Frequently Asked Questions
1) How long will the program run?
The program will run for 9 weeks during the summer of 2008.
See Important Dates.
2) What if I have never done research before?
The Amgen-UROP Scholars Program is open to undergraduates
with or without an actual research background. All
applicants should be able to demonstrate a keen interest
in doing investigative work in science or biotechnology.
3) What criteria is needed to be considered for acceptance
to the Program?
To be considered for acceptance to the Program, applicants
must meet all eligibility
requirements. Admissions will be based on a number
of factors, including academic background, quality of application
essays and recommendations, and ability to match available
spaces with student research interests.
4) How many students will the Amgen-UROP Scholars
Program accept?
Up to 28 students will be accepted into the Program.
5) How will Amgen Scholars be compensated?
Through a grant managed by the Office of Undergraduate
Advising and Academic Programming, Amgen Scholars working
40 hours per week earn $4,050 for the nine week period,
based on $11.25 hourly. In addition, a meal allowance is
provided to all Scholars.
All Amgen Scholars will be provided summer housing at a
designated on-campus residence hall. Scholars electing to
live elsewhere during the course of the Program must do
so at their own expense.
MIT Amgen Scholars selected for the leadership role of Program
Associate will also be paid $1,200, in addition to their
research pay.
6) If I am a non-MIT student joining the program
from out-of-state, must I pay for my own airfare?
The program will cover the costs for visiting (non-MIT)
students to fly to Boston, MA for the start of the program
(June 10), as well as the flight home once the program ends
(August 8).
All Amgen Scholars (MIT and visiting) are provided travel
to and from the mid-summer symposium at UCLA, as well as
lodging and dining at the symposium.
7) What are the responsibilities of Program Associates?
Program
Associates are MIT Amgen Scholars who will
act as peer mentors to others in the program, particularly
those students that are new to the campus. They will organize
activities aimed at introducing visiting students to the
Boston/Cambridge area, and develop and host social events
designed to cultivate lasting connections between MIT Scholars
and those that are new to our campus. Three MIT
students admitted to the Amgen-UROP Scholars Program will
be selected as Program Associates.
Program Associates will also collaborate with UAAP staff
in organizing educational activities, such as faculty lunches
and poster making workshops. They will also play a central
role in organizing the poster session and reception planned
for the end of the Program.
8) If I am an MIT student and chosen to be an Amgen
Scholar, how do I then apply to become a Program Associate?
All MIT students accepted into the Amgen-UROP Scholars
program will be invited to interview for a Program Associates
position. Interviews with UAAP staff will be scheduled for
the weeks of March 10 and March 17, 2008. Questions regarding
the Program Associate positions and the interview process
may be directed to program staff at (617) 253-7306, or amgen-scholars@mit.edu.
Three Amgen Scholars will be invited to assume these
roles, and orientation will be provided prior to
the start of the Program.
9) May I choose to work in a specific lab or with
a specific faculty member?
The online application will allow you to indicate that
you are interested in working specific MIT labs, or with
particular faculty members. Placements in a specific
area cannot be guaranteed.
10) If I am an MIT student currently doing research
with an MIT faculty member, may I continue that research in
summer 2008 as an Amgen Scholar?
The Amgen-UROP Scholars Program supports faculty-student
collaborations in the biological sciences/biotechnology
areas. If your present research is taking place in a discipline
within these areas, it is possible that you may be able
to continue that research as an Amgen Scholar. Please be
sure to indicate on your application that you wish to continue
research with a specific faculty member; a program staff
member will be in touch with you to discuss your request.
Amgen-UROP related research typically takes place in the
following MIT academic departments and interdisciplinary
areas:
- Biological Engineering
- Biology
- Biotechnology Process
Engineering Center
- Brain & Cognitive Sciences
- Center for Environmental
Health Sciences
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Clinical Research Center
- Health Sciences and
Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
(bioeng/biotech only)
- Picower Center for Learning
and Memory
11) Will I be required to attend Program events,
such as luncheon seminars, or the July national
symposium in California?
A goal of the Amgen Foundation’s grant to MIT is
to bring MIT students together with students from other
institutions, ultimately fostering a community of undergraduate
researchers with a deep interest in science and biotechnology.
This can only be accomplished with the full participation
of all Amgen Scholars, so attendance at most organized events
is expected, as is attendance at the national symposium.
12) If I am applying to MIT's program, may I also
apply to Amgen Scholars Programs hosted by other institutions?
Yes. You may apply to as many Amgen Scholars sites as you
like. Note that each institution will require a seperate
application, and that program details can differ among program
sites.
13) If I was a 2007Amgen Scholar at any of the ten
Amgen Scholars sites, may I apply to any of the 2008 Amgen
Scholars Programs? If I participate as an Amgen Scholar in
summer 2008, may I also apply in future summers?
You may only be an Amgen Scholar for one summer. Students
participating in the 2007 Program at any of the ten Amgen
sites may not apply to the 2008 Program. Similarly, students
participating in summer 2008 at any of the Amgen Scholars
sites may not apply for future summers.
14) How do I get more information on the Amgen UROP
Scholars Program?
Explore this MIT Amgen-UROP Scholars site or visit the
Amgen Foundation's
web site.
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