Director's Office

HHMI Summer Opportunities

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATES

HHMI provides a listing of HHMI funded programs that are available to students from other

institutions on a public website via Search for Science Opportunities: http://www.hhmi.org/grants/reports/scienceopp/main

Here are some examples …

California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California)

Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program introduces

students to research under the guidance of seasoned research mentors at

Caltech and JPL. SURF is modeled on the grant-seeking process and as such

students collaborate with potential mentors to define and develop a project;

write a research proposal; a faculty committee reviews the proposals and

recommends awards; students carry out the work over a 10-week period in the

summer; and at the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper

and give an oral presentation at SURF Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a

professional technical meeting. An aim of Caltech's summer programs is to

increase the representation of underrepresented students in science and

engineering graduate programs and to make Caltech's programs more visible to

students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program supports Caltech's

commitment to training a diverse set of science, technology, engineering, and

math leaders. For more information, visit www.surf.caltech.edu

<http://www.surf.caltech.edu/> .

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (Cold Spring Harbor, New York)

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Summer Undergraduate Research Program

provides one of the few places in the world where young people are instructed

in the techniques of modern biology while becoming integrated members of a

vibrant scientific community. Approximately 25 students from around the world

will be accepted to the 10-week summer program to work with senior Laboratory

staff members on independent research projects, specifically in areas of

Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, Plant Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology,

Genetics, Macromolecular Structure, and Bioinformatics. For more information,

visit www.cshl.edu/urp.

Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory (SURE) allows

undergraduate students to conduct supervised research with a faculty mentor.

Students receive training in the research methods applicable to their

research plan, analyze their data and create written and oral presentations

of their results. At the end of the summer, participants share their research

via our poster symposium. Panels of faculty and graduate students help

explore mentoring issues, and make recommendations on how to choose a

graduate program and how to balance work and family responsibilities.

Speakers address their own involvement in science careers and the

requirements for success in their fields. Weekly ethics discussions allow

students to explore the ethical aspects of research careers. Awards for

popular science essays [optional submission] and scientific posters are made

at the end of the program. For more information, visit

www.cse.emory.edu/sciencenet/undergrad/SURE/SURE.html

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, Washington)

A summer research program for undergraduate students between their junior and

senior year of studies is established at the Hutchinson Center. The program

provides financial support and instruction on a research project under the

guidance of a faculty member and laboratory staff. Students spend a nine week

period as part of a research team after selecting an area of interest, such

as: cellular biology, developmental biology, genetics, membrane biology,

molecular biology, molecular immunology, structural biology, oncogenes, or

virology. Weekly student/faculty research meetings take place throughout the

summer, and students are encouraged to participate in other Center colloquia

and seminars. For more information, visit

www.fhcrc.org/science/education/undergraduates/

Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, Maine)

The Jackson Laboratory has an 83-year history of engaging students in

research internships in genetics, bioinformatics, and mouse models of human

diseases.  Students work on independent projects under a scientist mentor and

live together in a waterfront mansion.  For more information, visit

www.jax.org/education/ssp.html.

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

The LSU/HHMI Summer Undergraduate Research Program offers opportunities

across the Life Science disciplines, including Biological Sciences and

Chemistry, as well as Biological Engineering, Veterinary Medicine and

Horticulture. Our HHMI SURP combines with REUs from NSF and NIH to broaden

the experiences of all our students across science.  For more information,

visit www.biology.lsu.edu/hhmiprog/undergrad/.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

The MIT Department of Biology offers a 10-week summer research-intensive

training program designed to encourage students from under-represented

minorities, first-generation college students, and students from

economically-disadvantaged backgrounds to attend graduate school and pursue a

career in research. Students accepted into the summer program receive

housing, a weekly stipend, and travel allowance and conduct supervised

research in one of over 70 research laboratories affiliated with the

Department of Biology. During the summer, students have several opportunities

to give oral presentations on their research. At the end of the program

students give a poster presentation on their research, and submit a 5-page

research summary, and a one-page personal statement about their summer

experience at MIT. For more information, visit

mit.edu/biology/www/outreach/summer_research/undergraduates.html.

