HARVARD STEM CELL INSTITUTE (HSCI) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 2020 FOR UNDERGRADUATES (STIPEND OF $5000)
The Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP) provides non-Harvard undergraduate students with a focused and challenging summer research experience in a cutting-edge stem cell science laboratory. Interns are exposed to different professional options within the scientific arena through a stem cell seminar series, a career pathways presentation, and a weekly stem cell companion course.
Students present their summer research findings, both orally and in poster format, at the HIP Symposium—a requirement of all program participants.
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020. The program will begin on Monday, June 8, 2020. All selected candidates must commit to being at Harvard by Monday, June 15th (absolutely no exceptions to this requirement).
Stipend
A stipend of $5,000.00 will be provided, and this is intended to cover transportation, meals, and personal expenses related to participation in this program. Students, especially international students with J-1 visa requirements, will require evidence of greater personal financial resources to support their time at Harvard.
Eligibility
This is an UNDERGRADUATE internship program open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who express a strong interest in stem cell biology. Candidates must be enrolled in a program in the natural sciences.
Applicants may be from any college or university across the United States and internationally.
Harvard University will sponsor the visas for international students who are selected for this program.
Harvard students working, or seeking to work, in stem cell labs at Harvard will not be funded by HSCI but are encouraged to seek funding from other sources at Harvard. These Harvard students are invited to particpate in the weekly class and social activities.
Previous research experience in a biological laboratory is highly desirable, but not required.
Those who are ineligible to apply:
Applications will not be considered from those who have, or will receive, their baccalaureate degrees by December, 2020, or are currently in high school or graduate/medical school.
Exceptions are made for international students enrolled, directly from high school, in one of the first five years of a six-or-seven-year medical program. Students who have previously participated in the HSCI summer internship program are also ineligible to reapply to the program.
HOW TO APPLY
There are two steps involved for the application process
Step One – apply for a Harvard XID at the site:
https://xid.harvard.edu/xid-apps/displaySSCreateForm.do
It may take several hours before your XID is recognized by the system.
Step Two – The application link for summer, 2020, is available at this URL:
https://carat.fas.harvard.edu/applicant/newApplication?applicationPurposeId=3&fundingSourceId=25
Undergraduate Research Village Housing
Interns are required to live on-campus in the Undergraduate Research Village (Winthrop House is the likely venue). HSCI will cover the cost of housing for interns in the research village and will provide a microfridge for each resident. Meal plans are not available for HIP participants.
International Students
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE U.S.
International students who are selected to participate in HIP, and confirm their acceptance of their invitation, will receive Harvard University sponsorship of the J-1 student intern visa. The cost of obtaining this visa is going to be the sole responsibility of the intern.
International students will also need to provide evidence of oral and written mastery of English (if English is not your native language) – an interview with selected applicants will be conducted via Skype/Zoom.
You will also need to obtaiin documentation from your university that you are matriculated in a program leading either to a bachelor’s degree or a medical degree.
Additionally, per US Dept. of State regulations, selected international applicants will also have to provide evidence of health insurance coverage (intern’s expense) and financial support equal to approximately $2,350.00 per month (the stipend is valued at $2,000.00 per month).
VISA PROCESS
International applicants don’t need to do anything with regard to obtaining a visa until they have received confirmation of their selection to HIP.
The HIP program administrator will work with Harvard’s International Office to initiate the necessary paperwork, and that will be sent via FedEx delivery to the intern’s international address.
At that point, the student is responsible for scheduling the visa interview at the nearest US Embassy/Consulate, and he/she will also be responsible for any visa application fees.
For general information, please visit the official website at;
Syllabus and Expectations
Internships will be for a period of ten (10) weeks (or longer, by agreement with the mentor and Principal Investigator) during the summer of 2020.
Interns are expected to work full time (40 hours per week) in the host laboratory for the duration of the internship, attend the weekly seminar and stem cell companion course, and present their research at an end-of-internship scientific symposium.
Do check the website for more information