative Certification Pathway
- Advancing Cultural and Computational Engagement in STEM Scholars (tH-ACCESS)
- Alternative Certification Pathway for STEM
Key Benefits of Joining teachHOUSTON
- Keep your major in math or science.
- Add a math/science teaching certificate with no added time.
- Meet your capstone requirement.
- Try out teaching with one class (Introduction to STEM Teaching-CUIN 4397).
- Seeking students from racially, ethnically, socially, and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Scholarships and paid internships are available.
- Job security and satisfaction.
- Average starting salary for teachers is $58,000.
- MAXIMIZE your potential with teachHOUSTON – College of Natural Science and Mathematics Teacher Prep Program!
Questions or to Schedule an Appointment: Email tHadvising@uh.edu
Kscholastic Tutoring Company is seeking academic tutors in Math, Physics and other STEM topics for K-12 students.
- Flexible scheduling
- Houston-area in-person tutoring (must have a personal vehicle)
- Must be available 2 evenings a week
- Must be available until the end of the school year (May 31, 2025)
Starting Pay: $30/hour (pay increases based on experience)
Learn More: Visit www.kscholastic.com
To Apply: Send your resume and a statement of interest to karla@kscholastic.com.
NSM is offering students a Career Readiness Certification through HireNSM called Pathways.
Pathways is a self-guided, virtual career readiness training program available to all NSM students. First-year and sophomore students are encouraged to begin their Pathways journey as the program is designed to help students develop their career readiness over the course of their time at UH.
Students will complete one module each semester. The modules are concise and provide best practices to students.
- Pathways Module I: Career Path (includes 4-year career plan) & Collegiate Professionalism (Opened 10/1/2024)
- Pathways Module II: Resume & Cover Letter Writing (Opens Spring 2025)
- Pathways Module III: LinkedIn and Personal Branding
- Pathways Module IV: Interviewing
- Pathways Module V: Networking
- Pathways Module VI: Certifications, Licensing, Graduate Studies
- Pathways Module VII: Targeted Job Searching
- Pathways Module VIII: College Exit Strategy (Opens Spring 2025)
Students can access Pathways by going to AccessUH > HireNSM > Resources, top-right tab > Pathways, box in the middle > Module I. The estimated time to complete Module I is under one hour.
Earn Rewards by Turning in Proof of Completion
Upon completion of each module, students will earn rewards by bringing their screen shots or printouts of completed tasks to the Scholar Enrichment Program area in the basement of the M.D. Anderson Library, Room 56 on the first and last Tuesday of each month from 9–10 a.m. and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Students who complete all eight modules will receive a Career Readiness Certification.
Internships/Fellowships
PathwaystoScience.org connects students to STEM funding and opportunities - such as paid summer research, graduate fellowships, and graduate programs. Below are links to some of the key areas of assistance.
For Undergraduates:
Paid Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research Placements:
Over 700 programs - NSF REU, NASA, NIH and other paid summer research opportunities for undergrads
www.pathwaystoscience.org/Undergrads.aspx
For Financial Support in Graduate School:
Fellowships and graduate programs in a wide variety of STEM disciplines:
www.pathwaystoscience.org/Grad.aspx
For Tips on Applying and Associated Resources: www.pathwaystoscience.org/toolbox.aspx
For Opportunities Specifically in The Ocean Sciences: www.pathwaystoscience.org/oceanscience.aspx
Scholarships
The Hollings Scholarship Program offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides undergraduates with awards that include academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid ($700 per week) internship at a NOAA or partner facility during the summer. The internship is conducted between the first and second years of the award and provides “hands-on” multidisciplinary educational training experience. Applicants for this program must be U.S. citizens, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science.
Information and Application
Deadline: Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 10:59 pm CST
Apply for an NSM Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. The online application and instructions on how to apply are listed on this page.
Eligibility: Incoming students and continuing undergraduate and graduate NSM majors are eligible to apply for NSM scholarships. There are no restrictions to applicants based on sex, race, age, nationality, religion, disability, or country of origin.
NOTE: Continuing undergraduate and graduate student applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Completed at least one long semester (fall, spring) at UH,
- Be in good academic standing,
- Have a cumulative GPA in all UH hours that meets the specifications of the endowment/scholarship,
- Have 24 or more semester credit hours remaining in the degree program at the time of the scholarship award.
Deadline: Fri, Feb 21, 2025, at 5 pm