New York University (New York, New York)

The Sackler Institute and the Office of Diversity Affairs have sponsored a

research internship program in the medical sciences for undergraduate

students for the past 18 years. The purpose of the program is to give highly

qualified students, who are interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical

sciences (Ph.D., M.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.), the opportunity to conduct research,

while exposed to the excitement of an academic medical environment at a major

research center. Students may work with faculty in the disciplines of

biochemistry, bio-informatics, biomedical imaging, cellular and molecular

biology, clinical investigation, computational biology, developmental

genetics, forensic pathology, immunology, microbiology, molecular oncology,

neuroscience and physiology, parasitology, pharmacology, structural biology

and virology. For more information, visit

www.med.nyu.edu/sackler/programs/summer.html.

Rice University (Houston, Texas)

Rice University's Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) 2008

Summer Undergraduate Internship Programs focus on cellular engineering and

bionanotechnology. For more information, visit

cohesion.rice.edu/naturalsciences/nsfreu/index.cfm?doc_id=11338 (for Cellular

Engineering) and

cohesion.rice.edu/naturalsciences/hhmi/index.cfm?doc_id=10945 (for

Bionanotechnology).

Rockefeller University (New York, New York)

The Rockefeller University, one of the nation's premier centers for

scientific research, invites college sophomores and juniors to apply for a

unique summer research opportunity.  The 10 week Summer Undergraduate

Research Fellowship (SURF) program allows students to engage in intensive

laboratory research, working one-on-one with faculty, postdocs and graduate

fellows to experience life as a graduate student in the biological sciences.

For additional information, visit www.rockefeller.edu/surf/

Stanford University (Stanford, California)

The Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP) is a fully funded, 8-week

residential research program open to current undergraduate students. The SSRP

provides an opportunity for advanced research for undergraduates who want to

prepare for and enter PhD, MD/PhD, or MD programs. Each student is matched

with a Stanford faculty member and lab mentor and works on a research project

that is challenging, involves a broad range of research techniques, and is

feasible within the 8-week period. For more information, visit

ssrp.stanford.edu <http://ssrp.stanford.edu/> .

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Rutgers

University (Piscataway, New Jersey)

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers

University invite outstanding juniors and sophomores to apply to a highly

successful summer research program, RISE (Research In Science and

Engineering). RISE provides exciting interdisciplinary opportunities that

span the biological, physical, behavioral and computational sciences, student

input into selection of faculty mentor, extensive professional enrichment

including GRE prep and guidance on graduate school admission, a great

location only a short train ride from New York/Philadelphia and at the

national hub of the pharmaceutical industry, and an outstanding record of

alumni awards and graduate school placement. For more information, visit

rise.rutgers.edu <http://rise.rutgers.edu/> .

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers

University are pleased to invite applications for the 2008 summer research

program focused on Neuroscience. Outstanding applicants will be selected to

join a research laboratory on the UMDNJ or Rutgers campus for a 10 week

program over the summer where they will engage in hands-on experimentation.

For more information, visit www2.umdnj.edu/neuroweb/summer_prog/index.htm.

University of California San Diego (San Diego, California)

UCSD Summer Training Academy for Research in the Sciences offers research

opportunities for undergraduate students, recent graduates and masters

students in engineering, mathematics, and the physical, biomedical, life,

marine and ocean sciences. During the summer program, students are matched

with a faculty mentor for an eight week research experience.  Each student is

assigned a graduate student advocate to ensure they get the most out of their

experience.  The program includes GRE preparation course, workshops to assist

with preparation for graduate school and the challenges of doctoral programs.

The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented

students in science disciplines.  Our Graduate Admissions Committees have

identified the significance of applicants with proven research experience,

creditable letters of reference from known faculty mentors and a demonstrated

commitment to pursuing a doctorial degree. For more information, visit

ogs.ucsd.edu/stars/index.aspx.

