***It is recommended that you print this page to assist you in preparing your application***

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Online Application Deadline February 29, 2024

 

FELLOWSHIPS OFFERED: Columbia University’s Summer Research Program, in cooperation with the New York Stem Cell Foundation, will provide 10-12 Fellowships in 2024 to New York metropolitan area middle and high school science teachers. Applicants wishing to participate in this program must commit to work in a research laboratory for eight weeks in EACH of TWO consecutive summers (2024 & 2025). The proposed fellowship stipend will be $6,000 per summer.

ELIGIBILITY: Science teachers currently employed in any public, independent or parochial middle, intermediate, junior, or senior high school in the New York metropolitan area. The applicant must be committed to continue teaching science in the New York metropolitan area (includes northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut) middle and senior high schools for at least 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 The program seeks dynamic, energetic, creative, articulate and communicative professionals who have demonstrated leadership and initiative in their schools, and a desire to stimulate their students’ enthusiasm for science and for learning.

Applicants must be either U.S. Citizens or Resident Aliens. Proof of status may be requested

 

Application Supporting Documents Requirements Deadline February 29, 2024

1) THREE letters of recommendation from professional colleagues who are well acquainted with you and your work. Please provide the application instructions to those from whom you request a recommendation. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure each letter of recommendation is placed in a separate envelope, sealed with the signature of the recommender across the envelope flap and sent by U.S. mail, Fed Ex, UPS or messenger in time to arrive by 4 p.m. on February 28, 2020.

2) Your CURRENT CURRICULUM VITAE (RESUME). Your c.v./resume should not exceed three pages and should include the following information:

- Education (schools, science courses, degrees and dates)

- In addition to teaching experience, related professional experiences

- Memberships in professional organizations

- Awards, publications, patents, notable achievements, etc.

3) One COPY of your State or local Science Teacher Certification or License OR proof of eligibility (applicants who do not hold a science certificate or license may submit copies of college transcripts indicating sufficient coursework to be eligible for a science license and/or certificate).

4) Completion of the GPA and New York State Regents information document

ALL supporting documents must be returned in ONE envelope (US Postal Service, FedEx, UPS or hand delivered)

 

NOTE: Applicants who submitted a COMPLETE program application in a previous year, including letters of recommendation, must complete a new online application with an updated c.v./resume, three new letters of recommendation, and a photocopy of your current teaching license/certificate.

Submit all supporting documents in one envelope to:

Ms. Karen Allis, Summer Research Program Administrator

Columbia University

1150 St. Nicholas Ave., Room 508

New York, NY 10032

 

All supporting documents must be RECEIVED no later than Friday February 29, 2024  at 4:00 p.m.  FAXED AND/OR E-MAILED LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  You will receive an e-mail confirmation of the Program's receipt of your completed application. If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation of the Program's receipt of your completed application by close of business on Monday, March 2nd, please notify Ms. Karen Allis at kja7@cumc.columbia.edu.

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Program’s Advisory Committee. Applicants not selected for interviews will be so notified by April 17, 2024. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified prior to that date. At that time, several interview dates will be provided to choose from. The interview will be between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 and will last approximately 3/4 of an hour in length. Prior to the interview, each applicant should explore the Columbia University and New York Stem Cell Foundation websites to identify stem cell investigators, or investigators in other science disciplines, in whose laboratory he/she might like to work.

Successful applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than April 17, 2024. They will then be asked to schedule an interview with a scientist who has agreed to host a teacher in his/her laboratory in the summers of 2024 and 2025. Assignment to a laboratory requires agreement of the teacher and the head of the laboratory. It is our expectation that most teachers will have met with their prospective research mentors and be assigned to a laboratory by May 1, 2024. Laboratory mentors will provide teachers with background papers and manuscripts to be read in preparation for their arrival at their mentor's lab.

Teachers who will be working with animals and/or radioactive chemicals will be required to take courses in animal husbandry and/or radiation safety in May or June.

***We recommend that you complete the Essay Questions in a word processing program prior to beginning the electronic application. Once in the Essay Section of the online application, cut and paste your responses into the appropriate sections. Each Essay Question should not exceed 250 words.***

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: The 2024 program is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 1st and conclude on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Teachers spend four days per week (Tuesdays through Fridays) doing hands-on research in their host laboratories. Mondays are reserved for formal science discipline-specific professional development exercises including seminars on stem cell biology or other topics of broad general scientific interest. In the Program’s final week, Fellows present the results of their research in poster and short talk formats.

 

***Please note that once you begin, the application must be completed during that same session. You will NOT be able to leave and complete it at a later time***

Upon completion of the online application, you will receive an email with a copy for your records. Please ignore the time stamp. The host server is several hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone.

All good wishes for success