Students completing the program have had career-advancing outcomes, including presenting their research at national conferences and highlighting their research during rigorous graduate and medical school applications.

The program began in 2006 when Joan Bombace and Allan Smits combined their individual interdisciplinary and science research programs to create the enhanced QUIP-RS program.

The initiative “offers selected Quinnipiac undergraduates the opportunity to conduct funded summer research with Quinnipiac faculty over an eight-week period from May to July and then present their results to the community at the QUIP-RS symposium in the Fall," said Alexandre de Lencastre, professor and director of the Masters in Molecular and Cell Biology Program and co-chair of the QUIP-RS program.

In addition to the opportunity provided by this program, both students and mentors participating in QUIP-RS are awarded a stipend and funding for research materials.

Students involved in the program also receive discounts for on-campus housing during the summer and fellows who complete the program become eligible for the Quinnipiac Applied Research Microcredential. 

Timothy Hine ’26, a biology major, recently paticipated in the program.

“I worked with QUIP-RS this past summer researching how urban noise pollution may affect behavior and communication of ants. I hope to be immersed in an environment where I can learn more about the etymological world and network,” said Hine.

Under the guidance and mentorship of Sarah Lawson, associate professor of biology, Hine was able to grow in numerous ways.

“Tim’s passion for his research was evident from the first week when students present their projects to the full group of other fellows and mentors. Throughout the summer, students had the opportunity to report on their progress at weekly meetings, and Tim impressed with his ability to troubleshoot and communicate on the challenges and breakthroughs,” said de Lencastre.

Many students find that guidance of faculty mentorship in undergraduate research prepares them for their education and career beyond the program.

“Students who participate in QUIP-RS frequently continue their research with the faculty member beyond the summer, leading to conference presentations and publications,” said de Lencastre.

Hine presented a poster of his QUIP-RS research at the International Entomological Society of America conference in November in Portland, Oregon and earned second place in the undergraduate Systematics, Evolution, & Biodiversity (SysEB) category.

Many other students have also had positive career impacts from engaging in the QUIP-RS program.

Several Quinnipiac alumni, including Gabriella Colello ’22, Stephen Kotfila ’25, and Kipp Hopper ’18, MD ’22, have advanced into PhD programs or Quinnipiac’s Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine and received prestigious research fellowship positions.

For students interested in learning more about the QUIP-RS program, there will be a Zoom information session on February 25 at 7 p.m.

Students can also reach out to Alexandre de Lencastre or Christian Eggers, two of the co-chairs for the program, for more information.