Caduceus Newsletter: Spring 2003.02, Week of January 20 -- Special Summer 2003 Research and Enrichment Opportunities Edition

è 1. Introduction
è 2. The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Minority Students will be conducted at the Joan and Sanford Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
è 3. The Darling Marine Center of the University of Maine offers 2 Summer research fellowship opportunities this summer.
è 4. At The University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh MD/PhD Program offers a 10-week summer research and enrichment program
è 5. The University of Houston Department of Biology and Biochemistry is offering opportunities for undergraduates to perform biological research full time in the summer of 2003.
è 6. Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) offers its 51st Summer Research Participation Program in Science for High School and College Juniors.
è 7. The Medical University of South Carolina College of Graduate Studies is offering FOUR Summer Undergraduate Research programs this summer.
è 8. Hunter College of the City University of New York offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research at its Center for Study of Gene Structure & Function
è 9. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) is offering a 10-week Summer Research Program that allows the student to choose the research and faculty at the Medical or Dental Schools.
è 10. Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Bowman Gray Campus, will be offering a Summer Research Opportunities Program this summer.
è 11. The Science, Engineering and Mathematics (SEM) Summer Research Program at UCLA offers hands-on research experience in the laboratory of a distinguished UCLA faculty member.
è 12. The Gateways to the Laboratory Program, sponsored by the Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program of The Rockefeller University, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and the Sloan-Kettering Institute, is intended to increase the number of physician-scientists who are members of underrepresented minority groups.
è 13. The Tennessee Institutes for Pre-Professionals offers opportunities to African-American college students who are Tennessee residents.
è 14. Previously posted summer research programs

è 1. Introduction 

The summer is a WONDERFUL time to get a taste of research, and many universities and colleges sponsor summer research internships which are, in turn, funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, or private foundations. During these programs, you are placed in the laboratory of a research scientist, engage in some research, get the opportunity to meet and socialize with peers, partake of the social opportunities of the area, and GET PAID FOR IT!

Here is a selection of summer internship programs which have been announced. (Many thanks to Dr. Fitzgerald for providing me with brochures for posting.) 

è 2. The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Minority Students will be conducted at the Joan and Sanford Weill Medical College of Cornell University. 

Again this year, the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical college of Cornell University will conduct a seven-week program for minority premedical students who will have completed their junior year of college. The program provides an opportunity for the student to do an independent study-research project under the supervision of a faculty member, but time also is set aside for the student to become acquainted with clinical and public health aspects of medicine.

We accept only 25 students into this program and, therefore, the students accepted are an excellent group. Students receive a $140-a-23kk cost-of-living allowance and are housed rent-free in the dormitory for medical students, but are required to pay for their meals and other living expenses. Travel expenses are paid for students that live some distance from New York.

Information about the program can be found at http://www.med.cornell.edu/education/travelers . 

è 3. The Darling Marine Center of the University of Maine offers 2 Summer research fellowship opportunities this summer.

è 4. At The University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh MD/PhD Program offers a 10-week summer research and enrichment program

The Pittsburgh MD/PhD Program offers a 10-week summer research and enrichment program for underrepresented minority students interested in careers as physician scientists. The program is designed for students in their freshman, sophomore or junior years of college.

Students receive  a stipend of $3,000 for the ten-week period plus round trip airfare. This stipend provides students with a comfortable budget to live in Pittsburgh. All students must have medical insurance for the duration of the program, and since they will be working with human materials, are encouraged to be vaccinated for hepatitis B.

The program is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and is limited to minority groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences including African Americans, Alaskan Native, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Puerto Rican Mainlanders. The application includes a personal statement, transcript and 2 letters of recommendation each including a coversheet. Application materials are also available online at www.mdphd.pitt.edu .

The application deadline is March 1, 2003.

For more information and application, please contact:
University of Pittsburgh
MD/PhD Program
526 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Telephone: (412) 648-2324
FAX: (412) 648-2185
e-mail: mdphd2@medschool.pitt.edu
Web site: www.mdphd.pitt.edu 

è 5. The University of Houston Department of Biology and Biochemistry is offering opportunities for undergraduates to perform biological research full time in the summer of 2003. 

The Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston offers opportunities for undergraduates to perform biological research full time in the summer of 2003, from June 2 through August 8. The main activity will be individual research projects at the cutting edge of molecular and cellular biology, under the direction of our faculty. In addition, weekly group meetings will introduce students to a broad range of research topics in cellular and molecular biology. Financial support will include a $3,000 stipend, free room and board on campus, and assistance with travel expenses.

This program is supported by the National Science Foundation and the University of Houston.

For more information and to apply online, visit their Web site at http://www.uh.edu/cellreu .

To apply by mail, send the following materials to:
REU in Molecular and Cellular Biology
University of Houston
University of Biology and Biochemistry
369 Science and Research Bldg 2
Houston, TX 77204-5001

1. A completed Application Form (on the reverse of the brochure)
2. A statement of no more than 500 words describing your research interests, career goals, and why you wish to participate in the program;
3. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended;
4. In addition, please arrange for two referees (preferably college faculty) to send letters of recommendation to the above address, by email to cellreu@uh.edu , or by fax to: (713) 743-2632.

è 6. Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) offers its 51^st Summer Research Participation Program in Science for High School and College Juniors.

If scientific research and a Ph.D. degree are your career goals, come to Buffalo, New York, this summer and learn at the world's first comprehensive cancer center. The program for High School Juniors is from June 24 through August 9 (7 weeks) and the program for College Juniors is from June 3-August 9 (10 weeks)

• Prepare for graduate and undergraduate studies in science
• Experience the process of basic science research at a leading comprehensive cancer center.
• Conduct a research project in molecular-cellular biology, immunology, biophysics, biochemistry, pharmacology or tumor biology
• Attend classes and seminars taught be a faculty of internationally-known scientists
• Present your research findings at a science conference and poster session
• Receive advisement for careers in science.

• National Science Foundation - REU Program
• National Cancer Institute R-25 Training Grant

• To request an application, e-mail mary.wisnicki@roswellpark.org or call 1-800-ROSWELL (767-9355) ext. 8134.
• High school student applications must be received by February 15, 2003
• College student applications must be received by February 1, 2003.

è 7. The Medical University of South Carolina College of Graduate Studies is offering FOUR Summer Undergraduate Research programs this summer. 

 These research training programs provide unique opportunities for undergraduate students to become directly involved in cutting edge research leading them to a greater appreciation of the process of scientific discovery. Student-faculty and student-student interaction through shared experiences are important factors for the successful research experience.

The awards are preferentially made to college students who are considering a career in basic science research. This experience is particularly valuable for students seeking admission to Ph.D. programs. Minority students are particularly encouraged to apply.

Students are supported by a stipend of no less than $3,000 for a 10 week period. The four summer undergraduate research programs include the following:

1. Summer Research in Cardiovascular Biology for Undergraduate Minority Students: This program provides a training experience for talented minority students in the area of cardiovascular function and disease…Clinical and patient oriented research is also conducted on diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans, notably hypertension and diabetes. The long range goal of this program is to increase the number of minority health professionals in cardiovascular biology;
2. Summer Research Program in Cross - Training of Physical, Mathematical and Engineering Students: This program provides a research experience for non-biology undergraduate students who have interests in working at the interface of biology and the physical/computational sciences or engineering. Research is carried under the tutelage of mentors who either conduct biophysical/computational research or who trained in a quantitative or physical discipline. Areas of research focus are Bioinformatics, Biophysical Applications and Tools, Cardiovascular Science, Cell Signaling, Neural Signaling and Imaging, and Proteomics. Participants in the program experience the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical research, hone research skills and expand their knowledge of biological sciences;
3. Summer Research Program in Structural and Chemical Biology: This program, funded by NSF EPSCoR, provides opportunities for students majoring in chemistry to conduct research at the interface of modern chemistry and biology. Research areas include lipid biochemistry and enzymology, enzymes of DNA and RNA metabolism, mechanisms of RNA/protein and DNA/protein interactions, design and synthesis of biologically active compounds, biomolecular recognition, natural product chemistry, and structural biology focused on structure of small (including lipids) and macro-molecules;
4. Summer Research Program in Cell Signaling in Neurobiology: This program provides opportunities for students to contribute to neurobiology research…Research areas include: signal molecules and their receptors; signal transduction pathways; signaling in development, cell differentiation, memory formation and retrieval, cellular mechanisms mediating neuroplasticity in the visual and auditory systems, alterations in cell signaling mediating and resulting from neuroplastic processes; and molecular basis of neuroplastic behavioral changes produced by exposure to environmental and pharmacological stimuli.

