HHMI EXROP Nominations Now Open!

HHMI has invited Julio de Paula, L & C HHMI Program Director to nominate up to two students to participate in EXROP in 2013. In 2011, L & C undergraduate Krissy Lyons was recommended by faculty, nominated by L& C HHMI and received the prestigious honor of participating as a summer intern at John Hopkins University.  With the help of faculty and their recommendations, we would like to offer this exceptional opportunity for undergraduates again.  Please read on for more detailed information about the program, qualifications and also read about Krissy Lyon’s experience as an EXROP intern.

What is EXROP?

In 2003 HHMI created the EXceptional Research Opportunities Program (EXROP), with the goal of increasing the diversity of the science professoriate.  EXROP matches undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds and groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences with HHMI scientists to participate in summer-long research experiences.
Now entering its eleventh year, EXROP has matched 578 students from 122 grantee colleges and universities with 187 HHMI investigators, early career scientists, and professors at 58 institutions throughout the nation. The demographics of the EXROP students are important:  the EXROP student community self-indicates that they are 42% African American, 34% Hispanic/Latino/a, 19% white or Asian, and about 1% Native American.  And the outcomes of EXROP are impressive:  of EXROP students who have completed the baccalaureate degree, 50% went into graduate programs and 98% continued in science. 

Although there is no “typical” EXROP student, competitive candidates who have applied for the EXROP program have demonstrated that they are:

 Highly motivated, well-prepared, and able to take advantage of a summer experience in the lab of an HHMI-caliber scientist.  

• Prepared to use their existing knowledge and to learn new skills within different lab environments, particularly in a large and high powered HHMI lab.
• Interested in pursuing a career in academic science.
• Able to accurately present their knowledge, skills, and prior research experience within the application.  HHMI scientists and staff use application information to match students with labs and specific projects. 
• Independent and mature enough to develop new relationships and figure out how to maneuver around a new university and city. 

 2013 EXROP students will:

• engage in 9-10 weeks of full-time research in the lab of an HHMI scientist;
• receive a payment of $4,500 for the summer research experience;
• participate in a local summer research cohort program with other undergraduate researchers;
• be housed with other undergraduates in local summer housing programs paid by HHMI;
• have their long distance travel arranged and paid for by HHMI;
• attend two annual EXROP Meetings at HHMI Headquarters in May 2013 and May 2014;
• be eligible to apply for future research support opportunities.

Contact for faculty:

If you would like to recommend a student for this exceptional intern opportunity or would like more information, please contact Anne Jourdan, jourdan@lclark.edu or 503.768.7782

Special Note for Faculty: Nominated student(s) need not be from the same institution as the HHMI program director/professor.  Also, the faculty nominator is not responsible for writing a letter of recommendation unless asked by the student.  Students will identify who will provide their letters of recommendation, and the application clearly lets the student know their recommenders should be faculty members who can best write about their abilities and potential.  Nominators are the program directors of the 95 colleges and universities with undergraduate science education grants, the 61 active Science Education Alliance (SEA) schools, and the 39 HHMI professors. From this pool of potentially 382 nominees, up to 80 students will be selected by a review panel to participate in EXROP 2013.