The Zurich Biology Undergraduate Summer School (BUSS) gives undergraduate students in the Life Sciences the chance to perform a significant research project in one of the participating laboratories of the University of Zurich or the ETH Zurich. Thanks to the intense curriculum of the BUSS, participating students not only become familiar with laboratory methods and theoretical principles, but also gain skills in scientific reasoning and scientific communication.

The BUSS is taught in English. Participation is open to all students during their Bachelor (BSc) studies. The program will cover travel expenses and housing costs of participants from abroad and from other Swiss universities. Participants from Zurich will be supported with a small in cash contribution covering some of their local expenses.

Besides the scientific and educational curricula, BUSS features an all inclusive three days retreat on the Swiss countryside, visits to Swiss research and science institutions, as well as a kick-off and closing event.

Curriculum 

• Approximately 15-25 students will be accepted to a 9-week program each summer.
• Students perform a research project in one of the participating research groups, under the guidance of the group leader, a postdoc, or a graduate student.
• The students attend a weekly series of special research seminars, in which participating mentors give an overview about their research.
• The students participate in weekly, mentored journal clubs, to learn how to critically analyze primary research literature.
• The students attend tutorials on scientific writing and on how to give an effective PowerPoint presentation.
• The students give a short oral presentation of their project at the beginning of the course, and write a final report at the end.
• The course ends with a one-day Symposium, at which the students present a summary of their research to their peers and advisors.
• The students will get a certificate for participation in BUSS 2019. Students from University of Zurich and ETH Zurich receive 9 credit points for participating in this program (1 ETCS point/week), which gets credited to BIO 200, a module equivalent to a research practical in Biology (Forschungspraktikum)

Application 

Interested candidates should submit:

• a completed application
• a curriculum vitae (CV)
• transcripts of completed university courses
• a letter of recommendation from a teacher or research supervisor