Submit your online application using the following website:
http://www2.musc.edu/grad/SUR.html

The deadline for applications is February 1, 2003

For more information, contact:
Hester Young, Director Student Programs
Medical University of South Carolina
College of Graduate Studies
173 Ashley Avenue - Suite 102, BSB
P.O. Box 250501
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
Phone: 1-800-589-2003 or (843) 792-9620
FAX: (843) 792-6590
e-mail: youngh@musc.edu

è 8. Hunter College of the City University of New York offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research at its Center for Study of Gene Structure & Function 

 The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) of the Center for Study of Gene Structure & Function at Hunter College of the City University of New York was established in 1994. The goal of the program is to train and encourage minority undergraduate students to pursue graduate Biomedical Research.

Research Internship Period: Eight weeks From Beginning of June to beginning of August.

Requirements:

• College Sophomore or Junior, with Biology, Chemistry, Biopsychology, Biophysics, or Biotechnology Major;
• Member of a Minority Group Underrepresented in Science (African American, Latino, or Native American); and
• Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States

Stipend: $2,500

Travel: Reimbursed after arrival

Housing: International House in Manhattan at no cost for those unable to commute.

Application Deadline and details: March 1^st. Request for an official transcript to be sent to the Gene Center. Two confidential recommendation letters from your mentors or professors in a relevant course should also be sent to us at the same address:
Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
Center for Study of Gene Structure and Function
Hunter College of the City University of New York
695 Park Avenue, 315HN
New York, NY 10021-5024
E-mail: gemeda@genectr.hunter.cuny.edu

Online applications available at:
http://sonhouse.hunter.cuny.edu/genecenter

è 9. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) is offering a 10-week Summer Research Program that allows the student to choose the research and faculty at the Medical or Dental Schools.

The purposes of this summer research program are to provide undergraduates with first-hand biomedical research experience in the basic or clinical sciences, and research skills through training in UTHSC-H labs.

Selected undergraduates from Texas and across the nation spend 10 weeks during the summer gaining intensive hands-on laboratory research experience under the direction of seasoned faculty researchers and teachers. The student will spend approximately 40 hours a week on research in labs located in the Medical and Dental Schools.

At the end of the 10 weeks, working with the faculty mentor, each student will write a brief abstract of their research performed during the summer. Publication of students/ abstracts are available on the UTHSC-H Medical School website, and at the UTHSC-H and TMC libraries.

Eligibility: A student must

• Be at least a sophomore at the time of application;
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0;
• Have completed at least 12 hours in a science discipline;
• And must be 18 years of age by the time the program starts;
• Seniors may apply if they are returning to their U.S. university/college for the fall semester following this program.

Stipends:

Participants in the program are paid a $2,500 stipend for the 10-week period. This stipend is not a salary -- it is meant to subsidize students so that they may gain research experience. Stipends are paid every two weeks. Students are responsible for travel and living expenses. Housing, at a reasonable cost, is located near the UTHSC-H Medical and Dental Schools.

The following must be received by February 7, 2003

• Completed application (on website)
• Statement (250 words) describing your interest in the program, research experience, and future education and career plans
• College transcript(s)
• Two letters of reference, which can be sent by email or regular mail, but they MUST be sent directly from the writer to either:

Jimmie Pope
Program Coordinator
Summer Research Program
6431 Fannin, MSB 7.156
Houston, TX 77030

-OR-

Summer.Research@uth.tmc.edu

(713) 500-5334

For information and the application, visit their website:
http://www.med.uth.tmc.edu/srp/

è 10. Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Bowman Gray Campus, will be offering a Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) this summer.

This program is intended for rising junior and senior science majors who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. The program will operate from May 28 - July 2003.

Students will receive a hands-on experience in a research laboratory and will gain insight into career opportunities in scientific research and graduate education. The application can be downloaded from the web: http://www.wfubmc.edu/graduate (click on the SROP icon in the right hand column). The deadline for applying is Monday, February 10, 2003.

Participants receive a monthly salary of at least $1,500, free housing on the Reynolda Campus of Wake Forest University, and courtesy transportation to the Bowman Gray Campus.

