|
Updated:
6 November 2007
The
Research Training Program at Smithsonian's National Museum of
Natural History provides collections-based, hypothesis-testing
research projects for students interested in learning more about
natural history research in the biological, geological and anthropological
sciences. The program is conducted in-residence at the Museum,
located on the National Mall (10th Street and Constitution Avenue,
NW) in Washington DC. In addition to a research project students
join a challenging curriculum of lectures, tours, workshops, and
discussions.
The
program is currently funded by a variety of sources including
endowments and corporate contributions.
From
applicant to alum, you can ask questions, see the latest updates,
share information, and learn more about the Research Training
Program by visiting our Facebook page and joining the "RTP
at NMNH" group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6472777150
|
|
PROGRAM
DATES
|
UPCOMING
25
May 2008 - 2 August 2008
NEXT
24 May 2009 - 1 August 2009
|
|
APPLICATION
DEADLINE
|
UPCOMING
1
February 2008
NEXT
1 February 2009
1 February 2010
1 February 2011
|
|
NOTIFICATION
OF STATUS
|
UPCOMING
8
March 2008
NEXT
8
March 2009
8
March 2010
8
March 2011
|
|
ACCEPTANCE
Deadline for students to accept/decline
|
UPCOMING
1
April 2008
NEXT
1
April
2009
1
April
2010
1
April
2011
Complete
Review Process Calendar
|
|
NUMBER
OF POSITIONS
|
CURRENT
RTP
2008: 10
UPCOMING
RTP
2009: 21
RTP
2010: 24
RTP
2011: 24
|
|
PROGRAM
LENGTH
|
Ten
weeks. Except under exceptional circumstances, students are expected
to be in-residence at the Museum for the entire duration of the
program.
Students
at universities following the quarter system are welcome to apply,
but if accepted will need to contact the Program Director for
advise about how making special arrangements.
|
|
STUDENTS:
How to Apply
|
|
|
REFERENCES:
How to Submit a Letter of Recommendation
|
Information
for references
1. Obtain the applicants Identification Number.
2.
Prepare and submit a letter of recommendation.
|
|
APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS
|
There
are four main application document requirements:
- ONE page cover letter
- RTP application form
- TWO letters of recommendation
- COURSE & GRADE
listing - or - TRANSCRIPT
|
|
AWARD
PACKAGE
|
Student
selected for participation in the Research Training Program are
provided an award package that generally includes:
- STIPEND
- HOUSING
- TRAVEL
- RESEARCH
SUPPORT
|
|
Stipend
|
A
stipend of $3,000 is typically provided to students for full participation
in the ten-week program. The stipend is paid in equal biweekly installments,
through direct deposit into the students bank account. |
|
Housing
|
Provided
housing allowance is anticipated. Typically interns live in apartments
located within easy travel to the Museum.
|
|
Travel
|
A
allowance may be provided to cover the costs of transportation
to/from the Washington DC area from the student's home institution.
Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.
Travel allowance is paid to the student approximate two weeks
after the program begins.
|
|
Local
Transportation
|
Students
are responsible for their own local travel, including transportation
costs between the Museum and the housing complex. |
|
Research
Support
|
If
funding is available, students may apply for up to $1,000 research
support to:
1) Purchase supplies and equipment necessary for conducting the
research project.
2)
Travel to a scientific meeting while the program is in-session.
3)
Participate in up to 3 weeks of field work with their project
advisor while the program is in-session.
|
|
QUALIFICATIONS
|
There
are three main qualifications:
1)
Undergraduate status
2)
English proficiency
3)
Natural history career goals
|
|
PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
|
Students
are required to:
1)
Prepare and present a brief research prospectus the first week
of the program, outlining the research topic, timetable, anticipated
products (e.g. publications, presentations) and requested budget.
2)
Complete several evaluation forms to assess the program curriculum,
research project and interactions with their mentor
3)
Produce a one-page abstract about their research, written for
the general public.
4)
Present a 15-minute oral presentation about their research at
the conclusion of the program.
5)
Produce a poster presentation (both for virtual
posting and presentation in person) about their research and
participate in the RTP poster presentation session.
6)
Produce a scientific abstract about their research, written for
a professional audience, and targeting publication in a peer-review
scientific publication. In addition to the abstract, research
advisors may also require a complete research report, written
in the format of a scientific publication.
