Dr. Gail P TaylorDr. Gail P Taylor

UTSA MBRS-RISEUTSA MBRS-RISE

01-26-201501-26-2015

Summer UndergraduateSummer Undergraduate Research Programs Research Programs

Dr. Gail P. TaylorAsst. Program DirectorMBRS-RISE Research Training Program

Summer Research ProgramsSummer Research Programs

Terrific way to set yourself apart!!Terrific way to set yourself apart!!

Give you invaluable experience!Give you invaluable experience!

Held at:Held at:

– Four year universitiesFour year universities

– Graduate programs at Medical CollegesGraduate programs at Medical Colleges

– GovernmentGovernment

– IndustryIndustry

– Research InstitutesResearch Institutes

Summer Research InternshipsSummer Research Internships

How long do they last?How long do they last?– 8 – 12 weeks8 – 12 weeks

How do you pay?How do you pay?– They pay you They pay you – Enough to afford being thereEnough to afford being there– Stipend (Up to ~$5K)Stipend (Up to ~$5K)– TravelTravel– May also pay housing & food “board”May also pay housing & food “board”

What Happens There IWhat Happens There I

USUALLY….USUALLY….ResearchResearch– Small research project of your Small research project of your

ownownProfessional developmentProfessional development– GRE PrepGRE Prep– Research Careers Research Careers

InformationInformation– Professional Dev. Professional Dev.

Instruction (papers, CV)Instruction (papers, CV)– Seminars with facultySeminars with faculty– Oral/Poster PresentationOral/Poster Presentation– Conferences?Conferences?

Why do this?Why do this?

Broaden yourselfBroaden yourselfBroaden your experienceBroaden your experience– Work ExperienceWork Experience

CV or resumeCV or resumeSets you apart - AmbitionSets you apart - Ambition

– Graduate School AdmissionGraduate School AdmissionIn general, research is requiredIn general, research is requiredWill help to get into specific programWill help to get into specific program

– Medical School AdmissionMedical School AdmissionVery competitive AdmissionsVery competitive AdmissionsNeed to stand outNeed to stand out

Letters of Recommendation!!Letters of Recommendation!!– Work your rear end off…Work your rear end off…

What Happens There II?What Happens There II?

Fun!Fun!– Parties/socialsParties/socials– Trips to local spots of interestTrips to local spots of interest

Ball gamesBall gamesAmusement ParksAmusement Parks

Networking!!!Networking!!!– Them- Long interview/recruiting for doctoral studentsThem- Long interview/recruiting for doctoral students– You- Meet faculty and new friends You- Meet faculty and new friends

Final PresentationFinal Presentation– Scientific poster or oralScientific poster or oral

LOOK AT INFO ON WEB PAGE OR APP!!LOOK AT INFO ON WEB PAGE OR APP!!Depends on ProgramDepends on ProgramPrimarily UndergraduatesPrimarily Undergraduates– Some younger (prior to Soph year)Some younger (prior to Soph year)– Mostly prior to Jr./Sr. yearsMostly prior to Jr./Sr. years

Science, Math/Computational, Engineering Science, Math/Computational, Engineering majorsmajorsPre-Ph.D. and/or Pre-MD/PhD or Pre-MedPre-Ph.D. and/or Pre-MD/PhD or Pre-MedPeople interested in researchPeople interested in researchSome focus on minority/underrepresented Some focus on minority/underrepresented studentsstudentsSometimes require citizenship/permanent Sometimes require citizenship/permanent residencyresidency

Whom Do they Want?Whom Do they Want?

Needed for ApplicationNeeded for ApplicationLetters of Recommendation (2?)Letters of Recommendation (2?)– Faculty InstructorsFaculty Instructors– Research MentorResearch MentorPersonal Statement(s)Personal Statement(s)– Answer their questions!Answer their questions!

TranscriptTranscriptList of MentorsList of Mentors

Personal Statement IPersonal Statement I

Answer the questions they ask!Answer the questions they ask!Put in plain language (assiduous???)Put in plain language (assiduous???)Follow length requirements (<2 pgs single spaced)Follow length requirements (<2 pgs single spaced)By defaultBy default– Why do you want to go?Why do you want to go?

What drives you?What drives you?What do you hope to get from the experience?What do you hope to get from the experience?

