2027 Summer SPUUR Program Materials
Gaining biomedical research experience is one way to prepare you for graduate school and for a career in research. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Summer Program for Undergraduate Urology Research (SPUUR) is a 10 week paid summer research internship for undergraduates from anywhere in the United States.
See below for information for the 2027 Summer SPUUR program, including schedules, FAQs, contact information, and event information. Furthermore, see additional SPUUR program resources to help plan your summer research goals and improve on your abstract and poster presentation skills.
SPUUR Information and Events
SPUUR Information
(SPUUR “Expectations” and the 2027 SPUUR summer schedule will be available shortly)
This includes our every Monday “Meta Monday” schedule as well as a few additional activities (many are virtual) on other days. Participation every Monday, beginning at 9:00 AM and ending around 3:00 PM, is required.
The 2027 summer schedule is not yet ready. However, for an EXAMPLE of what weekly “Meta Mondays” might look like, view the SPUUR 2026 schedule available below. NOTE that the 2027 “Meta Monday” schedule will differ in some ways.
SPUUR leader contact info and CVs
Co-PI: Chad Vezina, PhD, chad.vezina@wisc.edu
Co-PI: Kristina Penniston, PhD, RD, penn@urology.wisc.edu
Administrative Coordinator: Jenny Dahlberg, jenny.dahlberg@wisc.edu
SPUUR Events
Virtual Jamboree for Summer Undergraduate Students in Urology Research – Date and time TBD. Participation is required.
The Jamboree is an annual platform for undergraduate students involved in summer research activities at NIDDK-funded urology centers across the US, i.e., George M. O’Brien Urology Research Centers at UW–Madison, Stanford University, and Columbia University. UW–Madison SPUUR scholars will deliver oral presentations describing their research and entertain questions and comments during virtual Q&A sessions.
As an example, review the 2026 Jamboree Program and students’ abstracts are below:
“Meta Monday” SPUUR club – In-person, every Monday in the Health Sciences Learning Center beginning at 9:00 AM. Participation is required.
Wednesday Weekly Seminars, Responsible Research and Conduct – In-person on Wednesday mornings. You will join summer students from the UW–Madison Veterinary School for these one-hour events during most Wednesday mornings. They take place in the School of Veterinary Medicine (2015 Linden Drive). Participation is required.
Virtual CAIRIBU Community Events and Activities – The UW–Madison SPUUR program is affiliated with a national community of urology investigators and trainees – Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU). You will be invited to participate in various CAIRIBU activities during the summer. These will be announced when you enter the program Dates and times vary. Participation in these events, based on approval of your research mentor, is strongly encouraged. Most events are virtual.
Research Resources
Research planning
Example of Gantt chart to be used to structure and document your time and research progress.
Create a PDF of your poster using these optional Power Point poster templates
Sample template for documenting your summer research plans, goals, timeline, and progress
View the breakdown of considerations and steps when designing a research study.
As soon as possible, discuss authorship related to each project with your research mentor and research teammates.
Presentations
A brief introduction to CAIRIBU (Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research In Benign Urology), the urinary tract, common urologic problems, and knowledge gaps and also to nationwide collaborative urology research community.
Slides from presentation by Dr. Johanna Hannan (Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health).
Slides from presentation by Dr. Lauren Baker (UW–Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) on communicating your science by creating good abstracts and posters.
Preparing Resumes and CVs
Examples of Abstracts and Posters
Swine model for diet-induced calcium oxalate kidney stones
Presented at 2015 AUA meeting
Vitamin D repletion in postmenopausal women and risk for kidney stones
Presented at 2018 AUA meeting
Comorbidities affect the health-related quality of life of patients with urolithiasis: cross-sectional analysis from the North American Stone Quality of Life Consortium
Presented at 2018 AUA meeting