Undergraduate Fellowships for Rising Sophomores and Juniors
Program Description
UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. undergraduate research fellowships provide an opportunity for undergraduates in their sophomore or junior year to participate in original research under the guidance of graduate student mentors and faculty advisors. The G.A.T.O.R. Program is intended to prepare students for graduate school in the life sciences. Fellows will learn first-hand the practice of scientific research and scholarship. By doing discovery science, they will gain important lab or field skills along with knowledge of research design and presentation. This proficiency will make fellows strongly competitive for graduate school admission. In addition, the G.A.T.O.R. Program helps students develop a network of colleagues and mentors who can advise and assist them as they develop their scientific careers. All fellows are encouraged to continue their exploration of research during their junior and senior years.
UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. undergraduate research fellowships begin in the summer semester and extend through the following spring. Applications for the 2009-2010 year are due on February 20th, 2009. Undergraduate fellows receive a stipend for the summer during which they participate ($2500). In addition, they can apply for UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. research and travel awards totaling $1000 ($500 for research, $500 for travel).
In addition to doing research, undergraduate fellows will participate in weekly G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Groups in the summer and fall, and a 3 credit course on science communication in the spring. Fellows are also encouraged to attend a national conference with their mentors where they present their research. Travel funding up to $500 is provided.
How are Undergraduate Fellows Selected?
When applying, undergraduates will need to select three G.A.T.O.R. graduate mentors whose research closely matches their interests. Prior to applying, undergraduate applicants should contact potential graduate mentors to meet them and learn about their research. This will enable students and mentors to determine if their interests and personalities match, an important first step in the process of successful mentoring. A list of graduate mentors and their research projects is available by January of each year and can be accessed here.
After the application deadline (February 20, 2009), the graduate student mentors and faculty advisors will meet to select the fellows. Click here to learn about potential interview questions. Undergraduates who have already interviewed with potential mentors are most likely to be selected. Each graduate mentor will work with two undergraduate fellows.
Download Undergraduate Fellowship Application (PDF) (MS Word)
Who Can Apply?
UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. undergraduate fellowships are open to all rising sophomores and juniors who have interests in biological or biochemical research. Most fellowships will be awarded to UF students. However, up to four fellowships are available to sophomores or juniors from small colleges in the United States.
Non-UF students who are accepted to the G.A.T.O.R. program receive free summer housing (12 weeks) in addition to the $2500 stipend. To qualify, non-UF undergraduates must obtain the sponsorship of a home institution faculty member who can enable the student to continue his or her research during the fall and spring semesters. We strongly encourage non-UF applicants and their home-institution faculty sponsors to communicate with the UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. Program office to learn more about the UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. program.
Download Undergraduate Fellowship Application (PDF) (MS Word)
Undergraduate Fellows are Expected to:
- Develop a research project during summer C, under the guidance of your graduate mentor. During most weeks, research will be a full-time commitment for the undergraduate fellows. You should discuss time expectations with potential mentors as well. Research schedules are typically very flexible, and usually allow students to take one summer class. Fellows should discuss potential course loads with their mentors.
- Approach your research with the goal of working independently by the end of the summer. This will involve reading primary literature, presenting ideas, asking questions, taking notes, maintaining a lab notebook, and troubleshooting problems independently.
- Embrace all aspects of the scientific pursuit with the help of your mentor, including primary literature reading, hypothesis formation, project planning, completion of lab and/or field work, data gathering and organization, results interpretation, writing, and presentation.
- Build a working relationship with your mentor. Mentee/mentor relationships are based on trust and mutual respect. They are derived over time from people working together towards a common goal. In the G.A.T.O.R. Program, the common goal for fellows and mentors is a research project that the fellow will present at a national scientific meeting. Typically, a fellow's research project is related to the mentor's thesis or dissertation research and both parties should expect to generate publishable data. Fellows should rely on the guidance of their mentors, while ultimately taking responsibility for their individual projects.
- Develop a collaborative working relationship with the other undergraduate in the research team.
- Continue research for approximately 10 hours per week through the fall and spring semesters. Registration for 4905 independent research is required. This course typically requires a term paper submitted at the end of the semester. Specific requirements are department-dependent. For non-UF undergraduates, adequate arrangements must be made to continue research at the home institution, under the guidance of a faculty sponsor.
- Write a mini-grant proposal to the G.A.T.O.R. Program for up to $500 in research funds during the summer semester.
- Attend and participate in weekly G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Group during the summer and fall semesters. Participation will periodically involve informal presentations by fellows and mentors on research design, data, or conclusions, as the fellow develops his or her project. In a lab meeting context, the purpose of these presentations is to stimulate discussion within the group, with the goal of helping the student overcome a problem, or strengthen the project. G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Group also provides a forum for discussion of scientific ethics, the publication process, the nature of science, research design and analysis, and other topics that contribute to a scientist's education. Non-UF undergraduates may attend by phone or video conference.
- Attend and participate in host lab meetings as required.
- Attend a short summer workshop on modern research techniques.
- Attend a 3 credit course on Communicating Complexity in Science that meets weekly during the spring semester. Non-UF undergraduates may attend by phone or internet conference.
- Develop a poster based on your research for the UF Engineering and Science Fair, held in February each year. Non-UF undergraduates are encouraged (but not required) to attend the symposium.
- Travel to a national meeting with your graduate mentor to present your research. Presentations can be either poster or oral presentations and all three members of the research team are encouraged to present individually. It is preferable, but not required, that meeting attendance occurs during or soon after the fellowship. Presented research should include work that was completed by the fellow, during the fellowship.
Overview of Undergraduate Fellow Schedule
Spring of Freshman or Sophomore Year
Meet with potential mentors and decide who you would like to work with, prior to applying. Application and letters of recommendation are due February 20, 2009 (must be postmarked by this date).
Download Undergraduate Fellowship Application (PDF) (MS Word)
Summer
Develop research project with the goal of working independently by the end of the summer - mentees should expect a full-time commitment to the lab; develop collaborative relationship with mentor and other undergraduate in the research team; write mini-grant for research funding up to $500; attend workshop on modern research techniques; attend weekly G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Group and host lab meetings as required.
Fall
Continue research for 10 hours/week with the goal of completing all lab work by December; attend weekly G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Group and host lab meetings as required.
Spring
Continue research for 1-10 hours/week as needed to analyze and write up project; attend host lab meetings as required; attend 3 credit course on Communicating Complexity in Science (meets once/week); create poster for the UF Undergraduate Research Symposium in February; arrange conference travel with graduate mentor, if this has not been done already; prepare conference presentation.
Download Undergraduate Fellowship Application (PDF) (MS Word)