– What are your education and career goals?What are your education and career goals?– What research experience do you have already?What research experience do you have already?– What are your research interests?What are your research interests?– Which of their mentors are doing what you want to do?Which of their mentors are doing what you want to do?– What have you overcome (don’t be dramatic)What have you overcome (don’t be dramatic)– Briefly discuss Grade/Performance inconsistenciesBriefly discuss Grade/Performance inconsistencies

Personal Statement IIPersonal Statement II

Make it well organized, relevant, conciseCan take a while to refine

Grammatically correctGrammatically correct

Good spelling, punctuationGood spelling, punctuation

Answer all questionsAnswer all questions

Your own voice!!!Your own voice!!!

Follow all length requirementsFollow all length requirements

Tailor for individual schoolTailor for individual school

Reviewed by mentor and others before sent in!Reviewed by mentor and others before sent in!

Make sure you match program!Make sure you match program!Meet Deadline (Late Dec – April; Feb 1 common)Meet Deadline (Late Dec – April; Feb 1 common)

Level desired (Soph? Jr? Sr?)Level desired (Soph? Jr? Sr?)

Coursework requirements?Coursework requirements?

Extramural program (not only for their students)Extramural program (not only for their students)

Research Interests/mentors compatibleResearch Interests/mentors compatible

GPA (can sometimes be overcome by letters)GPA (can sometimes be overcome by letters)

Few require prior research experience (50:50)Few require prior research experience (50:50)

URM (all can apply; many don’t fill all)URM (all can apply; many don’t fill all)

Choose correct goal of programChoose correct goal of program– PhD in Biomedical Sciences (SURF)PhD in Biomedical Sciences (SURF)– PhD in Basic Sci/Engineering/non-biomed (REU)PhD in Basic Sci/Engineering/non-biomed (REU)– Medical Scientist training (MD/PhD)Medical Scientist training (MD/PhD)

Recommendation HintsRecommendation HintsRequire Letter and Assessment of qualitiesRequire Letter and Assessment of qualitiesThe better they know you, the betterThe better they know you, the betterPrioritize:Prioritize:– Research mentorsResearch mentors– Other researchers with whom you’ve workedOther researchers with whom you’ve worked– Program directors/AdvisorsProgram directors/Advisors– Course Instructors- Tenure trackCourse Instructors- Tenure track– Teaching assistantsTeaching assistants– Preferably not your mom….Preferably not your mom….

Once they’ve written letter, the next is easyOnce they’ve written letter, the next is easy

Letters…ContinuedLetters…ContinuedAsk early (3 weeks or more if possible)Ask early (3 weeks or more if possible)Provide personal statement, CV, transcriptProvide personal statement, CV, transcriptSet appt. to talk to themSet appt. to talk to themCan also address inconsistencies/gradesCan also address inconsistencies/gradesProvide web links for programs and/or Provide web links for programs and/or descriptions of programsdescriptions of programsProvide schedule of due datesProvide schedule of due datesTell them how request will arriveTell them how request will arriveGently remind as needed (PhDs procrastinate)Gently remind as needed (PhDs procrastinate)

Where are the programs??Where are the programs??Can have several at one school!Can have several at one school!http://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/education/http://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/education/non-degree-programs/undergrad-summer-non-degree-programs/undergrad-summer-research research

https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/surf/homehttps://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/surf/home

Can have one application for Can have one application for several schools!several schools!

Leadership Alliance:Leadership Alliance:

http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/tabid/242/default.aspxhttp://www.theleadershipalliance.org/tabid/242/default.aspx

Government Program at NIH!Government Program at NIH!

https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip

MD/PHDMD/PHD

http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/education/graduate-school/programs/non-degree-programs/surf.html

InternationalInternational

There are also International There are also International Opportunities…Opportunities…RISE/MARC cannot participateRISE/MARC cannot participate

Important List – MineImportant List – Mine

http://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/internships.htmhttp://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/internships.htm

@RowdyRISEMARC@RowdyRISEMARC

Acceptance and SelectingAcceptance and Selecting

Notification by EmailNotification by Email

Will give you a deadline to acceptWill give you a deadline to accept

““bad form” to accept then declinebad form” to accept then decline

Find out about mentor/project!!Find out about mentor/project!!

Is it a school you want to attend for Grad Is it a school you want to attend for Grad School?School?

Finances might influenceFinances might influence– Do they pay travel, or pay you back?Do they pay travel, or pay you back?