Office of the Dean

Minority Science Programs (MSP)

2008 Program Announcement

Applications will be reviewed starting on April 9, 2008

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Dr. Luis Mota-Bravo, Director of Outreach, Research Training and Minority Science Programs, School of Biological Sciences

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Minority Science Programs (MSP) in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) announces the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The objective of the Bridges Program is to advance the careers of community college students interested in pursuing a biomedical research career. The program has been designed to:

• Provide comprehensive research training to Bridges participants while they receive financial compensation. Paid training components include: 1) research conducted under the direction of UCI faculty mentors, 2) a faculty seminar series, 3) a journal club to introduce scholars to critical reading of current biomedical literature, 4) a two-week intensive workshop on principles, instrumentation and techniques used in biomedical research, 5) preparation of papers, oral presentations and posters, and 6) presentation of research findings at local and national conferences

• Provide academic preparation to transfer and excel at 4-year universities

• Inform students about career choices and opportunities

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents from underrepresented minority groups (Black African-Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, Native Americans, and Natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands). Applicants should be enrolled in or transferring from a community college. Bridges participants should have completed one semester of chemistry and biology at the community college with a science GPA of at least 3.00 (however, exceptions to the GPA requirement can be made for students with special recommendations from science faculty from their community college).

 

RESEARCH TRAINING

Participants in the Bridges program receive practical training in modern laboratory techniques and then are placed in supportive UCI laboratory working environments where they establish peer/mentor relationships. Bridges participants are paired with junior and senior-year UCI undergraduate students, minority graduate students or supportive staff research associates.

 

BENEFITS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND TIMETABLE

The training period at UCI is from June 9 to August 20, 2008 (the end date may be extended until August 29, 2008).

 

Paid research training as a full-time UCI employee during the summer (10 weeks), receiving a salary of approximately $411/week, with the possibility of continuing up to 10 hours per week during the academic year.

 

During the summer, Bridges participants attend a two-week workshop on modern laboratory methods,  Faculty Seminar Series, Weekly Journal Club, Organic Chemistry Prep Tutorial and MSP Bridges Research Symposium.

 

Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program participants are required to prepare a 5-page paper describing the research projects that they developed over the summer. These papers are due on August 15, 2008. Bridges students are required to present their findings in an oral presentation at the MSP Bridges Research Symposium at UCI on August 20, 2008.

 

Financial support is available to attend nationwide conferences to present research findings.

Selected applicants will be required to attend a two-hour pre-orientation meeting on either May 16 or May 23, 2008.

APPLICATION

Applications will be reviewed starting on Wednesday April 9, 2008, until all the positions are filled.

 

You may download the MS Word Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program application package that contains the Bridges Program Application Form, Letter of Recommendation and Statement of Purpose Form.

 

For additional information about Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program please contact:

Dr. Lidia Yoshida

Academic Coordinator

Minority Science Programs

108 Biological Sciences Administration

University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA 92697-2527

Ph: (949) 824-8185

Fax: (949) 824-6599

e-mail: lyoshida@uci.edu