Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE)
PRISE aims to create a community of diverse students who are committed to research. It is open to Harvard undergraduates engaging in summer research at a Harvard laboratory in science, math, or engineering. Students live together in one of the college's residential houses for ten weeks during the summer, and participate in evening activities and workshops aimed at preparing them for careers in science. The program covers the cost of housing and partial board for the summer; however, students are expected to secure their own research funding.
FEEDS: Freshmen from Economically and Educationally Disadvantaged backgrounds in Science
Named one of 20 HHMI professors in 2002, MCB Professor Richard Losick has created a program for placing incoming Harvard freshmen who are interested in science, but have weaker science backgrounds, in research laboratories. Students are encouraged to continue their research throughout their time at Harvard, and they are supported financially for their work during the school year and the summer. Older students in the program provide peer mentoring to younger students. Thus far, almost all of the participants have remained in the program and continue to study science.
K-12: Outreach
Life Sciences/HHMI Outreach Program
Harvard University's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, in conjunction with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, offers a variety of outreach programs for high school teachers and students. Each summer and fall, high school teachers are invited to attend lectures by Harvard faculty on current research topics, which provides a forum for translating scientific ideas into classroom activities. Each spring, Harvard welcomes high school classes into its undergraduate teaching laboratories to introduce students to the excitement of research.
Each year since 2004, the Crimson Summer Academy has welcomed a cohort of 30 financially disadvantaged ninth-graders from Boston and Cambridge, who commit to participating in the program for three years. During the summer, the students live on campus during the week and attend classes on science, quantitative reasoning, and oral and written communication. The program emphasizes college and career opportunities, and provides mentoring by current Harvard students. Members of Harvard's life sciences departments participate in the Crimson Summer Academy in several ways: faculty members give lectures on current research topics, and students and postdoctoral fellows run laboratory classes.
ExperiMentors is a volunteer program for Harvard undergraduates who wish to share their enthusiasm for science with elementary school students. Volunteers work in pairs to design and perform hands-on science activities with children in the Cambridge public schools.
Summer Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
Harvard School of Public Health. Boston high school students who are interested in careers in the health sciences can participate in a seven week summer internship in laboratories at the Harvard School of Public Health through this program. Underrepresented minority students and those whose families have had little exposure to science research are especially encouraged to apply.
Undergraduate: Outreach
The HHMI EXROP (exceptional research opportunities) summer program provides college sophomores from disadvantaged backgrounds with research experiences in HHMI laboratories around the country. Participants are selected by HHMI program directors, investigators, and professors. Each summer, approximately ten EXROP students work in labs at Harvard.
Four Directions Summer Research Program
This program is designed for college students who are committed to serving Native American communities through health and science professions. Over the course of eight weeks, students pursue basic research projects in laboratories at Harvard medical school and participate in workshops that provide career preparation.
The Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)
Harvard Medical School. Undergraduates from underrepresented minority groups gain experience in biomedical research during this ten-week summer program at Harvard Medical School. In addition to working in a lab, students participate in activities that help prepare them for graduate school and careers in research.
Undergraduate juniors and seniors or first year medical students gain exposure to basic, clinical, or translational research projects during this eight-week summer program. As well as conducting laboratory research, students receive professional development training, meet faculty from across the hospital and medical school, and participate in social networking events. Open to underrepresented minority students.
Undergraduate Internship Program for Minority Students
Harvard School of Public Health. Underrepresented minority students who have completed their sophomore or junior year of college are eligible for this nine-week summer program at the Harvard School of Public Health. Students work closely with a faculty mentor on a research project focused on disease prevention, investigating topics including cancer, infectious diseases, and diabetes.
HMI and its affiliates offer a variety of programs for students interested in health policy and biomedical research. Visit their site for more information.
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
This annual conference attracts over 1000 minority undergraduates and over 300 graduate students who are interested in an array of life sciences disciplines. Students have the opportunity to present oral and poster presentations, attend seminars about succeeding in science, and learn about graduate school and internship opportunities. The next ABRCMS conference is November 8-11, 2006, in Anaheim, California.
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
The annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring brings together minority doctoral scholars from a variety of disciplines. This four-day conference provides participants with skills and resources to succeed in graduate school and in academic careers. Participation is by invitation only to students receiving one of a variety scholarships (visit their website for more information).
Summer Medical and Dental Education Program
The Summer Medical and Dental Education Program is a six-week, fully-funded program at 12 universities around the country. The program is open to undergraduates who are interested in careers in medicine or dentistry and are underrepresented minorities or are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Participants take science and writing classes, receive training in career development, and are exposed to clinical work.
New England Resource Directory
Biomedical Sciences Careers Program. A searchable directory for New England students from all levels (Kindergarten through postdoc) interested in a variety of science disciplines, with information on internships, career planning, mentoring, and more.
This site hosts a directory of opportunities in the life sciences, located throughout the country, that are aimed at college students, K-12 students, or K-12 teachers.
NSF REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates)
This website allows students to search through a wealth of research experiences by topic and location. Students participating in REUs receive a stipend, and often receive assistance with housing and travel. Many of the REU programs particularly encourage underrepresented minorities to apply.