Who woulda thunk it? Science internships attract students to research careers

This article highlights what we know: that hands-on research draws students into science careers.

Researchers observed that, during the first 2 weeks of the internship, most of the students were hesitant to participate or to touch instrumentation in the laboratory. After completing the training the students developed the confidence to carry out a semi-independent project involving the isolation and characterization of a known gene.

None of the students had science as a career choice before the internship; after participating, however, many decided to pursue careers in science. To date, more than 60 students have been provided with internships and 20 students have entered graduate schools, most in molecular biology-related fields, including 10 at the doctoral level in molecular environmental science. Notably, most were first-generation college students.

See the whole item here: http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=50251596

NASA Summer Research Program at Carnegie Mellon University

NASA Summer Research Program at Carnegie Mellon University, June 6-August 1, 2009

Program Title: NASA Summer Research Program
Program Dates: June 6- August 1, 2009
Program Coordinator: Nancy Klancher
Email: klancher@andrew.cmu.edu

This program is designed to introduce undergraduate students majoring in engineering, math and science to research opportunities in space-related sciences, both theoretical and experimental. Applications from women and minorities are especially encouraged. Participants in the program receive research experience and mentoring from CMU research faculty, a stipend of approximately $3,000, and housing in a CMU dormitory. To complete the program, participants must submit a written report on their research project. The program must be completed to receive the total amount of the stipend. Applicants may choose from two space-related research projects. Please review the project descriptions below to see if one fits with your interests and/or any related coursework you have completed.

Projects:
Wetting of Hydrogels by Surfactant Solutions
Principal Investigator, Professor Stephen Garoff, Department of Physics and the Center for Complex Fluids Engineering

“Snake Robots”
Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Howie Choset, Robotics Institute, and the Medical Robotics Technology Center, the Center for Robotic and Synthetic Performance, and the Space Robotics Initiative.

Application Process:
The program is intended primarily for undergraduates who are in their junior year at the time of application. However, all undergraduates currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university are eligible. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or holders of a Green Card indicating their intention to become a citizen.

The deadline for receipt of all materials relating to your application is March 6, 2009.

Awards will be announced after March 15, 2009. Selected applicants will be notified by telephone.

To apply, you must print out the application at
http://www.cmu.edu/uro/NASA%20Summer%20Rsrch%20Pgm%20APPLICATION%20FORM_2009.pdf

Fll it out and mail it to:
Office of Graduate Education
Carnegie Mellon University
Warner Hall, Room 530B
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

10 awesome summer internships in science (WIRED magazine)

Some have early March deadlines, check it out!

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/02/researchexperie.html

Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC): Minority Undergraduate Summer Internship

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), the premier national resource for chemical and biological defense, is currently accepting applications for a new summer internship program established in response to a recent decline in the number of minorities pursuing careers in science and engineering.

The Minority Undergraduate Summer Internship Program (MUSIP), established by the ECBC's Diversity Advisory Committee in 2008, aims to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to enhance their education by working with top scientists and engineers on challenging research projects in support of the nation's defense...

African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and Native-American college sophomores and juniors majoring in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, occupational safety, physical science, physics or related disciplines at four-year colleges are all eligible to submit a MUSIP application for the 2009-2010 academic year. Those accepted into MUSIP are eligible to receive up to $2,400 a month depending on their level of education.

Visit the press release for additional information and a link to the application, which is due March 2, 2009.

Work-Study: Using your financial aid to support research and other hands-on learning

Are you aware that your work-study funds can support research as well as other hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of areas?

Emory's Financial Aid Office (thanks, Ms. Mary Hicks!) has shared the following list of Atlanta-area institutions that support our work-study students. Street addresses are offered for your information and refer to headquartersi; concrete information about work site would be available via work-study agreement.

American Cancer Society
(various Atlanta locations)

Arthritis Foundation
2970 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30305

Ben Franklin Academy
1585 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

CARE
151 Ellis St NE # 1, Atlanta, GA 30303

CDC
1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333 (but note that some positions may be at the Buford Hwy. location)

Community Advanced Practice Nurses
458 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 561, Decatur, GA 30030

Federal Defender Program
100 Peachtree St NW # 1700, Atlanta, GA 30303

Fund for Theological Education
825 Houston Mill Rd NE # 250, Atlanta, GA 30329

Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church: Glenn After School Program
1669 N Decatur Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Global Health Action
1902 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, GA 30033

Hands ON Atlanta
600 Means Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30318

Health Students Taking Action Together, Inc. (HealthSTAT)
1561 McLendon Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Hillels of Georgia
(Emory Hillel is at 732 Gatewood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329; other locations are likely available?)

Marcus Autism Center, Children's Health Care of Atlanta
1920 Briarcliff Road Atlanta, GA 30329

Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba
1902 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, GA 30033

Truancy Intervention Project
395 Pryor St SW # 4122, Atlanta, GA 30312

Summer Research: Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics

Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM).

