Dr.Gail Taylor from the University of Texas San Antonio describes what summer research programs are all about and lends valuable insight into tips for crafting a strong personal statement. Both elements are essential for gaining acceptance into a top-tier graduate research program.

1. Dr. Gail P TaylorDr. Gail P Taylor
UTSA MBRS-RISEUTSA MBRS-RISE
01-26-201501-26-2015
Summer UndergraduateSummer Undergraduate
Research ProgramsResearch Programs
Dr. Gail P. Taylor
Asst. Program Director
MBRS-RISE Research Training Program

2. 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

3. 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 youThey 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”

4. What Happens There IWhat Happens There I
USUALLY….USUALLY….
ResearchResearch
– Small research project of yourSmall research project of your
ownown
Professional developmentProfessional development
– GRE PrepGRE Prep
– Research CareersResearch Careers
InformationInformation
– Professional Dev.Professional Dev.
Instruction (papers, CV)Instruction (papers, CV)
– Seminars with facultySeminars with faculty
– Oral/Poster PresentationOral/Poster Presentation
– Conferences?Conferences?

5. Why do this?Why do this?
Broaden yourselfBroaden yourself
Broaden your experienceBroaden your experience
– Work ExperienceWork Experience
CV or resumeCV or resume
Sets you apart - AmbitionSets you apart - Ambition
– Graduate School AdmissionGraduate School Admission
In general, research is requiredIn general, research is required
Will help to get into specific programWill help to get into specific program
– Medical School AdmissionMedical School Admission
Very competitive AdmissionsVery competitive Admissions
Need to stand outNeed to stand out
Letters of Recommendation!!Letters of Recommendation!!
– Work your rear end off…Work your rear end off…

6. 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 games
Amusement ParksAmusement Parks
Networking!!!Networking!!!
– Them- Long interview/recruiting for doctoral studentsThem- Long interview/recruiting for doctoral students
– You- Meet faculty and new friendsYou- Meet faculty and new friends
Final PresentationFinal Presentation
– Scientific poster or oralScientific poster or oral

7. LOOK AT INFO ON WEB PAGE OR APP!!LOOK AT INFO ON WEB PAGE OR APP!!
Depends on ProgramDepends on Program
Primarily 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, EngineeringScience, Math/Computational, Engineering
majorsmajors
Pre-Ph.D. and/or Pre-MD/PhD or Pre-MedPre-Ph.D. and/or Pre-MD/PhD or Pre-Med
People interested in researchPeople interested in research
Some focus on minority/underrepresentedSome focus on minority/underrepresented
studentsstudents
Sometimes require citizenship/permanentSometimes require citizenship/permanent
residencyresidency
Whom Do they Want?Whom Do they Want?

8. Needed for ApplicationNeeded for Application
Letters of Recommendation (2?)Letters of Recommendation (2?)
– Faculty InstructorsFaculty Instructors
– Research MentorResearch Mentor
Personal Statement(s)Personal Statement(s)
– Answer their questions!Answer their questions!
TranscriptTranscript
List of MentorsList of Mentors

9. 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

10. Personal Statement IIPersonal Statement II
Make it well organized, relevant, concise
Can 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!

11. 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)

12. Recommendation HintsRecommendation Hints
Require Letter and Assessment of qualitiesRequire Letter and Assessment of qualities
The better they know you, the betterThe better they know you, the better
Prioritize: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

13. Letters…ContinuedLetters…Continued
Ask early (3 weeks or more if possible)Ask early (3 weeks or more if possible)
Provide personal statement, CV, transcriptProvide personal statement, CV, transcript
Set appt. to talk to themSet appt. to talk to them
Can also address inconsistencies/gradesCan also address inconsistencies/grades
Provide web links for programs and/orProvide web links for programs and/or
descriptions of programsdescriptions of programs
Provide schedule of due datesProvide schedule of due dates
Tell them how request will arriveTell them how request will arrive
Gently remind as needed (PhDs procrastinate)Gently remind as needed (PhDs procrastinate)

14. 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-
researchresearch
https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/surf/homehttps://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/surf/home

15. Can have one application forCan 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

16. Government Program at NIH!Government Program at NIH!
https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip

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

18. InternationalInternational
There are also InternationalThere are also International
Opportunities…Opportunities…
RISE/MARC cannot participateRISE/MARC cannot participate

19. Important List – MineImportant List – Mine
http://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/internships.htmhttp://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/internships.htm
@RowdyRISEMARC@RowdyRISEMARC

20. 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 GradIs 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?