NYU Science Immersion Program (NYU-SIP):
Welcome to our Science Immersion and Long-term Mentoring Program, in partnership with Queensborough Community College!
Who is this for?
This program is designed for community college students who are interested in learning more about research and career opportunities in the life sciences.
Program goals:
1) Exposure to research, careers and career development tools in the life sciences
2) Long-term mentoring and support for our students to navigate their careers, including applying to a 4-year college, placement in a research lab, and finding the next step
What to expect?
Participants gain hands-on experience in research laboratories at NYU, and learn about possible career paths in the life sciences. The program includes career-development workshops, which will empower participants to pursue next steps. Importantly, this program will establish long-term mentoring relationships between participants and researchers at NYU School of Medicine, who will guide and support participants towards continued engagement in undergraduate research and transfer to 4-year universities and beyond. At the end of the program, participants will receive a certificate of participation and be eligible for a letter of recommendation from the program organizers.
Financial support: Each participant will receive a stipend of $750 upon successful completion of the program. Meals and a 7-day MetroCard will also be provided.
Tentative schedule for 2022 SIP week:
From past NYU-SIP participants:
“NYU's summer immersion program allowed me to have a more hands on experience with labs and it opened my eyes up to more career opportunities that I did not know about. This program also helped me form connections with people who are more than happy to provide me with resources and information to any questions I ask.”
“The NYU SIP Program was a delightful introduction to the world of research. Simultaneously, the program provided insights to the endless possibilities branching from a career in research.”
“The NYU SIP program provided influential insight and opportunities that helped guide and improve my education.”
Why are we doing this?
A large percentage of PEERs (Persons Excluded because of Ethnicity or Race) express interest in STEM careers when entering college, yet leave STEM disciplines at much higher rates than non-PEERs (Asai, Cell 2020). Retention of students from underrepresented groups in STEM, with the long-term goal of increasing representation at higher levels in the system, requires action at many levels, from changing the culture of academic science to supporting young scientists at every step along a training period that can exceed 10-15 years. Effort has been invested in promoting science in high schools and summer programs at 4-year colleges, but community college students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are often overlooked. To address this gap, we recently launched a program aimed to introduce students from Queensborough Community College in New York City to careers in biomedical research, and provide long-term mentoring to facilitate a career in the life sciences.
For more information about our 2021 inaugural week-long Science Immersion Program, check out the program booklet.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss the program, or would like additional resources/guidelines for a similar program at your institution!