HHMI Janelia Undergraduate Scholars Summer Program

 Application deadline: 1/15/2014

Janelia Undergraduate Scholars (http://www.janelia.org/student-programs/undergraduate-program) are among the very best future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who are interested in exploring basic neuroscience, imaging technology, and related fields of research at Janelia. Since its inception in 2007, 90 students have participated in the summer program and 9 of them have gone on to join the Janelia Graduate Program. 

Previous scholars have worked on a range of projects in Janelia labs, including helping to identify the neurons that control feeding behavior in fruit flies, designing better labeling molecules for use with sophisticated microscopy, recording from salamander retinal ganglion cells to learn about the motion tracking system, and developing computer programs for automated image analysis. 

Our summer scholars have an opportunity to attend weekly seminars by Janelia researchers and visiting scientists. Each student will have an opportunity to present his or her work at two symposia open to the Janelia community and will also participate in a weekly journal club.  

When not in the laboratory, summer scholars, who live on campus, enjoy a variety of social activities, including barbeques, a 4th of July outing to the Washington DC fireworks display, and other local events. Students plan their own social adventures, which in the past have included camping in nearby mountains, a night at the Washington Nationals ballgame, and a tubing trip down the Potomac River.

Janelia’s summer scholars program creates an outstanding research experience that serves to enrich the students' intellectual development as well as a summer of fun and exciting exploration of Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and the surrounding area.