RESEARCH AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE STUDENTS Vivian Navas, PhD March 2012

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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-RUM m/ Excellent social activities Many are completely paid for (housing, stipend and travel)

Internship Experience Student Assessment 5- 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

GUIDELINES 1.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 Ecology MD/PhD Biomedical Marine Sciences Nanotechnology ETC…..

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 institution 6. Make contact if have questions 7. 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 See page for requirements COOP coordinator Dr. Carlos Muñoz

Summer Opportunities Listings

Listings

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. – demy/undergrad_medicine.php demy/undergrad_medicine.php Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program um_res.html um_res.html

Undergraduates Opportunities In RUM MARC for students interested in PhD or MD/PhD B 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

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