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Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship Program

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is the largest private supporter of science education.  Dartmouth College is one of 50 institutions in the United States selected for the prestigious Undergraduate Science Education Program Grant.  The purpose of the grant is to strengthen and enrich undergraduate science teaching at research universities.  One component of Dartmouth’s program is the establishment of HHMI Fellows, undergraduates who are given the opportunity to work on a research project in close collaboration with a Dartmouth faculty mentor.

Program Description

  • Students work part-time (7-12 hours per week) with a faculty mentor on research projects while also enrolled in classes.  
  • You may apply to participate in an HHMI fellowship during a leave term rather than a residence term, but the amount of the stipend will remain at $750 per term.  If you are interested in leave term research, you might consider applying for a research grant instead, and then completing the HHMI fellowship during a residence term.
  • Fellowships are either one or two terms in length, as per agreement between the student and faculty mentor.
  • HHMI fellows who successfully complete the internship are eligible to apply for funding to support travel to a national meeting or to continue their research during a leave term.
  • Mentors must have a faculty appointment, and this can be in any department in the Science Division, as well as in Psychological and Brain Sciences, Engineering, and the Dartmouth Medical School. However, the project must be life science related and must also involve predominately basic or bench science. Projects primarily in the area of clinical research are discouraged, unless the project contains a significant quantitative component (e.g. a thorough statistical analysis of patient data sets).
  • Students should meet with potential faculty mentors to identify a research project of mutual interest.  
  • To find a faculty mentor:  most departmental web sites list faculty and their research interests (click HERE for a list of departments with potential faculty mentors).  Identify faculty whose work you find interesting and contact them about the possibility of doing a research internship.

Award

  • Stipend of $750 per term (for 7-12 hours of work per week)

Eligibility

  • Fellowships take place during the SOPHOMORE year (students apply in the spring of their first year)

Application Deadline for Class of 2011: May 9, 2008

Submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Research (HB 6201 / 110 Wentworth Hall):

  • Application Form
  • Acknowledgement and Release (signed by student and faculty mentor)
  • One page (single-spaced) project proposal.  Submit a paper copy AND send via blitzmail to "Undergraduate Research" with "HHMI" as the subject line.
    • What is the project (describe this in your own words -- do not cut and past from something your mentor has written)
    • What is your role in the project
    • How would the HHMI fellowship fit into your academic and career goals
  • Official transcript (from the Registrar)
  • Resume (include any extracurricular activities, leadership positions, and honors/awards)

Submission of application does NOT guarantee acceptance into the program

Download Application Form  (Fillable PDF)
    NOTE: The fillable PDF application MUST be completed using Adobe Reader.
    Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Download Acknowledgement and Release Form (PDF)

Poster Session

  • HHMI Fellows are required to participate in the Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium poster session in the spring
  • Examples of posters from previous years (these are large files so take a couple of minutes to load -- be patient!):

Additional Funding for HHMI Fellows

  • Additional funding is available for current HHMI Fellows
    • Additional terms of part-time research ($750 per term)
    • Full-time research during a leave term ($3000)
    • Funds to attend a conference/meeting with the purpose of presenting data from the HHMI Fellowship
  • To apply for these funds, submit the application form (see below) to the Office of Undergraduate Advising & Research

Download Application Form for Additional Funding through HHMI

Questions?

  • Blitz "undergraduate research" or call 6-1632.

 

Last Updated: 5/6/08