RESEARCH AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR

UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE STUDENTS

Vivian Navas, PhDMarch 2012

This presentation available at

http://biology.uprm.edu/internados.html

Página del Departamento de Biología – Internados

WHY PARTICIPATE IN AN

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP?

• Excellent experience!!• Prepares you for graduate and professional school

• Exposes you to latest research and technology

• Helps you develop research and laboratory skills

• Improves your communication skills (English)

• Teaches you how to do scientific presentations

• Assists you in career decision

• Familiarizes you with graduate students and mentors

• Offers you networking opportunities

• You could receive credits through COOP

Practice-RUMhttp://www.practicacoopenbiologia.webs.com/

• Excellent social activities

• Many are completely paid for (housing,

stipend and travel)

Internship Experience Student Assessment5- Strongly Agree, 4- Agree, 3- Neutral, 2- Disagree, 1- Strongly Disagree 39 students

My enrichment experience… Average

Developed a greater awareness of the opportunities available to me in my field. 4.79

Strengthened my communication skills. 4.87

Strengthened my teamwork skills. 4.67

Increased my desire to become a researcher in my field. 4.38

Provided me with the opportunities to gain new knowledge and technical skills in my field. 4.92

Developed or increased my leadership skills. 4.69

Provided me with the opportunities to apply my knowledge and skills to new situations / problems. 4.77

Introduced me to a mentor who cared about me and spent time explaining the project and my responsabilities. 4.85

Developed my research skills. 4.87

Made me aware of global issues. 4.59

GUIDELINES1. Look for opportunities at:

• Internet/WEB • Bulletin Boards• MARC / Sloan Office

Clue Words for searching the web:– Summer undergraduate minority research program– Summer undergraduate internship minority– Minority summer undergraduate internship

May add area of interest– Summer minority internship neuroscience

May search by institution of interest

Opportunities available in all fields

EcologyMD/PhD BiomedicalMarine SciencesNanotechnologyETC…..

1. Look for opportunities.

2. Identify programs that interest you.

3. Enter the program site to assure you meet the criteria:

– Carreer interest Potential PhD candidates MD / PhD Program Health related

– GPA– Student academic status-

year of study

GUIDELINES

4. Download the application 5. Apply to more than one institution6. Make e-mail contact if have questions7. Request letters of recomendation from faculty (!!!!with time).

Prepare a resume or summary (with GPA, course and grade, hobbies, associations, jobs, volunteer work etc.)8. Request transcripts

PLAN COOP-Can apply for credit and grade (maximun allowable 6 credits): information and forms at

http://www.practicacoopenbiologia.webs.com/

See page for requirements

COOP coordinator Dr. Carlos Muñoz

Summer Opportunities

Listings

Listings

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/intern.html

http://www.cic.net/Home/Students/SROP/Home.aspx

http://people.rit.edu/gtfsbi/

http://www.neagep.org/

http://theleadershipalliance.org/tabid/242

Example of an Undergraduate Research Program Description

Caltech’s MURF program

Caltech’s MURF program provides support for talented undergraduates to spend a summer working in a research laboratory on the Caltech campus. The MURF program aims to increase the participation of underrepresented students (such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American, females who are underrepresented in their discipline, and first-generation college students) in science and engineering Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs This experience provides excellent preparation for students interested in subsequently pursuing a Ph.D.

Eligibility Requirements Be current sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2/4.0 Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.

Program Elements Students carry out individual research projects under the mentorship of Caltech faculty

or JPL technical staff over a ten-week summer period. MURF students may work on a day-to-day basis with a graduate student or

postdoctoral scholar co-mentor. Students receive a payment of $600/week plus housing and travel allowance.

GUIDELINES

• Criteria to considered if accepted to more than one opportunity:

-Research area-Potential institution to pursue advance studies-Networking criteria

Student Program information

HEALTH- RELATED OPPORTUNITIES

• Summer Medical and Research Training Program- SMART Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas • Summer Minority Medical Education Program – prepare students for the rigorosity of medical school (MMEP) Yale University School of Medicine,

• Biostep Biomedical Science Training and Enrichment Program for Minorities

Summer medical and dental educational program). SMDEP is a six-week summer medical and dental school preparatory program. Applicant must be currently enrolled as a freshman or sophomore in college; GPA of 3.0, with 2.75 in the sciences. – www.smdep.org

https://medschool.mc.vanderbilt.edu/summer_academy/undergrad_medicine.php

Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program http://www.med.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra_sum_res.html

Undergraduates Opportunities In RUM

• MARC for students interested in PhD or MD/PhDB-265

http://academic.uprm.edu/marc/index.php

• Problemas Especiales-Special Problems- RUM Research for academic credit throughout the semester

at RUM (must contact faculty to ask availability)

Internships at Industries or companies

NIH Merck- uncf.org/merck

Presenting Opportunities

ASCB SACNAS

Travel Awards

Dr. Vivian Navas

University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus

Biology Department

Office B-106

E-mail: vivian.navas@upr.edu

This presentation available at

http://biology.uprm.edu/internados.html