Research Opportunities
Carleton College Chapter of Sigma Xi
Research Opportunities at Carleton
Research Opportunities at Other Colleges and Universities
Research Opportunities at Carleton
Every summer the faculty in the Chemistry Department offer research opportunities for undergraduates colleagues. Note that these summer research positions are only made available to Carleton students. A summer stipend is paid to the undergraduate research colleague at the college's going rate for a ten week period. These stipends are funded through individual grants that faculty have obtained to carry out their research or through general grants made to the college that support student-faculty research such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant. Unfortunately, there are always more students interested than we have positions, so we have instituted an application process to make sure everyone who is interested in research comes to the attention of the faculty. Those students who do not obtain a position in the Carleton Chemistry Department are urged to consult with a faculty member and obtain help in procuring a summer research position at another college or university.
The application process begins in mid-January and concludes at the end of winter term. The deadline for the student application is late January/early February and invitations to students to join specific research groups will be issued before the end of February. Students who receive invitations to join a research group must make a commitment before leaving campus for spring break.
The document describing the summer 2008 undergraduate research opportunities in the Chemistry Department can be downloaded below:
Carleton Chemistry Department Summer 2008 Research Program
You can also check out http://serc.carleton.edu/cismi/researchopps.html, a “one-stop shop” that provides information about how all the Carleton science departments hire for summer research positions. You will also find links to jobs elsewhere and to department web pages.Research Opportunities at Other Colleges and Universities
There are literally hundreds of undergraduate research opportunities at various colleges and universities throughout the country. Many of these are open to general application from any undergraduate, even if you are not enrolled at their institution. The range of research areas in also enormous. If you have a specific research interest, it is very likely that a research opportunity exists that you are eligible to apply for. Check out some of the links listed below to begin your search. There are also paper copies of many announcements posted outside the Chemistry Department office on the bulletin board across from Mudd 165.
National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites
American Chemical Society Listing of Experiential Programs in Chemistry
CIRRUS, Chemistry Internet Resource for Research by Undergraduate Students
The Amgen Foundation has a wonderful program that provides hundreds of undergraduates the chance to do summer research at one of ten leading research universities. To apply you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a college sophomore or junior, have a GPA of 3.2 or higher, and be interested in a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in science. Application processes vary with campus, but all are due February 1, 2008. For more information, please check out the Amgen web site.
NASA is seeking undergraduate students from diverse communities interested in unique hands-on experiences with NASA scientists and engineers. These internships are available year-round and at all NASA facilities. Selected students receive a stipend and round-trip travel allowance.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides 10-week summer internships at federal research facilities for undergraduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students receive a $500/week stipend and travel reimbursement. Complete information is available online at www.orau.gov/dhsinternships. The deadline for submitting an application is December 14, 2007.
Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) give students in the fields of biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering and physics the chance to spend a summer working with German doctoral students on serious research projects. The doctoral students help integrate the undergraduate directly into the lab work and serve as personal and professional mentors. All participants receive stipends from DAAD to help cover living expenses, and the partner universities and research institutions provide housing assistance. You can find more information about this opportunity on the RISE web page (http://www.daad.de/rise/en/). Note that applications are due by January 31, 2008, and must be submitted by regular mail. So, you need to act quickly if you are interested. Also, note that the ability to speak German is not a requirement for the program.
Caltech’s MURF program aims to increase the participation of underrepresented students (such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Puerto Rican) in science and engineering graduate programs and to make Caltech’s programs more visible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors and must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. MURF students will receive a $6,000 award, round-trip air transportation, and free housing on the Caltech campus. Online applications are due January 7, 2008. For more information, please visit www.murf.caltech.edu.
Caltech’s Amgen Scholars Program is geared towards students in biology and biotechnology fields. Some of these fields include biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, and chemistry. Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors, must be attending a four-year university, and must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required. Amgen Scholars will receive a $5,500 award, round-trip air transportation, a generous housing allowance, and a food allowance. Online applications are due February 1, 2008. For more information, please visit www.amgenscholars.caltech.edu.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is looking for highly talented students with interest and background in science, engineering, and math to contribute in small research groups that are exploring fundamental biomedical questions in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary culture. Up to eight full-time undergraduate positions are available for summer 2008 at the Janelia Farm Research Campus. Housing is provided on campus, plus travel expenses and a $4,500 stipend. Janelia Farm is located in Ashburn, Virginia, where the $500 million campus opened in October 2006. Applications are due online on February 1, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.hhmi.org/news/jfrc20071115.html.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has summer 2008 research fellowships for college students, including awards for students from groups underrepresented in science fields. Students do research for 10-12 weeks, get paid $432/week plus a travel and housing allowance. You must have completed your junior or senior year by June 2008 to be eligible for a Student Summer Fellowship (international students welcome). Minority applicants can apply after completing one year of college by June 2008 and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Preference is given to students studying in any of the fields of science or engineering including, but not limited to, the fields of biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, oceanography, and marine policy. You must have at least a tentative interest in the ocean sciences, oceanographic engineering, mathematics, or marine policy. Applications are due February 15, 2008. For more information:
Student Summer Fellowships: http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=8060.
