Undergraduate Research Summer Internships Palomar College STEM Center

What are these internships? Targeted at and made for undergraduate students Designed to give you the lab and research skills necessary to succeed in graduate school Also want to get you interested in research

Benefits of these programs Experience to add on your resume Acquire lab skills you don’t get in the class room Apply learning to better understand subject material Acquire critical thinking and other research skills Gain connections (e.g. people and other opportunities) in the field Become exposed to new topics in your field Get a better idea of what you want to study

Where to look and where to apply NSF REU Sites: Government funded 10-week programs across the country Takes place at many universities and research institutions Stipend, travel, housing included Most top research universities Search for undergraduate research opportunities by department Opportunities may be only for their students or not

STEM Center resources Summer 2016 Research Opportunities REU Information provided by CSUSM The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center this list of internship and summer research opportunities 2016 Diversity Summer Internship Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Come talk to STEM tutors (e.g. Patricia has prior experience, Vincent is applying) and counselors Talk to your professors They already know you so they know what kind of advice to give on searching and finding opportunities May have personal connections to research faculty at surrounding universities May have opportunities available during the school year

How to Apply Applications typically due between February and March Shoulda start applying by December, request letters of recommendation over break Requirements may include letters of recommendationn Statement of lab experience Transcripts Resume or CV (career center is very helpful) Statement of purpose Other information (e.g. work history, demographics, career goals)

Final tips Spend some time looking around at the kind of research done at these internship sites Apply to your top choices based on the most interesting or exciting research (that appeals to you) Try not to base your decision on location, but rather the research projects available to you