Student Interns

Students entering their senior year of undergraduate study are at a critical decision point for their careers. For those who are from underrepresented minority or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the possibility continuing on to graduate work may seem out of reach. The CDP center sponsors summer research internships for such students who show academic promise, aimed at encouraging them to choose to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD.

Since 2004, six students each year have worked in MIT biology, bioengineering or related engineering laboratories for 10 weeks over the summer. Interns conduct supervised research in areas of imaging, proteomics, RNAi, microsystems, computational biology and synthetic biology. They attend a weekly lecture series by MIT faculty, and present their research results in a summer-end poster session.

Each year the number of highly qualified applicants to this program has grown, from 30 in 2004 to 125 in 2007. Interns are selected based on academic performance, faculty recommendations and a personal statement of interest*. Funds are provided to cover costs associated with travel, room & board, and a stipend.

Congratulations and Welcome to our 2007 Interns

• Krys Foster, University of Miami
• Ron Golan, The College of New Jersey
• Sarah Hall, Marshall University
• Roxana Ordonez, Florida International University
• Jennifer Ricks, North Carolina State
• Megan Salt, Rensselaer Polytech

Among the 18 students who have completed the program, nearly all are pursuing graduate degrees. Two thirds are in PhD programs in Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Systems Biology Computer Science and Public Health; three of these are in MD/PhD programs. Others have entered Medical or Dental School or are pursuing Fulbright Scholarships for study abroad. We are proud of their achievements:

2006 Interns

• Albert Almada, University of California, Irvine
• Eliezer Calo, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
• Vanessa Ortiz, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
• Whitney Owens, Benedict College, South Carolina
• Laura Sheard, Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania
• Gabriel Zavas-Caban, University of South Florida

2005 Interns

• Michael Aaron, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Larry Hendrix, Grambling State University
• Ryan Orosco, New Mexico State University
• Mandy Pascual, University of Maryland, College Park
• Jaime Jose Rivera, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• Alana Toro, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

2004 Interns

• Enrique Acevedo, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• Lawrence David, Columbia University
• Jose McFaline Figueroa, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• Francis Gonzalez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• Vimalier Reyes, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• Janet Tai, University of Maryland, Baltimore

*For application information contact Mandana Sassanfar, MIT Dept. of Biology 68-102C, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge MA 02139.