Whether you are a freshman or a senior, if you are unsure about what you could be doing next summer, you should have been at the October 9 Science Career Panel! The seven panelists presented a panoply of options ranging from Research Experiences for Undergraduates in the US to Health Education in India. The panelists each participated in one or more programs that broadened their experiences and provided them with good contacts, all while contributing to the advancement of science or the well being of humankind! Those who spoke included:

Ellen Davis who represented Teach for America. When she finished her undergraduate degree at Smith College in 2002 with degrees in environmental science and political science, Ellen was unsure of what to do next. She was drawn to apply for Teach for America after visiting an inner city classroom and spent the next two years teaching second grade for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. She now heads the Teach for America outreach efforts on the University of Arizona campus. For more information go to: http://www.teachforamerica.org/

Uma Goyal, an MCB and Journalism major, had two non-UA summer research experiences. The first involved ecological research and the second was in developmental biology. Both were in Ohio. To learn more about the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Programs around the country go to: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5047

Christina Kwong, an MCB and Biochemistry junior, talked about her experiences doing research in China through the BRAVO! and NSEP programs. See http://ubrp.arizona.edu/bravo/ and http://www.iie.org/programs/nsep/default.htm respectively.

Stephen Lu, BS in Biochemistry and UBRP alum, did a summer internship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDDK). He applied three times before he was accepted to this program. What he discovered was that it was important to not only complete and submit the NIH internship application, but also to contact scientists directly at NIH. This step turns out to be essential. Students who apply to NIH for a summer research experience, or for a yearlong post-bac experience, are placed in a database that NIH researchers then go to to identify the students with whom they would like to work. If the student contacts an NIH scientist directly, then the scientist can request the student's application. Students with no experience, as well as those with previous experience, can participate in the NIH internships. There are positions available for students from high school onward. While the internship pays wages, no housing or transportation is provided. For more information go to: http://www.training.nih.gov/student/sip/

Retsina Meyer, BS in Mathematics, Biochemistry, and Psychology, and UBRP alum, parlayed her BRAVO! experience in Norway into a Fulbright Fellowship. Retsina is now a doctoral student in neurobiology at MIT. While in Norway she attended the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. For more information about the Fulbright Fellowship, for which students can apply during their senior year in college, go to: http://www.iie.org/Template.cfm?section=Fulbright1

Aniruddah (Alok) Patki, Biochemistry and Computer Science double major, is the co-director of a private non-profit organization, the International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS. This organization sends undergraduates to India to do AIDS education. Students pay their own airfare and a program fee and live with host families while in India. There are opportunities to be involved in the program during the summer (8 weeks) or during the fall semester (12 weeks). Preparation takes place during the spring semester when the group traveling meets weekly for cultural and group orientation activities. For more information contact Alok at: alokp@email.arizona.edu

Sarah Upstill is a Physiology major and the UA Campus Coordinator for Students for International Change (SIC). SIC sends students to Tanzania to participate in AIDS education activities during the summer. The program places students in host families. Students pay a program fee and airfare, but are able to cover these costs through fundraising. Contributions to SIC are tax deductible. For more information contact Sarah at: supstill@email.arizona.edu

In short, those who attended were privy to a wealth of information about a wide variety of opportunities! The next Science Career Series Panel will be Monday, November 6 at 4 pm in Life Sciences South 440. The theme is health careers and panelists include a physician, a genetic counselor, a nurse practitioner, and a dentist. These events are free and open to all interested.