Summer Medical Dental Education Program

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) is a FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation. SMDEP is implemented at 12 program sites across the nation. Program sites vary on how they deliver each of these required components and when the programs begin. Applicants are encouraged to review program site information before completing application.
Program offerings include Academic enrichment in the basic sciences (organic chemistry, physics, biology) and pre-calculus/calculus, Career development, Learning-skills seminar, Limited clinical exposure and a Financial-planning workshop.
Please see program website for more information including eligibility requirements and application.
Deadline to submit application is March 1, 2012.

ACS Nuclear & Radiochemistry Undergraduate Summer Schools

The Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is sponsoring two INTENSIVE six-week summer schools (June 10, 2012 through July 20, 2012) in Nuclear and Radiochemistry for undergraduates. Funding is provided by the US Department of Energy.

The course will consist of lectures on the fundamentals of nuclear science, radiochemistry, and their applications in related fields. In addition to the formal instruction, the course will include a Guest Lecture Series and tours of nearby research centers at universities and National Laboratories. Students will meet and interact with prominent research scientists from universities and DOE national labs who are working in nuclear and radiochemistry, nuclear medicine, nuclear forensics, and related fields.

Fellowships include a stipend of $4,000, all tuition and fees, transportation to and from the summer school location, housing, books, laboratory supplies and transferable college credit.

Candidates should be undergraduates with an interest in nuclear science who are presently in their sophomore or junior year of study. They should have completed at least two years of chemistry, one year of physics and one year of calculus. Applicants must be US citizens.
Deadline for completed applications is February 12, 2012. Each summer school is limited to 12 students. Online application forms are available at: chemistry.missouri.edu/nucsummer/app.shtml

Department of Energy Scholars Program 2012

The Department of Energy Scholars Program offers summer internships with stipends of up to $650 per week depending on academic status to undergraduates, graduate students and post graduates at accredited institutes of higher education. Majors accepted include: engineering; physical sciences; environmental sciences; computer science and information technology; physics; business; policy; program management; mathematics; statistics; safety and health; accounting and finance; law; communications; and other related discipline areas. Visit the program website for more information. Deadline to apply is November 15, 2011.

Science Graduates Have Many Options

A recent study by researchers at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce indicates that graduates with a bachelor’s degree in one of the sciences have many career options and that such a degree can command high salaries. In highlighting this study, an October 20th article in the Chronicle of Higher Education points out that the authors of the report found that “sixty-five percent of students earning bachelor's degrees in science or engineering fields earn more than master's-degree holders in nonscience fields do” and “47 percent of bachelor's-degree holders in science fields earn more than do those holding doctorates in other fields.” In addition to high salary potential, the report finds that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) graduates have career options that go well beyond traditional careers in the laboratory. A New York Times blog post about this study notes that “professions that depend heavily on skills learned in [STEM] fields are the second-fastest growing occupational group in the United States, after health care. While traditional fields like computer engineering and laboratory research make up about 5 percent of the work force, demand for science, technology, engineering and math skills is spreading far beyond, to occupations in manufacturing, utilities, transportation and mining, as well as to sales and management.”

Summer Research in Polymer Science

The University of Akron College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering is again offering a competitive summer research experience for undergraduate (REU) students. Students will participate in a 12-week summer internship to investigate a fundamental question within the broad disciplines of polymer science and polymer engineering including chemistry, physics, characterization, and biomaterials. Stipends for this 12-week summer program are $7,000. The application deadline is February 1st. See the program website for further information.

Physics Grad Honored

May 2010 graduate and AU swimmer Sean McGraw has been named a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America. McGraw is part of the 2010 men’s at-large team. The team was selected by sports information directors from around the country. Sean graduated with majors in Physics and Mathematics, and has also received a $7,500 scholarship for postgraduate study from the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. Sean has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in physics at Ohio University, and has been awarded a teaching assistantship. Sean is one of many athletes who have successfully combined science majors and participation in varsity athletics at Ashland University. Other 2010 graduates who were student athletes include Nick Bellanco and Katie Moga.