APPLICATION FORM FOR UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
For Biology majors Freshmen/Sophomores and Juniors are welcome!
The goal of the Summer Research Experience is to encourage undergraduate Biology majors
and minors to consider research as a possible career or stepping stone to graduate/medical
school. These are some of the benefits:
o
Introduction to research techniques and concepts
o
Summer research internships with GWU faculty include a stipend for living expenses
and 1 tuition credit for BiSc 4171 (Undergraduate Research). The summer internship
is a great opportunity to engage in research with faculty.
o
Research experience, especially over several semesters, gives you a competitive edge
in applying for jobs, graduate programs and medical schools, and can culminate in an
Honors Thesis

NOTE TO FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES: Are you intimidated by the term "research", and
by the fact that you might be working alongside seniors or graduate students? Don't be! This
program is very accessible to freshmen and sophomore since we begin the summer program
with a training workshop and your mentors will train you in the techniques needed for the
research.
INSTRUCTIONS:

Fill out the application form; e-mail it to biology@gwu.edu, subject line: Summer
Research

The application deadline is Friday, March 13th, 2015.

Summer Research Experience dates: May 19-August 15, 2015

A mandatory four-day training will be held May 26th-29th with meetings twice a
month TBA
PERSONAL INFORMATION:

FULL NAME:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

POSTAL ADDRESS:
DATE OF BIRTH:
ACADEMIC INFORMATION:

CURRENT STATUS: Are you a full-time/part-time undergraduate at GWU? Which
of Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior best describes your status? What is your
anticipated date of graduation?

MAJOR(S): What is/are your major(s) and minor(s)?

TRANSCRIPTS: Attach copies of your university transcript(s) to your application
file, an unofficial transcript is OK. If you feel your GPA is not competitive but have
an explanation or offsetting reason, state that here:

PROFESSIONAL RESUME: Attach a copy of your resume to include work
experience, education, and relevant activities.

LABORATORY SKILLS/ COURSES: List any science, math, statistics or computer
programming courses you have taken that are not on your transcript.
Please indicate with a check if you have experience with any of the following skills (theses
skills will also be taught during the summer workshop):

Gel electrophoresis

PCR

Micropipetting

Computer programming or bioinformatics

Culturing bacteria or other cells

Biology Field work

Microscopy

Other ____________________
ABILITY TO CONTINUE RESEARCH IN THE ACADEMIC SEMESTERS: Will you have
room in your degree plan to continue to do research during the subsequent academic years. Up
to 6 credits of research (Bisc 4171 Undergraduate Research, 1, 2 or 3 credits per semester)
toward the major, counts as one lab course, can be taken as WID, and can qualify for Biology
Senior Honors

FULL-TIME INTERNSHIP: If you are selected, the program requires a substantial time
commitment: a week- long workshop immediately following the end of the spring semester,
followed by individual full-time internships (~40 hours/week) for an additional 10 or more
weeks, plus career development seminars throughout the summer. Are you available to devote
the necessary time to this?

RECOMMENDATIONS: Please have at least one letter of recommendation sent to
biology@gwu.edu from an individual who is familiar with your laboratory skills (this may
be a lab instructor, TA or other individual who has overseen you in a lab setting). We will
accept up to two such letters, in any printed format, to be submitted along with application.
Please ensure your letters arrive by March 7 or we may not be able review your application.

Name and email of Recommender(s):
OTHER INFORMATION:

Do you have any hobbies?

Why are you interested in the summer program?

Have you ever worked in a research laboratory that was not associated with a course or
class? If so, where? How long? What type of research was performed?

Describe your favorite way of learning or studying a topic.

Tell us about your educational and/or career goals after graduation.

Read the descriptions of research interests by visiting www.gwu.edu/~biology and clicking
on the faculty link. Which faculty research programs are of interest to you? Why?

What is your greatest weakness?

Pick a position of yours (past or present) from your resume. Why did you choose that role?
Why did you stick with it? Why not?