Research in Sciences Summer Program FAQ
If you have any additional questions about the Research in Sciences summer program, please reach out to Anika (adane@wesleyan.edu).
- Eligibility
The Research in Sciences summer program is open to First Years, Sophomores, and Juniors currently enrolled at Wesleyan University. Students may apply for a fellowship each year.
Fellows work with faculty mentors affiliated with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Enironmental Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Behavior, Physics, Psychology, and the College of Design and Engineering Studies. You must have a faculty mentor and a research proposal to apply.
- Application Requirements
- Apply to the position through Handshake by choosing "Quick Apply" to submit your profile. You will also be asked to upload a copy of your Academic History to Handshake.
- Complete the Summer 2024 Research Fellowships application form. This requires a summer research project proposal written in consultation with a faculty mentor. If you need help identifying or approaching a faculty mentor, please visit our page on how to get started.
- A letter of recommendation from your faculty mentor emailed to scienceresearch@wesleyan.edu.
- Program Requirements
Research fellows are expected to:
- work a full time schedule. Specific hours may be set by your mentor.
- attend all required workshops. Fellows should consult with their mentors about additional workshops.
- participate in the Summer Science Symposium. Most of our fellows will present a poster. Students may also give an oral presentation.
The Research in Science Summer Program is an immersive in-person on-campus research experience. In a small number of select cases, research may be done remotely if required and strongly advocated by the faculty mentor. In many cases, research cannot be conducted virtually.
- Housing
Summer Research students are required to arrange their own housing. On-campus summer housing is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Your acceptance to the Research in Science summer program makes you eligible to apply. The summer housing application can be found at this link after April 1, 2024. If you have questions, contact the Office of Residential Life directly at 860-685-3550 or submit a ResLife Help Ticket through your WesPortal.
On-campus housing may be available at no charge or at a reduced rate for students with high financial need. If you feel you are eligible for this, please check the relevant box on the summer housing application and the Office of Residential Life will verify your eligibility.
- Payroll
Research Fellows will be paid hourly at a rate of $17.50/hour for an expected 37.5 hours per week. A student who works all of these hours would receive approximately $5000.
- CIS Majors
All CIS majors are required to spend at least one summer performing research. CIS majors are guaranteed to recieve a fellowship for their first summer research experience and do not need to apply separately.
CIS majors are paid at the same rate as all fellows and must fulfill all the same requirements.
- Named Fellows
There are two named fellowships available to summer students. There is no additional application process; CIS assigns these fellowships based on the student's research proposal and faculty reference letter.
The Siegel Fellowship specifically supports summer research in neuroscience and behavior.
The Sonnenblick Fellowship supports first through third-year students conducting a summer research project in the scientific fields of astronomy, biology, chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry, molecular biophysics, neuroscience, and physics.
Students who are awarded a named fellowship are expected to write a brief report of their summer research experience to be shared with the Siegel and Sonnenblick families and the Office of Advancement.