University of Massachusetts Medical School (Worcester, Massachusetts)

The University of Massachusetts Medical School NIH Summer Research Fellowship

Program is a non-credit, ten-week, structured research experience. The

program consists of "hands-on" laboratory research experience with an

investigator serving as a mentor, role model and advisor.

The program is designed to provide participants in-depth exposure to the

actual practice of scientific research in the hopes that the excitement,

challenge and creativity of the enterprise will convince them to consider

basic research in the sciences as a viable career choice. For more

information, visit www.umassmed.edu/summer.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, Texas)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at UT

Southwestern is an intensive, 10 week summer research training experience

designed for college students who are preparing for careers in biological

research.  Fellows gain experience in modern research techniques, and have a

chance to plan and execute an experimental strategy to answer a scientific

question. The program introduces students to the sorts of projects

encountered during postgraduate research training and leads to an

understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the

pursuit of basic answers to current questions in the biological sciences.

Over two hundred and fifty participating faculty offer training in genomics,

cancer biology, computational biology, developmental biology, molecular

genetics, structural biology, cell biology, chemistry, systems biology,

pharmacology, microbiology and infectious diseases, neurosciences,

immunology, and mechanisms of disease. For more information, visit

www.utsouthwestern.edu/SURF.

The Quantitative and Physical Science Summer Undergraduate Research

Fellowship (QP-SURF) program at UT Southwestern is an intensive, 10 week

summer research training experience which leads to an understanding of the

planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of basic answers

to current questions at the interface of quantitative science and basic

biomedical research.   Fellows gain experience in modern research techniques,

and have a chance to plan and execute an experimental strategy to answer a

scientific question. The program introduces students to the sorts of projects

encountered during postgraduate research training and leads to an

understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the

pursuit of basic answers to current questions in the biological sciences.

Applicants must be enrolled in a physics, computer science, mathematics or

chemistry degree program at the undergraduate level, have completed the

sophomore year, and be a U.S. citizen.  Forty five participating faculty

offer training in biophysics, computational biology, and quantitative and

analytical chemistry. For more information, visit

www.utsouthwestern.edu/QP-SURF.

Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri)

The BioMedical Research Apprenticeship Program (BioMed RAP) at Washington

University in St. Louis is a 10-week summer research program for exceptional

students interested in pursuing biomedical research careers. The program is

designed to provide a rigorous, in-depth research experience to prepare

participants for top-quality Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs in the biomedical

sciences. Additionally, social and career building activities are an integral

part of the program. For more information, visit biomedrap.wustl.edu.

Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, Connecticut)

Each participant of the Biomedical Science Training and Enrichment Program

(BioSTEP) works for 10 weeks in the research laboratory of a Yale faculty

member who serves as the participant's mentor.  The research experience also

includes weekly seminars and workshops on topics such as "Applying to

Graduate and Medical Schools" and "Writing for the Sciences", as well as

social and cultural events. For more information, visit

info.med.yale.edu/omca/programs/biostep.htm.  

Our six-week pre-medical student summer program is the Yale Summer Medical

and Dental Education Program (SMDEP). Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation, SMDEP offers intensive science enrichment for freshmen and sophomores

interested in pursuing a career in medicine.  Students attend

weekly seminars and workshops as well as social and cultural events.  For

more information, visit info.med.yale.edu/omca/programs/mmep.htm.

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HHMI Janelia Farm (Ashburn, Virginia)

HHMI is initiating its own summer research program at Janelia Farm, our new

facility in Virginia. The program supports undergraduates to spend ten weeks

during the summer living and working as an intern on the research campus.

Research areas include neurobiology, physics, computer science, math, and

engineering. Since the research groups are small and highly interactive, this

program should provide a very personal experience, providing direct and

frequent contact with lab leaders. For more information, visit

www.hhmi.org/janelia/undergrad.html.

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