It is our hope is that the interns that join us for the summer will not only gain a broader knowledge of plant genomics, but also learn new techniques, participate in lab meetings and scientific discussions, and take away a better understanding of genuine scientific research. With these new skills and experiences, we trust that our summer interns will be even more prepared for the challenges of schoolwork and their future career paths when they return from their time at Cornell.
Undergraduate Internships in the Plant Sciences
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU, Award #0453331), funded by the National Science Foundation, are available for qualified students interested in plant genome research. Interns will be placed in one of the participating labs according to preference and availability. The interns will be mentored by a graduate student or post-doctoral associate and will work with their mentors on a project related to plant genomics. They will learn the latest in molecular biology techniques, and depending on the lab, may also participate in fieldwork. All students will attend lab meetings, read and discuss recent literature related to their project, and attend a weekly seminar series presented by Cornell and BTI scientists. Additionally, at the conclusion of the summer, interns will present their research to the other students, principal investigators, and mentors at the Summer Student Symposium.
Summer internships are full-time (40 hours/week) for 10 weeks for undergraduate students, beginning on June 1st and ending on August 7th, 2009. For participation in the program, interns will receive a stipend, housing and some travel expenses. Applications for undergraduate internships are to be downloaded and mailed to the Outreach Program Coordinator, postmarked by February 15th, 2009. Alternatively, applications may be emailed to pgrp-outreach@cornell.edu.
Please note: students must be enrolled in a two- or four-year undergraduate institute and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) who will be attending college in the fall, to apply to this program. This includes HS seniors who will be college freshman in the Fall of 2009 (seniors must be 18 by start date of internship). The applications are in Adobe Acrobat format, and require Adobe Reader which can be downloaded here.
Extracurricular Activities
Throughout the summer, the PGRP sponsors several events, such as our Welcome Barbecue, for the summer interns. However, there is also a great deal to do in Ithaca itself. For more information about life in Ithaca and the surrounding areas, click here.
Student Symposium
The summer internship for both high school and undergraduate students culminates in a student symposium, the Colonel’s Cup Challenge. This is a full day event at which interns give either a presentation or a poster communicating what they have learned and accomplished during the summer. The posters and presentations are judged by a panel, which determines the winner of the Colonel’s Cup for Best Presentation and the PGRP Award for Best Poster. Please see the previous years' internship pages for lists of presentation titles, names of awardees, and photos from the event.Â
High School Summer Internships
Summer research internships are also available for qualified high school students living within daily driving distance to Cornell University. These internships are full time (40 hours/ week) for 6-8 weeks concluding August 7, 2009. Students will receive a modest stipend, the amount of which will be determined by the lab in which they are placed. Housing is not available for high school internships. For more details, see the Undergraduate Summer Internship description, above. If interested, please download the high school internship application and mail the completed form to the Outreach Program Coordinator by February 15, 2009. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be considered. Interviews for potential candidates will be arranged at the local high schools after the application deadline.
On-campus Internship Opportunities
Cornell students interested in research internships in plant biology during the school year are encouraged to visit the Office of Undergraduate Biology in 216 Stimson Hall or browse the searchable database of internship opportunities.