BIT SURE gives students the opportunity to work under one of our BIT instructors on a directed undergraduate research project.  Students will learn new techniques and apply these methods to address a specific research project.  This program gives students access to direct mentorship while developing independent research skills. Students interested in science careers behind the bench in academic, government, or industry labs are likely to benefit from this experience. Former students have published research in peer-reviewed journals. See a recent publication from a 2016 NC State graduate here!

The program is open to current NC State undergraduate students. Non-NC State students are not eligible to apply to BIT SURE and should instead apply to our Modeling the Dynamics of Biological Systems NSF REU.

The program consists of paid, part-time in-person, hybrid, or remote research (depending on the project) under the guidance of one of the Biotechnology instructors. Students who participate in the program will be required to present their findings at the NC State Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium in late July 2026. Please send questions to Dr. Phillip Brown.

2026 BIT SURE Application is CLOSED
Program Dates: May 26 – July 31, 2026

BIT SURE Mentors 2026:

Meet the mentors!

Click on the topics for descriptions of the research.

Dr. Phillip Brown – Microbiology / Molecular Biology

Dr. Stefanie Chen – DNA Repair / Directed Evolution

Dr. Corbin Jensen – Developmental Biology / Image Analysis

Dr. Micaela Robson – Applied Microbiology / Omics

Dr. Melissa Srougi – Cancer Biology / Chemotherapeutics

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation should be written by people you know in a professional or academic context. Recommenders should be able to speak to your experiences, skills, and/or character. We most commonly receive letters from course instructors, academic advisors, supervisors, and graduate teaching assistants. BIT SURE mentors are not eligible to write letters of recommendation for BIT SURE.

How should I ask for letters of recommendation?

An excellent letter of recommendation requires time and specific information to write. We recommend requesting a letter of recommendation at least 4 weeks before the application deadline. In the email requesting a letter of recommendation, we would recommend including your other application materials, a description of BIT SURE, and specific information you would like your recommender to highlight in their letter.

What should I include in a statement of purpose?

Your statement of purpose should be a 1-2 page narrative that lets us get to know you and your scientific journey. Introduce yourself, discuss your goals and research interests, discuss your relevant experience, discuss your fit with the program, and describe what you hope to learn from this experience.

What should I include in the question asking about my research interests?

This is typically the first question the BIT SURE mentors look at before reviewing the rest of your application materials. In this section, we recommend choosing 2-3 BIT SURE mentors and briefly discussing why you are interested in their specific research project. You can expand upon your research interests in your statement of purpose.

What if I am already a NCSU student worker?

Students may not participate in BIT SURE while concurrently being employed elsewhere on campus due to this program requiring the maximum number of weekly employable hours (29 hours). You are still eligible for BIT SURE if you work elsewhere on campus during the Fall/Spring semester but not during the BIT SURE program dates. You are welcome to work off campus as long as you can be present for the required time in the lab (e.g., retail jobs).

I just submitted the application! Now what?

We typically receive upwards of 70 applications for this program. The mentors require 2-3 weeks after the due date to review all of the applications before requesting interviews, which is the next step in the process. You will be notified via email if you receive an interview or if you will not be moving on in the application process. BIT SURE mentors will individually send out interview requests; be sure to look out for emails from all mentors, not just Dr. Brown.

I just got invited to interview for a position! What should I expect?

Each mentor uses their own interview questions to make sure that you are a good fit. You should be prepared to talk about your science experience/interests, the mentor’s research project, how you work collaboratively, and what you’re hoping to gain during the summer. Be sure to prepare any questions that you have about the experience for the mentor.