Tag: science

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Taking a Gap Year Before Med School & Information on Fellowships

Taking a Gap Year Before Med School
Thursday, February 21st
 – 7:00pm, 900 Room
Meet alumni to learn about their gap year experiences before med school and learn about fellowships available before and after graduation.

Davidson Alumni: 
Devin Haddad ’10, Caroline Ludwig ’12, Malcolm Moses-Hampton ’12

Fellowships and Scholarships: 
Dr. Ted Ogaldez, Director of Graduate Fellowships at Davidson College, and Dr. Scott Denham, Chair of the Graduate Fellowships Committee.

Alumni Bios: |
Devin Haddad ’10 – A Center major at Davidson, Mr. Haddad moved to Washington, DC after graduation to work for an immunology lab at the FDA for two years. He is now a medical student at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Caroline Ludwig ’12 – A biology major and French minor, Ms. Ludwig is currently working at LifeStar Emergency Medical Services in Winston-Salem, NC, and volunteers at the Brenner Children’s Hospital.  She also teaches a dance exercise class at the local YMCA.  Ms. Ludwig plans to attend medical school next year.

Malcolm Moses-Hampton ‘12 – Mr. Moses-Hampton is currently a NSF Lab & Research Technician in Dr. Julio Ramirez’s Neuroscience Lab in the Davidson College Psychology Department.  As such, he manages and conducts grant projects with Dr. Ramirez. Mr. Moses-Hampton plans to attend medical school in 2014, eventually practicing as a neurosurgeon with specific application to traumatic brain injuries.

 

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Research & Internship Opportunities in the Sciences

Includes: Neuropsychology, Psychology, Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Public Health, Biochemistry, Engineering, and Computer Science

Undergraduate research opportunities offer you the chance to participate in exciting projects, working beside some of the most talented scientists in the field.  They also help you gain needed experience to get in to graduate school or to obtain the position you’re applying for after graduation.

Below are links to a wide range of scientific research opportunities. Some offer stipends, while others are unpaid.  Deadlines vary, but in general, the earlier you apply the better. You should also check with your professors when seeking research opportunities as many have openings available for Davidson students that are not advertised. Davidson professors will also know of colleagues looking for people to work in their labs.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates
This is the premier site for summer research positions in the sciences. REU sites are competitively selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF), so the positions tend to be of very high quality (and tend to pay well, also).

Grants and Research Opportunities on the Davidson College Biology site
List of opportunities listed on the Davidson College Biology Department website.  This is for all sciences, public health, etc.

American Psychological Association
Undergraduate research opportunities and internships in Neuroscience and Psychology.

RIT Co-op and Scientific Internship Listings
This list provides a wide range of short and long-term cooperative and internship listings in science and technology.

List of summer research/internship opportunities in the sciences
Provided by Grinnell College, but not affiliated with the college – open to students across the country, and in a variety of disciplines:  biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics,medicine, physics,

Biotech and Pharmaceutical
Bio
Biotechnology Industry Organization is a professional association designed to provide information and support for those in the biotechnology field.  Their website provides excellent information on specific fields, current research and career opportunities.

BioSpace
News and job opportunities for those interested in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields.

PhRMA
PhRMA’s mission is to conduct effective advocacy for public policies that encourage
discovery of important new medicines for patients by biopharmaceutical research companies. This webside provides a variety of resources on the field.

Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies: Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowships
For undergraduate students in environmentally fields of  studies.

Environmental Science Institute
Funded by the National Science Foundation, this program is open to a national pool of undergraduate applicants and requires a ten-week commitment. Students create their own research project, participate in a research group, and present their work.

Math
Mathematical Association of America
The MAA provides mathematicians with the best expository articles, engaging problems, and articles devoted to teaching collegiate mathematics. The MAA also provides research funding opportunities.

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
International community of over 13,000 individual members. Almost 500 academic, manufacturing, research and development, service and consulting organizations, government, and military organizations worldwide are institutional members. The website has an excellent career-related section that lists internships and jobs within the field and provides career information and advice.

Physics
National Science Foundation
List of physics REU sites, both theoretical and experimental.

Public Health Opportunities
Johns Hopkins  – Funding/Internships Announcements
Compiled listing of public health related internships and research opportunities. Students do not need to be attending Johns Hopkins to apply.

Science
The National Academies
The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute ofMedicine, and National Research Council are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world.

