Type them into questions box! Chemical Society American Chemical Society 4 American Chemical Society 5 Taking Charge of Your Future: What you will learn • Why do summer research?

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Have Questions?

Taking Charge of Your Future: Finding and Applying for Summer Research Experiences

SPEAKER: Gloria Thomas, Executive Director of Research, Education and

Mentoring Programs, Office of Strategic Initiatives at Louisiana State University

HOST: Greglynn Gibbs, Chair-Elect, ACS Lehigh Valley Local Section, and ACS

Student Chapter Advisor, Penn State Berks

American Chemical Society

American Chemical Society 4


http://ycc.sites.acs.org/programinabox.htm


Taking Charge of Your Future: What you will learn

• Why do summer research?

• Types of experiences

• Typical Programs

• General Requirements

• How to find the right research experience

• Submitting an application

• “Kisses of Death”

• Other Considerations


Taking Charge of Your Future: Why summer research? What do you hope to gain?

• Learn, learn, learn!

• Experience chemistry in a “real world”

setting

• Get the excitement of discovery

• Explore a new area of research

• Try out a new school

• Prepare for graduate school and

research careers


http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/educatio

n/students/college/research/guide.html

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/college/research/guide.html

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/college/research/guide.html

Taking Charge of Your Future: Understanding the types of summer research experiences

• Sectors

– Academic, Industrial and National

Labs

• Funding Sources

– Federally-funded vs Institutionally-

funded

• Goals of the Program

• Nature of Research

– Applied versus basic science

• Location, Location, Location

– International vs domestic


Taking Charge of Your Future: The typical summer research experience

• Round-trip travel paid by the program

Note: Flights are coordinated by the program with possible

limit/allowance on the amount they will cover

• Term of 6, 8 or 10 weeks

• Stipend between $3000 and $5000

• Housing in dormitory

• Food allowance or campus meal plans

• Academic credit may be offered


10 American Chemical Society

Taking Charge of Your Future: General Requirements

• GPA

• Transcript

• Essays

• Letter(s) of recommendation

• Course completion (such as organic chemistry)

• Gender, race, ethnicity

• Citizenship (for some types of opportunities)

• Passport and student visa for international opportunities

• Physical exam (depending on the work environment)

• Interest in attending graduate school

• Undergraduate enrollment in the subsequent semester

Taking Charge of Your Future: How to find a research experience

• Talk to your advisor, friends, professors

• Search the Internet

1. GetExperience: www.acs.org/getexperience

2. National Science Foundation

http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

3. Institute for Broadening Experience:

http://www.pathwaystoscience.org

4. Council on Undergraduate Research:

http://www.cur.org/resources/for_students/

5. WebGURU: www.webguru.edu

6. College/university websites


http://www.acs.org/getexperience

http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/

http://www.cur.org/resources/for_students/

http://www.webguru.edu/

Taking Charge of Your Future: Selecting the right opportunity for you

• Research goals that match/fit your future goals

• What you like (or not) about your current institution.

• Who and how you will be supervised

• The size of the research group

• Formal mentoring component and/or course credits

• Social activities or networking opportunities

• The timing of the program - international vs. U.S.

• Length/terms of the program

– Term of 6 – 10 weeks

– Full-time hours for the duration of the program.


Taking Charge of Your Future: How to select the right opportunity

• Benefits/stipend

– Consider meal plans, housing, stipend,

travel expenses, etc.

– Be sure keep in mind the cost of living in

each particular area.

• Culture of the research group?

– Consider expected work hours, time

flexibility, diversity (ethnic, age,

educational background)


http://www.webguru.neu.edu/undergraduate-research/getting-started/questions-ask








Taking Charge of Your Future: Steps to submit a strong application

• Start researching opportunities early

• Pay close attention to application requirements

– GPA

– Transcripts (high school, college - current vs. all)

– Course completion requirements

– Resume, cover letter, essays, statements

– Letters of recommendation

• Pay attention to deadlines

– Deadlines are hard deadlines.

– Request letters of recommendation and start

applying early


Taking Charge of Your Future: Resume

• Get help preparing your resume

• Resume should include:

– School and permanent addresses

– Email address

– Mobile number

– LinkedIn address

– Current and previous courses

– Work History

– Awards/Honors

– Extracurricular/Service organizations and activities

• References


Taking Charge of Your Future: Statement of Purpose

• Very targeted and focused on your professional/academic background,

interests, research goals, and overall compatibility with the program,

professors, team, etc.