Minority Summer Fellowships: http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=9121.
The Materials Research Center at Northwestern University has a 9-week, paid summer research experience for undergraduates. The students are paired up with some of the leading research professors in science and engineering fields. Research areas include ceramics, polymers, nanocomposites, photonics, nanoparticles, molecular electronics and biomaterials. Students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in science or engineering who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible. The program dates this year are June 23 to August 22. Participants are paid a $4,000 stipend plus on-campus housing. Application deadline: February 15, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.mrsec.northwestern.edu/content/educational_programs/reu.htm.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln-summer program offers research opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. A complete listing of programs and descriptions of the research projects available can be found at http://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/research.shtml. Some of these include: redox biology, biological chemistry, chemistry, applied mathematics, virology, functional nanomaterials and nanoscience, plant sciences and bioinformatics, computer science. Undergraduates receive first-hand exposure to research and the experiences of graduate school. They work closely with faculty mentors and research teams of graduate students and other summer scholars. Students also have opportunities to participate in meaningful social and professional development activities outside of the laboratory.
A full description of what a student can expect during the 8-10 week program and the program benefits (a stipend ranging from $3,000 to $4,000, room and board, travel expenses, and more) can be found online at http://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/benefits.shtml. Applications are due March 3, 2008 and are available at http://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/apply.shtml.
The theme of the Iowa State University REU program is “Computational Materials Science.” It involves faculty researchers in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, and mathematics. Although the main research emphasis will be on computational science, the participating students will have an opportunity to interface with both experimental groups and computer scientists. For more information, please visit http://www.chem.iastate.edu/reu/.
The NSF REU Site for Polymer Science and Engineering at The University of Akron (http://www2.uakron.edu/cpspe/DPS/REU_site.htm) will again accept applications for the summer of 2008. They will begin choosing summer undergraduate interns in mid-February. The program is primarily for undergraduate students who are currently sophomores or juniors, although they have had a few freshmen. The application should include the application form, transcript, 2-3 letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent (background, area of interest, career goals) sent to Marj Riccardi (mericca@uakron.edu). The stipend is $6,000.
Are you interested in conducting research at the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest multi-purpose laboratory? Would you like to get paid to learn? Are you interested in expanding your resume? Would you like to gain research experience before entering the workforce or graduate school? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you should visit www.scied.science.doe.gov for information about their undergraduate internships.
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense, the IBM Almaden Research Center/San Jose State University (SJSU) SUMMIT (Summer in Materials for Information Technology) REU program supports research in the general area of chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science of information technology related materials. The ten weeks of research will be under the mentorship of a scientist at Almaden and/or a professor at SJSU. Included are a special seminar series, career discussions, and a concluding poster scientific meeting. In addition, there will be laboratory wide technical and social events open to all summer interns. The internships are designed for students who have completed at least one year of chemistry and/or chemical engineering course and lab work. Preference is given to chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science majors but outstanding candidates majoring in related areas are invited to apply. Applications are especially encouraged from students from primarily undergraduate institutions and from members of groups underrepresented in science and technology. It is anticipated that nine internships will available next summer. Applications must be received by February 1, 2008. Detailed program information can be found at http://www.almaden.ibm.com/st/info/studentopps/nsfstudent/nsfa2008.htm.
The University of Pennsylvania 2008 Molecular Biology Undergraduate Summer Research Program is ten weeks, starting June 2 and ending August 8 (there is some flexibility in start dates). The program provides full-time internships in basic laboratory research related to gene therapy of cystic fibrosis, other genetic diseases, cancer, and vaccines. The stipend is $3,500. The program is intended for college students following their sophomore or junior year. Application deadline: February 15, 2008. Complete information on the program and application requirements can be found at: http://www.med.upenn.edu/gtp/education_summer.shtml.
During the Northwestern University nine-week program in nanotechnology students participate in hands-on research, group meetings, research seminars, facility tours, and field trips. They have access to world-class equipment and world-renown faculty. Interactive workshops provide a fun setting to learn and practice communication fundamentals and the way to organize and develop winning academic papers. There are also opportunities to publish in Nanoscape, the first undergraduate research journal on nanotechnology in the country, and informal get-togethers like the summer picnic. Students receive a stipend of $4,000 plus round-trip airfare and housing in Northwestern dormitories.
To be eligible for this program, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, majoring in the physical sciences or engineering, with at least one year left to complete your undergraduate degree. The deadline for application is February 15. Minority and female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications can be downloaded at http://www.nsec.northwestern.edu/REU.htm.