Science.gov: USA.gov for Science
Internships and fellowship opportunities in science.

Scientific-related opportunities compiled by Columbia University, Department ofBiological Studies
Biology, Biomedical, Minority, Ecology and Environmental Studies, Marine Biology Research Opportunities, Fellowships, Internships and Summer Courses. Programs are located in all geographic areas of the country.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program: Boston University
Ten-week undergraduate program for students interested in pursuing a career as a research scientist. Students are chosen from a national pool.

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Pre-Med and Life Sciences Internships for Summer 2012

Internships and Summer Research Opportunities in the Life Sciences for 2012 are provided here.  Search for opportunities that meet any of the following criteria:

  1. Biomedical research
  2. Located in a medical or clinical setting
  3. Located in a medical school or health science center
  4. Has “biomedical” as a descriptor
  5. May be of particular interest to pre-med students

In addition to the valuable experience and good pay that an internship will give you, very many of the opportunities listed on this website (see below) also provide travel reimbursement, housing and meals. Don’t let concerns about living expenses or the location of an organization posted on this website prevent you from checking out an exciting and challenging  Internship position! If travel support, housing and meals are provided, this information will almost always be included in the details about the Internship that can be found by clicking on the internship website next to the organization’s name and location.

Pre-Med Internships for Summer 2012

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Becoming a Physician Assistant

The physician assistant profession is a career which can be lucrative in a short period of time. It is a relatively new field, having only been around since the late 1960s after the Vietnam War ended. Experienced naval officers coming home needed jobs. However, with no equivalent professions related to what the officers had done during the war, the physician assistant profession was born.

When researching physician assistant school prerequisites, you will discover that it is no longer necessary to have miltary experience.  However, it is still required to have medical experience prior to entry into the physician assistant program at most schools.

Work Requirements 
Most physician assistant programs prefer that applicants have two years of relevant medical experience before applying. Work as a paramedic, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, or a medical assistant are examples of relevant work history experiences.

Volunteering, office work, medical billing and coding are not considered relevant medical experiences. Hands-on experience with patients is the key requirement for qualification.

Educational Requirements
Being in solid academic standing is also a requirement when applying for PA programs. You need to have taken and completed certain prerequisite classes. Most programs require general courses in English, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. The majority of the physician assistant programs will also require a bachelors degree. (Some programs will not require this as a prerequisite, but this is changing so that eventually all programs will require the undergraduate degree.)

Application Process
The application process is competitive, as there are many applicants applying each year for a small number of openings. Make sure that your application is strong overall, and that you also have a strong, well-written personal statement as well.

Interview Process
The interview process is intense, and will require careful preparation. Practice ahead of time carefully and dress appropriately.  You may be asked personal questions regarding your character during the interview. (Are you the type of person that the interviewer would trust with the care of a member of their family?)

Difference Between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician’s Assistant
There is a difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant.  A Physician Assistant must be supervised by a physician, while a Nurse Practitioner may have their own practice.  For more details, go to Laying the Foundation for Physician Assistant Degree Programs.

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Summer Internships in Medical and Scientific Research

Interested in medical or science related internships for summer 2012? Compilations of internship sites can often be found online through colleges and universities throughout the United States.  Click this link to find a list of sites that have been compiled through Columbia University in the following areas:

  • biology
  • biomedical lab research
  • ecology and environmental research
  • marine biology – internships and courses
  • “other areas of biology” – primate behavior,  opportunities at the Smithsonian, computational and systems biology, etc.
  • programs for minority and “disadvantaged” students
  • summer courses
  • internships in the New York area

Please note that not all sites have been updated yet for the 2012 year, so keep an eye out for updates as the year continues.

It is recommended that you start searching now, as some of these application processes take a while to complete.  Many require pulling together your transcripts, letters of references, writing a personal essay, etc., and are competitive.  Good luck!

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Science, Technology, and Business Advance With Math Majors

As a math major you have career options available to you in every discipline of science, engineering, and technology. New fields and industries depend on applied mathematics for products such as communication systems, prescription drugs, textiles, computers, automobiles and aircraft. Processes such as supply chains and scheduling also rely on math. The biological sciences, climatology, finance and investment areas depend on mathematical reasoning and computational techniques. Various types of organizations, from governmental research organizations to independent consultants, hire mathematicians and computational scientists. Find a list of professional societies, companies who hire math majors, information on new careers using math skills, and stories from individuals who are using their math degrees in unique ways.