2026 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 2026 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
This includes our every Monday “Meta Monday” schedule as well as a few additional activities (many are virtual) on other days. Participation every Monday is required.
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 – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 12:30PM-2:30PM CT. 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.
CAIRIBU Urobiome Summer Meeting – In-person, all day Thursday and Friday, July 30-31 in the Health Sciences Learning Center. Participation is required.
Hear from national leaders in the urobiome research field; includes a poster session, meals are included.
“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 (see “schedule-at-a-glance” above). 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 – Dates and times vary (see last page of the SPUUR Schedule below). Participation in these events, based on approval of your research mentor, is strongly encouraged. Events include: CAIRIBU K12 Scholar Seminars; CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Interest Group Trainee Summer Camp (Fri., June 26 and Fri., July 19); and CAIRIBU Graduate Student Seminars
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 July 2025 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