A summer research internship is available in the Biophysics Group (Biology Department) at the Foster City, CA, campus of Gilead Sciences. The candidate should be enrolled in an Undergraduate Program with Major in Biological Sciences (Bachelor or equivalent) and have some prior experience in Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biology or Molecular Biology work. The successful candidate will work on a project studying energetic and stoichiometry of interactions of HIV protein and its mutants with nucleic acids. These studies will have implications for the design of suitable systems for crystallographic studies and for understanding the mechanism of action of small molecule inhibitors. The project will involve recombinant protein purification, studies of protein - protein and protein - DNA interactions by fluorescence spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation, in vitro assay development and optimization. No work with live HIV viruses will be required for this project. The successful candidate should have completed some project-relevant laboratory courses, for example in Biochemistry or Physical Chemistry. Candidates expected to commit a minimum of 12 weeks to this project. To apply: http://gilead.apply2jobs.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=1125&CurrentPage=1.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is again offering an NSF sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Biomolecular Science. More information can be found at http://www.uwlax.edu/ibisreu/. The deadline for applications is February 22, 2008.
The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University is pleased to announce summer research opportunities in chemistry for undergraduate students. The program (May 28 to August 8, 2008) will couple research experiences in graduate research laboratories with a program of tutorials and seminars designed to provide perspectives on career issues in the chemical sciences. Participating students will receive a stipend of $3,500 and will be provided with dormitory accommodations and health services. Some assistance with travel to Richmond is also available. Further details and application materials can be found at http://www.has.vcu.edu/che/research/nsf.html. Completed applications should be received by March 1, 2008.
The Chemistry Department at Lehigh University provides undergraduate students with unique summer research opportunities under the mentorship of a research-university faculty. Assisting the faculty in this program are CESAR fellows (Center for Emeritus Scientists in Academic Research, sponsored by the Merck Foundation)--an enthusiastic group of PhD-level scientists recently retired from the chemical or pharmaceutical industry. Students in this program will be engaged in all aspects of research aimed at the discovery and communication of new scientific knowledge. They will gain not only practical experience, but also the complementary perspectives of both academic and industrial mentors on the conduct of chemical and biochemical research. Areas of possible study include: Organic Chemistry, Surface Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry. Students in the program will conduct research over a 10-week period, from June 2 to August 1. A stipend of $3,000 will be provided, as well as paid campus housing. The application deadline is March 15, 2008. You can apply online at: http://cas.lehigh.edu/CASWeb/Content/default.aspx?pageid=817.
After a one year hiatus, the Chemistry Department at the University of Connecticut is hosting its 10th NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, scheduled for June 2 to August 9, 2008. The University of Connecticut has a strong tradition of providing research experience for its own undergraduates. The National Science Foundation is helping them expand this offering to chemistry majors from primarily undergraduate institutions. Not only will students have the opportunity to conduct research in top-flight academic laboratories, they will be paid to do so! A wide cross-section of the faculty has designed exciting independent research projects especially for this program. The students will receive a stipend of $4,000 for the ten-week program. In addition, room, round-trip transportation and partial board are also provided. UConn Chem REU students have an outstanding track-record of presenting their research findings at national ACS meetings and also publishing in peer-reviewed journals. These students have also been successful in their application to the most competitive graduate programs in the country. Visit http://web.uconn.edu/chemistry/reu.html for information on individual research projects, application form, lists of previous participants, pictures, and other information.
Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) offers an 8-week study abroad research program in Europe for undergraduate U.S. students. Students will be working in an experienced, collaborative research team to develop and apply algorithms and software for simulating reactions with organic materials that involve transitions between electronic states and be exposed to international research, education and culture. Applicants must be a United States citizen and should have at least 2 years of undergraduate study, preferably majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, computer science, or a related discipline such as chemical engineering or materials science with an interest in chemistry. Students with an enthusiasm for learning new science will become familiar with this exciting area of complex systems research that is becoming more important in the global environment. The program offers 8 weeks in Europe (June 30 - August 22), a $2000 stipend, paid housing/food/transportation costs, extensive contact with graduate student mentors and professors, training in cyberinfrastructure, arranged tours and outings, and participation in a concluding workshop. For more information or to apply, contact Bill Hase (bill.hase@ttu.edu), John Tully (john.tully@yale.edu), Theresa Windus (theresa@fi.ameslab.gov), or visit http://pire-europe.chem.ttu.edu/pire/junior_summer_abroad.htm. Completed applications must be submitted by February 29, 2008.
The Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute at The University of Iowa (NNI@UI) is pleased to announce a summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) program in nanoscience and nanotechnology funded by the National Science Foundation. They anticipate funding for eight students to work with faculty mentors from the departments of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Occupational and Environmental Health at The University of Iowa. A complete list of faculty mentors and research projects can be found at: http://research.uiowa.edu/nniui/reu_2008/. The program will run from May 27-August 1, 2008. A competitive stipend will be offered, plus room and board in University of Iowa housing. The application deadline is March 15, 2008, and it is anticipated that awards will be made in early April.
Students selected for this 10-week program (May 26-August 1, 2008) at North Dakota State University will be paired with a faculty mentor and be immersed in an independent research program. A stipend of $4,000 will be awarded to each student and campus housing will be provided. Participants are expected to dedicate their time to the research program; therefore, students may not enroll for summer courses or take on employment during the program. Application deadline: March 15, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.chem.ndsu.nodak.edu/reu/.