The Research in Industrial Projects (RIPS) Program provides an opportunity for high-achieving undergraduate students to work in teams on a real-world research project proposed by a sponsor from industry or a national lab. RIPS recruits its students from all over the world. Each RIPS team is comprised of four students, a faculty mentor, and an industrial sponsor. The research problem is developed by the industrial sponsor in consultation with IPAM; it is always a real problem of serious interest to the sponsor and that offers a stimulating challenge to students. The students, with direction from their faculty mentor and industrial sponsor, spend nine weeks learning about the problem, mastering the latest analytical approaches and techniques to solve it, and developing report-writing and public-speaking skills to be able to make professional presentations about the progress and results of their work to a scientific audience. Industry mentors provide regular contact between the team and the sponsor, monitoring and helping to guide student work. Ultimately, RIPS provides valuable real-world technical and managerial experience for students as well as valuable R&D for sponsors.

http://www.ipam.ucla.edu/programs/rips2009/?CFID=6055869&CFTOKEN=57587344
Deadline: 2009-02-15

Marine Biology Summer Research: Bodega Marine Lab

Bodega Marine Laboratory is seeking 8 motivated undergraduate students interested in marine science careers to participate in a Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, supported by the National Science Foundation. Over eight weeks (June 21 - August 15, 2009, deadline for receipt of application is Feb. 15, 2009), students will develop confidence and independence in doing research and communicating science. The program gives a priority to students early in their career and without significant prior research experience.


University of California Davis, Bodega.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Marine Science
http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu/student-info/researchexp.html?CFID=6055869&CFTOKEN=57587344
Deadline: 2009-02-15

Marine Education Internship in Southeast Florida

The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit in Fort Pierce, Florida is located on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), the most diverse estuary in the U.S., and less than one mile from the Atlantic Ocean. This unique educational facility provides a window into these underwater worlds, offering a variety of hands-on experiences to daily visitors, as well as programming opportunities. Our focus is on displaying ecosystems as complex communities of organisms interacting in their environments. The six main exhibits are models of local Florida ecosystems (seagrass bed, mangrove forest, coral reef, etc) and vary in size from 500 to 3000 gallons. We also have a touch tank and a variety of smaller displays. With the help of our dynamic displays we strive to provide the public with a better understanding of the fragile marine ecosystems of the IRL and surrounding area and the impact humans are having on these fragile ecosystems. The responsibilities of the Education Intern are to interpret to visitors in the gallery and at the touch tank, lead educational programs for school and community groups, assist education staff with three weeks of summer day camp, and create educational displays. The education intern may also assist aquarium husbandry staff with routine duties, such as tank monitoring, feedings and specimen collection, as needed. Additional objectives can be developed with education staff based on intern’s personal interests, strengths and/or experience.

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience working in an informal education setting (preferred) and/or coursework in science education, a demonstrated ability in effectively communicating with others, a strong interest in marine science, and a willingness/ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including weekends and some holidays. Must be currently enrolled in college
courses or a recent graduate.

TIMETABLE
12-week, full-time (May – Aug)
AWARD PACKAGE
$4200

CONTACT
Laura Diederick
Education Specialist
Smithsonian Marine Station
701 Seaway Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34949
772.465.3271
diederick@si.edu
www.sms.si.edu/smee

Taxes and the (paid) undergraduate researcher

The IRS has a document to help you report income received as part of a research program.
See http://www.irs.gov/individuals/students/article/0,,id=96674,00.html for details and examples.

Darwin's Legacy: Evolution's Impact on Science and Culture

In light of the difficult economic climate, the organizers of the "Darwin's Legacy:  Evolution's Impact on Science and Culture" conference want to make it as feasible as possible for students to attend -- so admission to the conference (except the banquet, which is $25) is now free!  Those wishing to present a paper need to act fast, though:  abstracts are due on January 30, 2009.  Here, again, are the details of the conference.

The Evolution Learning Community at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, will be hosting "Darwin's Legacy:  Evolution's Impact on Science and Culture" -­ a multidisciplinary student conference to be held March 19-21, 2009.  The conference will be a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts who are conducting research or creative endeavors related to evolution to present their research, investigate graduate study opportunities, network, enhance their CVs, and enrich the body of knowledge surrounding evolution.  Abstracts are due on January 30, 2009; authors will be notified of acceptance by February 12, 2009.

Abstracts may be submitted to any of the following theme sessions:  evolution and the social sciences; evolution and religion; evolution and human uniqueness; economics of evolution and its consequences; the biodiversity crisis and conservation; Darwin's impact on art, music, and literature; sex and evolution; genomes, race, and medicine; evolution and ethics; the future of humanity; species in space and time; speciation and the species problem.  Note that papers need not be submitted to a theme session; presentations on any topic related to evolution are welcome.  In addition to the student presentations, there will be addresses by keynote speakers:  Kevin Padian, David Mindell, David Buss, and Peter Carruthers.

For further details, visit:
http://library.uncw.edu/web/outreach/evolution/conference.html

Teach for America: Feb 13 deadline

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and working professionals - of all academic majors, backgrounds and career interests - who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders for expanding educational opportunity for all children.
 
We seek outstanding individuals who possess the leadership skills and experience that will enable them to change the prospects of students growing up today and, ultimately, to effect the fundamental change in our society that will make it a place of opportunity for all.

FINAL Application Deadline: Friday, February 13th, 2009

To learn more, visit http://www.teachforamerica.org or contact admissions@teachforamerica.org
 
Full salary and benefits. All academic majors are welcome

SURE profiled on Emory Wheel

http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=26461