Call 1-800-GET GRAD

-OR-

e-mail: bggrad@wfubmc.edu

è 11. The Science, Engineering and Mathematics (SEM) Summer Research Program at UCLA offers hands-on research experience in the laboratory of a distinguished UCLA faculty member. 

Each student is matched with a faculty mentor and is employed as a member of their mentor's research group for eight to ten weeks. Every effort is made to match each student with a compatible faculty mentor on the student's area of interest. The eight-week summer program begins Monday, June 23, 2003 and ends August 16, 2003. If your school schedule allows it, an extended ten-week program is available, which runs from June 23 through August 29, 2003.

$300 per week ($2400 for 8 weeks, or $3000 for 10 weeks)
Room and Board (on campus housing with meals included)
Transportation (round-trip transportation from your home to UCLA)

The deadline is Thursday, February 20. For more information or to obtain an application, visit their website:
http://www.CARE.ucla.edu/

e-mail: CARE@LIFESCI.UCLA.EDU
Telephone: 310-206-2182.

è 12. The Gateways to the Laboratory Program, sponsored by the Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program of The Rockefeller University, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and the Sloan-Kettering Institute, is intended to increase the number of physician-scientists who are members of underrepresented minority groups.

Its intended audience includes underrepresented minority students in their freshman and sophomore years of college.

While in the program, all of the students partake in the following activities:

• Work full-time in one of the laboratories at either the Weill Medical College (formerly known as the Cornell University Medical College), The Rockefeller University or the Sloan-Kettering University;
• Round twice weekly with the Department of Medicine at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital;
• Learn how to present their research in a written, oral and poster format;
• Learn MCAT study tips;
• Learn hints for applying to MD-PhD programs
• Have mock MD-PhD interviews
• Learn how to write a scientific curriculum vitae
• Present at weekly journal clubs
• Have a Big Brother/Big Sister who is a current underrepresented minority MD-PhD student in our Program.

Telephone: 1-212-746-6023
E-mail: mdphd@med.cornell.edu
Web: http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd

è 13. The Tennessee Institutes for Pre-Professionals offers opportunities to African-American college students who are Tennessee residents.

Tuition-free, summer enrichment programs providing state-funded stipends, are now available in:

• Law
• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Veterinary Medicine

For information regarding the health-related programs, contact:
Office of Health Career Programs
790 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
(901) 488-8772 or 1-800-998-8654
FAX: (901 448-7291
website: http://www.mecca.org/~hcp/sumprog/tip.html

è 14. Previously posted summer research programs  

Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (May30-August 9)--University of Minnesota --

http://www.cbs.unm.edu/summer_research -- Students are expected to have a GPA of 3.3 or higher and be citizens or permanent residents--Housing in available in residence halls and stipends vary by program, but most are $350/week. Some programs have additional funds for travel and housing expenses.

Summer Research for chemistry juniors (seniors in fall 2004) at UC Santa Cruz--http://chemistry.ucsd.edu/projects/SURF/ which provides housing and a $3000 stipend. There is also an ochem research program in Bangkok, Thailand -- http://chemistry.ucsd.edu/Projects/ThaiREU/

Johns Hopkins Post-Baccaluareate Premedical Program-- www.jhu.edu/postbac

A summer research program, entitled the Enter for Biology Education, is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The program places 20-25 students with individual faculty mentors for 9 weeks in the summer. to be eligible students must be from an underrepresented ethnic group. the program offers a stipend and covers travel, housing, and meal costs. For more information go to www.wisc.edu/cbe/srp-bio/ or contact Dr. Janet Branchaw at branchaw@facstaff.wisc.edu .

Each year, 60 to 70 undergraduate students from around the United States come to Mayo Clinic to Rochester, MN, to work beside both young and established investigators on a broad array of biomedical research questions.

As a participant in Mayo's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), you will:

Conduct your own small research project or work on part of an ongoing research investigation for 10 weeks

Develop your technical skills

Participate in a special weekly seminar series that introduces you to rapidly progressing research areas

Find out how laboratory research is translated to new medical treatments

Receive a fellowship award of $4,000.

To apply online or request a paper application, go to their website, www.mayo.edu/mgs.surf.html or call them at 507-284-3862.

Contact:
Richard McGee, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Mayo Graduate School
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Phone: 507-284-3862
FAX: 507-284-0999
e-mail: rmcgee@mayo.edu