7)
Participate in alumni follow up tracking and evaluation.
|
|
CURRICULUM
|
The
program curriculum includes a series of required events including
lectures, tours, workshops, discussions and field trips. |
|
Lectures
|
For
a complete listing of events and a detailed description visit
- RTP
'08 Schedule. Pending topics for '08 include:
- Who
were the First Americans?
- What's
on Mars?
- Geobiology:
Finding Life in the Extremes
- Science
for the Public: Designing the Ocean Hall
- Exploration
of the Lost World: Neblina
- Barcode
of Life
- Economic
Botany
|
|
Tours
& Workshops
|
For
a complete listing of events and a detailed description visit
- RTP
'08 Schedule. Pending topics for '08 include:
- What
the Bones Can Tell
- Paleo
Vertebrate Preparation
- Scientific
Illustration
- Anatomy
& Histology
- Insect
Pinning
- Mummy
Vault
- Meteorite
Vault
- Gems
& Minerals Vault
- Burgess
Shale Collection
- Rock
& Ore Collection
- Cullman
Rare Book Collection
- 590,000
Mammals
- 635,000
Birds
- 4
Million Fish
- 4.7
Million Plants
- 32
Million Insects
- 34
Million Invertebrates
|
|
Discussions
|
For
a complete listing of events and a detailed description visit
- RTP
'08 Schedule. Pending topics for '08 include:
- Graduate
School
- Funding
Opportunities
- Creating
a Poster Presentation
- Preparing
an Oral Presentation
|
|
Field
Trips
|
For a complete listing of events and a detailed description visit
- RTP
'08 Schedule. Pending topics for '08 include:
- Scientists
Cliffs: Paleobiology of the Miocene
|
|
Links
to more RTP Application Information and Details
|
RTP
Information
Summary
Qualifications
Terms
and Conditions
Components
of the Program
Program
Staff
Selection
Procedure
The
Research Environment and available facilities
Enrollment
and Cost
Financial
Support and Credits
Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
Links
to RTP Application Procedure Details
|
Application
Procedures
Application
Procedure Information
Application
Procedure General Summary
Application
Form Information Details
Cover
Letter Form Information Details
Letter
of Recommendation Form Details
RTP
Advisor Summary
RTP
Advisor List links
Anthropology
Advisor List
Botany
Advisor List
Entomology
Advisor List
Invertebrate
Zoology Advisor List
Mineral
Sciences Advisor List
Paleobiology
Advisor List
Birds
Advisor List
Fishes
Advisor List
Reptiles
& Amphibians Advisor List
Mammals
Advisor List
|
|
Links
to RTP Highlights and Statistics from prior sessions
|
RTP
Highlights
Poster
Archive
Student
Archive
Photo Gallery
Links
Message
Center
Alumni
Directory
Virtual
Poster Session Archive
Special
Tours & Events Archive
Holiday
Greeting Archive
RTP
Schedule Archive
RTP
Statistics Links
Participant
Summary
Alumni
Education & Career Status
Publications
& Presentations Statistics
Publications
& Presentations Listing
Publication
Abstracts
Recruitment
Effort & Applicant Pool Data
Recruitment
& Selection Tables
Listing
of Participant's Home Institution
US
State Distribution Map of Participants
US
State Listing of Participants
International
Distribution Map of Participants
International
Distribution Listing of Participants
Distinguished
Awards & Fellowships to Alumni
Recruitment
Poster Mailing List
Alumni
Masters Degree Institutions
Alumni
Ph.D. Institutions
Program
Evaluations
Funding
Summary
Web
Statistics
|
|
Links
to RTP '08 Summer Session
|
Summer
Session Index - 2008
Application
Status - '08
Applicant
List - '08
Semifinalist
List - '08
Finalist
List -'08
Participant
List - '08
|
|
How
to Submit RTP Application Documents
Application
documents may be submitted by fax, mail or e-mail. E-mail submission
is preferred. To
submit application documents send as an e-mail attachment, preferrably
in Word format. The subject of the e-mail must read "RTP
'08 Application Document Submission."
|
E-MAIL
TO:
sangreym@si.edu
|
|
MAIL
TO:
Research Training Program
10th Street & Constitution Ave., NW
NHB MRC 106, Room 59A
PO Box 37012
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
U.S.A
|
|
|
|