Seminar on: Summer Research Internships

1. Seminar on:Summer Research Internships Sponsored by FemProf

2. The sites • NSF: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm • Pathways to Science: http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Summerresearch.asp

3. Things you need to Consider • Goals and Objectives of the REU site • Research Projects • Internship Activities • Benefits (stipend, travel, room & board) • Internship Requirements • Application Materials • Required Qualifications • Institution/Location • Health Insurance (remember SiCKO) • Start date/ End date

4. Goals and objectives of the REU site • Tells you if it’s good for you • Should be taken into consideration for the statement of purpose

5. Research Projects • Select the best that fits your interest • Get acquainted with the research topic • Mention something relevant about it in the statement of purpose • Work is usually in groups • Main research mentor – professor • Other mentors – graduate students • Colleagues – undergraduate students • May be extended into academic year

6. Internship Activities • Workshops • Training • Conferences • Field Trips • Social events • BBQs

7. Benefits • Stipends - $4,000 - $6,000 • Travel – usually includes travel allowance • Housing – usually college dormitories paid by the REU site • Meals – included in many cases

8. Internship Requirements • Attend meetings • Attend workshops • Oral presentations • Write reports • Work X hours/week

9. Application Materials • Application form (submit ASAP) • Transcript (copy is good) • Statement of Purpose (research interest) • Letters of recommendation (from professors in your major field of study) • Resume (short and concise)

10. Required Qualifications • US citizens or permanent residents • Usually juniors (UPRM: 3-4 years BS students) • Programming skills • Math skills • Technical skills

11. Institution/Location • Mix of top 50 and below top 50 • Good Facilities • Good Infrastructure • Big cities/Rural places • Far/close

12. Health insurance • You need to be covered • Check if your Health Insurance cover you.

13. Questions you need to answer • Why are you interested in that summer internship? • What do you know about the topic of your interest? • What are your qualifications? • Why should they select you? • What do you expect to gain from the experience?

14. Questions to guide you preparing the statement of purpose • What motivated you to select your field of study? • Tell an interesting story • Talk about what’s unique about your background • What excites you about your field of study? • What motivates you to work on research?

15. Questions to guide you preparing the statement of purpose • Why are you interested in a particular project? • What will you gain from an internship experience? • What impact could this experience have in other fellow female students? • Serve as role models • Serve as advocate • How will this experience prepare you for graduate studies?

16. Things you need for Yesterday • Transcript • Statement of Purpose • Letters of recommendation • Resume