• Describes the scientist you have become and will grow to be.

• Every paragraph should somehow be related to your research area,

interest, experience, and future.

• Any personal information should be related to your scientific approach

and how you will enrich the scientific world.

• Personal information not relevant to research should be minimized, if not

eliminated

– But, you can still make yourself human by infusing authenticity and color

(showing the forces that drive you).

• Do not compare the content with friends applying to social sciences,

humanities, law, medicine and health related programs.


Taking Charge of Your Future: Statements of Purpose

• Introduction

– What are your interests?

– What sparked your desire for research?

• Summary of any previous research

– Research conducted: include project title, your

responsibilities, and the outcome. Write technically or in the

style of your discipline.

– Important paper or thesis project you completed,

publications i.e. things beyond your normal curriculum.

– Work/Research experiences, particularly those in an area

similar to your research interests.

Taking Charge of Your Future: Statements of Purpose

• Indicate current activities

– Describe what you did (name of organization, position held),

responsibilities, and lessons learned.

– Describe how your involvement has/will helped you focus on your

studies and goals.

• Elaborate on the topic you wish to pursue

– Describe in greater detail what you want to study.

• Indicate area of interest, state questions, concerns, and thoughts

associated with the topic.

• Research online for departments and professors you are

interested that have research interests parallel to yours. Imply that

you’ve read their work.

• End statement positively indicating excitement and preparedness

for what lies ahead.

Poll Question Letters of recommendation are best obtained from…?

1. Any professor/supervisor at my institution

2. Any professor/supervisor in my department

3. A professor I have taken classes with and received a good grade

4. A professor/researcher I have worked with who knows my technical skills

and potential

5. It doesn’t really matter as long as I get one


Taking Charge of Your Future: Good Letters of Recommendation


• Make or Break

– Get to know your faculty!!!

• Who you should ask

– Research advisors

– Other professors or supervisors

who know your capabilities

– Lab instructors

– Get them to explain any challenges

you have faced!!

• Who you should NOT ask

– Anyone who does not know your

science capabilities

– Anyone you do not know well or

goofed off in their class

Faculty will write

letters that reflect

what they know

about you!

Taking Charge of Your Future: “Kisses of Death” (Avoid these!)

• Appear uninformed

• Bad letters of recommendation

• Damaging personal statements

• No explanation of academic

problems

• Errors, typos and/or conflicting

information

• Misfired attempts to impress

• Inappropriate social media presence

Taking Charge of Your Future: Other considerations

• Sometimes funding falls short and a program is cancelled.

– Pay attention to emails!

• Deadlines are often short and you won’t hear about the

opportunities at the same time.

• Communication is key. Remain in contact with the REU program if

you need more time to decide or need to know if you’re being

considered.

• Be aware that companies/universities use research programs as a

screening tool.

• Be aware that research experiences are also an opportunity to

secure great recommendations for graduate school!


Taking Charge of Your Future: Get Going!

• Start identifying programs today!

– Apply to at least three opportunities

• low hanging fruit

• mid range

• competitive

• Talk to faculty, advisors and supervisors about letters

• Write your resume and personal statement(s)

– Write several drafts and make revisions

– Find a reviewer familiar with the field/area of research

– Revise and recheck


Type them into questions box!

24

Have Questions?

25

Taking Charge of Your Future: Finding and Applying for Summer Research

Experiences

Gloria Thomas Louisiana State University

Greglynn Gibbs Penn State Berks

Taking Charge of Your Future: Further Discussion

Do you have additional questions?

• Tweet @acsundergrad

• For the next two days webinar speakers Dr. Gloria

Thomas and Greglynn Gibbs will respond to your

questions on Reactions, the ACS Undergraduate

Blog at: http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/


http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/

Taking Charge of Your Future: Special Thanks!

• ACS Webinars

• ACS Undergraduate Programs Office

• ACS Younger Chemists Committee

• Prof. Jeffrey D. Evanseck, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA

27 American Chemical Society




Documents

Type them into questions box! Chemical Society American Chemical Society 4 American Chemical Society 5 Taking Charge of Your Future: What you will learn • Why do summer research?