The Psychiatric Undergraduate Research Program and Learning Experience (PURPLE) is an internship opportunity for individuals pursuing an undergraduate degree or who have recently graduated with their Bachelor's degree. PURPLE is designed to introduce young people to the field of mental health by encouraging participation in supervised research activities.
Student interns for this 12-week program are selected on a competitive basis. Ours is the only program at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus that provides: 1) clinical research mentorship, 2) to undergraduate students and 3) with a focus on mental health.
During the program, applicants will have the opportunity to learn about the CU Department of Psychiatry’s research mission: to promote brain health for all, for life. Each intern is paired with a faculty mentor to develop a research project, conduct clinical observations, and to discuss career options. Workshops on basic scientific research skills and professional development are also offered. Besides building a pipeline for future mental health professionals, the program also allows faculty mentors to further develop their mentoring skills and to provide an opportunity to share their expertise and knowledge.
ApplicationDue to COVID-19, we are currently reviewing our availability to accept new students for the summer of 2021. We will provide regular updates to this page, as well as an updated application, by end of February 2021, if we have additional openings for this year. Thank you for your understanding.
Please note that based on feedback from previous cohorts, this is an intensive program requiring a significant time commitment. If selected, students should plan their other summer commitments accordingly.
Applicant Eligibility: This year, we are recruiting nine highly qualified undergraduate students for the 12-week program. Competitive applicants will: A) Have a cumulative GPA of >2.75; B) have taken at least one college statistics course; and C) have an interest in pursuing graduate school or careers related to behavioral health, psychiatry, or psychology.
The application deadline is Monday, March 16th, 2020 by midnight (MST). Submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted. See page 2 in the application packet for more details.
COVID-19 Update: Due to University policies in response to COVID-19, the University of Colorado has discontinued a number of on-campus activities for the time being. Modifications to the PURPLE program have been made in response to University policies.