There are many programs across the nation offering summer research
experience for undergraduates. There are possibilities across all disciplines, and
costs of travel, housing, food are cover, along with a
stipend (~$2,000–$5,000).
To apply find the website of the program of interest (many listed below),
and follow their directions. Most
programs require a letter of intent describing your interest in the program and
future plans
(Hint: many won’t
consider you if you say you want to be a Dr., as these are to encourage
students to enter research, so try keep an open mind and offer Graduate School
as a future option. However there
are some programs specifically directed towards pre-meds.)
You will likely need to find 2-3 references willing to write a letter.
You will also likely need to provide your academic transcripts from your
undergraduate efforts.
(Hint: most of the places
won’t care what you did in High School, or church related activities. Keep it focused on leadership and
scholarship activities)
The Importance
of Undergraduate Research
Searchable Database by Discipline, Region, School, etc.
Eight Week Summer Undergraduate
Research Internship at BYU March 1, 2013
University of Utah: Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
http://bit.ly/XGY50U
Utah State
University Summer Internship Program: Information forthcoming
Association of
American Medical Colleges-Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP)
Interested in
pursuing a M.D.–Ph.D.
Research
Experience for Undergraduates Summer Programs (REU)
(National
Science Foundation-NSF sponsored programs) http://1.usa.gov/f6hW9
Go to the
following site for links to all the REU sites in various disciplines.
Chemistry
Biological
Sciences
Math
American
Chemical Society – Undergraduate Chemistry Research Opportunities
SURE (Summer
Undergraduate Research Experience)
2012 UCLA
Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
The American
Physiological Society Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
Sloan-Kettering
School of Biomedical Sciences
Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) NIST Boulder Programs
http://www.nist.gov/surfboulder/
Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) NIST Gaithersburg
http://www.nist.gov/surfgaithersburg/
American
Psychological Association
Due to the
competitive nature of Summer Undergraduate Research Program, the following suggestions
should be taken into consideration when preparing an application; however
adhering to these recommendations does not guarantee acceptance into the
program.
1. Give yourself adequate time to
complete the application. Responses to open-ended questions should have
a thoughtful, detailed response that shows the applicant is: 1) interested in
gaining research experience in a specific area, e.g. molecular or cellular
biology, public health, etc., 2) concerned about a particular technology or
methodology, e.g., cell culture, structural analyses or flow cytometry or specific biological model system, e.g., C. elegans or Drosophila, and 3) has reviewed your school
of interest’s faculty pages to learn more about the investigators and the types
of research conducted. Students
should proofread their application thoroughly for accuracy and completeness
before submitting.
2. Ask a friend(s), professor(s),
and/or faculty advisor(s) to review your statement of research interests and career
goals.
When writing a personal statement, the author should respond to the following
key points:
1.
For what are you applying and why?
2.
What are your educational and/or career goals?
3.
Why are you applying to the Summer Undergraduate
Research Program?
4.
What qualifications do you bring?
5.
How are you prepared to make a contribution to the
prospective lab and/or your own professional development? If you don’t have
prior lab experience, have you held a position of responsibility or previously
worked in a team setting that would lend itself well to this program?
6.
How will this opportunity further your
educational/career goals?
3. Request an informative letter(s)
of recommendation. An informative letter will highlight the
courses you have taken, your quality as a student compared to other students,
accomplishments achieved, and how this program will further your
educational/career goals. When requesting a letter of recommendation, the
applicant should:
1.
Choose your references wisely – a letter of recommendation
from an individual in a department or field similar to the program for which
you are applying is viewed more favorably than a recommendation letter from a
former employer or teacher in a non-related field.
2.
Give your references at least two weeks to submit a
letter of recommendation on your behalf.
3.
Submit your letter of recommendation request in
writing. Giving your references a copy of your resume and/or the following
information: a) the name of the program to which you are applying and a
brief description of what the program entails; b) the name of the sponsoring
institution; c) a brief description of how the program fits in with your career
goals; and d) a brief description of what you will contribute to the program
and how you will benefit from participating. The last and possibly most
important information to convey is: e) when the letter is due, to whom the
letter should be addressed, and the options for submitting the letter, i.e. via
email, fax, or mailing address.
4.
Send your reference a friendly reminder – preferably
one week prior to the application deadline.
The
last and most important gesture to consider when requesting a recommendation
letter is often the most overlooked. In short;
send your reference(s) a handwritten NOTE OF THANKS!