What I did on my summer vacation

Carnegie Mellon's four Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship recipients have a little more in common than just being good in science - they are all past participants of the Department of Biological Sciences' Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

The department considers research training to be a key component in a scientific education; more than 80 percent of undergraduates in Biological Sciences have dabbled in some form of research before they graduate. SURP, which has been around since 1987, is the collective name for a group of programs dedicated to introducing undergraduates to the world of research. In 2007, there will be students participating in the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, the Beckman Scholars Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Scholars & Researchers Programs  and the Summer Research Institute (SRI) for rising sophomores.

In the summer of 2006, Gregory Newby participated in the SRI; this year, he was selected as a Beckman Scholar. Samantha Spath, a 2006 Beckman Scholar, will continue her research with Charles Ettensohn. Lauren Thorpe, who conducted research in Lille, France, last year as an HHMI International Scholar, will work in Brooke McCartney's lab as an HHMI Scholar. And Jonathan Stahlman, who participated in the SRI in 2005, will work at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in the area of photon science as a research intern. 

While this sort of summer doesn't really sound relaxing, most summer programs also offer some fun mixed in with the research experience. The Department of Biological Sciences SURP students have opportunities to go whitewater rafting at Ohiopyle, attend Pirates games and explore Pittsburgh without freezing or being rained on (maybe).  

Erin Martin Kratt