Summer 2005 Research With HHMI Investigators

HHMI program to promote diversity in the pool of potential researchers

(See below for application procedure)

(THIS IS NOT HHMI/WASHU SURF for summer work here at WASHU)

HHMI is committed to expanding research opportunities for undergraduates. One objective has been to diversify and expand the pool of talented students who enter graduate studies with the goal of becoming academic scientists. With this motivation they have created a new program called EXROP – Exceptional Research Opportunities. In this program, HHMI will match students with HHMI Investigators who have expressed a desire to provide a stimulating research environment and are interested in and committed to mentoring promising students who, for example, have not had the advantage of outstanding high school preparation. Such students may have gone to high schools with few, if any, AP courses, high schools that send fewer than average students on to selective colleges. Students with “exceptional financial need”* and from groups traditionally under-represented in research careers are particularly encouraged to apply.  The stipend provided should make it possible for the student to do research in a first-rate laboratory rather than seeking summer employment outside of science. Transportation to the site of the research is also paid by HHMI.

Washington University may nominate two students for the program. After being selected, students will identify 3 potential mentors from a list of participating investigators.   (This will be done starting in Jan. 2005).  Students will be matched BY HHMI with these HHMI investigators. Potential mentors are those HHMI investigators who have volunteered to sponsor students for this program and will be a subset of the list of investigators available at

http://www.hhmi.org/cgi-bin/scisearch/scisearch.cgi

Any interested student should see Professor Miller, McD Hall 116, 935-7305 or email to miller@biology.wustl.edu for more information. Please make your interest known as soon as possible.

 DEADLINE: Dec. 15, 2004

*Current income levels for "exceptional financial need," as published by DHHS are the following, we show size of parent's family: income level  1:$17,960; 2: $24,240; 3: $30,520; 4: $36,800; 5: $43,080; 6: $49,360; 7: $55,640; 8: $61,920

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
DEADLINE: Dec. 15, 2004

1. Describe how you meet the criteria of the program. Note details like "first in family to go to college" (maximum length one page, double spaced).

2. Give evidence of your interest in science (past activities etc), including the possibility of having a career as a research scientist (short and long-term plans; maximum length one page, double spaced).

3. Provide a copy of your transcript (unofficial is fine). If your grades have been less good than you would like, discuss briefly any mitigating circumstances.  If there is an upward trajectory, point it out.

4. Provide a reference. The most useful reference will be a person who can cite evidence of your interest in pursuing a career in science, especially research.  Ask that your reference letter be sent to me by email if possible.

5. Bring this material to Prof. Miller in McD 116.   You can apply to this program and to the HHMI/WU Summer Undergraduate Research Program. If you are chosen for this program and you are unable to get a mentor, then we will guarantee you a Fellowship in the latter program.

6.   Students who apply may be asked to schedule an interview with Professor Miller.

7.  Note that we can only recommend two students for this program.

8.  Student selected for the program will be asked to make a list of potential mentors after looking at the list of participating investigators. Information on how to do this will be given to the selected students in early January and student will have approximately one month to select their top 3 choices for mentors. HHMI will then arrange for each student to join one of the labs on their list.  Note that HHMI investigators are at many different universities, including Washington University.   The students selected to participate can pick HHMI researchers from the mentor list in any field, in any location, including Washington University.  

COMMENT:  If you are presently doing research in a lab at WU, there may be considerable advantage to continuing in that lab and building on the data you have already collected, rather than going to a lab at some other institution for the summer.

 

Good luck,

Professor Miller