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Summer Research Programs? 87

Posted by timothy from the self-directed dept.
aantn writes "I'm currently looking for a science-related summer program. I'm an 11th grade Israeli high school student interested in computer science and robotics. I have a high GPA and take afternoon classes in computer science and mathematics at Israel's Open University. I have several years of experience with C, Python, C#, and Java. I'm actively involved in several open source and freelance projects. Through a program at my school, I will be entering Trinity College's Fire Fighting Robot contest later this year. I enjoy writing and liberal arts, but I'm not interested in a "Learn to Program" or any other "Learn to ______" summer program. I'm looking for something that will be academically challenging and research-oriented. My top choice would be a university research program in either computer science or robotics, but I'm also looking at other science-oriented programs. Does anyone have suggestions for such programs? I'm mostly looking in Israel and the United States, but I'd love to hear about programs in other countries which accept international students. If it's relevant, I have a US citizenship."
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Summer Research Programs? More

Summer Research Programs?

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  • NSF REU (Score:4, Informative)

    by raaum ( 152451 ) on Wednesday January 28, 2009 @11:21PM (#26648947) Homepage

    I believe that many National Science Foundation funded Research Experience for Undergraduates programs will take exceptional high school students.

    See http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/ [nsf.gov]

    • I have been employed by the REU program doing research since August 2007, and I've had a blast. I've learned a lot about how to do research, written a paper, and had a lot to talk about on my graduate school applications.

      I highly recommend the program to anyone interested. If you can find a professor who is willing to take you on and really teach you, it can be a life changing experience. It was for me.

  • http://www.scitech.technion.ac.il/index1024.html [technion.ac.il]
    http://www.weizmann.ac.il/zemed/english/float.php?page_name=float&cat=256&incat= [weizmann.ac.il] (I participated in this, good program, but for graduating seniors only)

    • Rose-Hulman Operation Catapult (Score:4, Informative)

      by pallmall1 ( 882819 ) on Thursday January 29, 2009 @12:31AM (#26649413)
      Rose-Hulman [rose-hulman.edu] Institute of Technology has an interesting program called Operation Catapult [rose-hulman.edu] that might be of interest. I attended many years ago, and the program was great. All the facilities -- libraries, labs, machine shops, etc -- were available to you and you worked with full professors and department heads for your project. It's an invitational program, but it sounds like you're qualified.

      The school itself is not widely known to the general public, but it is very well respected academically. Check out the wikipedia page [wikipedia.org].

      PS: Sorry to post as a reply to an early post, but the thread is getting heavily trolled and I didn't want this post to get pushed back to page 3 of a troll-a-thon.

      • I very much second this. I attended Operation Catapult before my Senior year of high school, and not only had a blast, but learned a ton that I took off to college with me.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by aantn ( 1463693 )
      How was your experience at the Weizmann Institute? At my physics teacher's advice, I'm looking into the Amos de-Shalit Science Workshop at Weizmann.

  • google summer of code (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    it's not research-y, but it'd be totally awesome.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by wisty ( 1335733 )

      Or on the industrial end, a lot of research-orientated companies (and even government research agencies) run cadetships. If they don't run cadetships you can cold call project managers, or contact any researchers who have a web presence.

  • Cut out the middleman (Score:4, Informative)

    by rnaiguy ( 1304181 ) on Wednesday January 28, 2009 @11:39PM (#26649067)
    I don't know how it is in Israel, but when I was in high school here in the US, I just e-mailed a bunch of professors around the city who were doing interesting work, until I found one willing to take me on as a lab assistant, and I did research there for the rest of my time in high school. I worked for free for a while, but it eventually turned into a nice part-time job (as well as a great activity to put on college apps). My high school even had a program that got me credit for doing it, so that's something you may want to look into. With your strong background, you shouldn't have a hard time finding a lab willing to take you (scientists love cheap/free labor).
    • While not research-related, may I suggest Mathcamp [slashdot.org]? It is truly high-level math, 5 weeks, international (not just Canada/USA: that's merely the geographical location). Alternately, try SUMaC [stanford.edu] at Stanford; more researchy and less high math, but very good from what I've heard from Mathcamp friends.

  • Haiku OS! (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    The Haiku project which is making a clone of the BeOS had its own summer of code last year in addition to the google summer of code and probably will repeat this year

    www.haiku-os.com its a cool little OS that is beginning to snowball in potential

    the students that completed their projects were paid well for their efforts

  • Check out stanford and CMU (Score:4, Informative)

    by Facegarden ( 967477 ) on Wednesday January 28, 2009 @11:42PM (#26649081)

    Stanford and CMU have good programs in general, there must be some good summer programs. Plus, both have a presence in Silicon Valley (Stanford is just there, CMU has a campus at Moffett Field), so you can find a good job afterwards. You seem really talented, so you should be able to get into those places if you know how to talk to people (find a professor who wants you to attend, and the application process will be MUCH easier).
    -Taylor

  • omfg (Score:1, Flamebait)

    by gandhi_2 ( 1108023 )
    slashveresume?

  • Google Summer of Code (Score:5, Informative)

    by wordisms ( 624668 ) on Wednesday January 28, 2009 @11:51PM (#26649149)
    I recommend Google Summer of Code. Check out the 2008 projects: http://code.google.com/soc/2008/ [google.com]

  • Take a break (Score:5, Insightful)

    by SupplyMission ( 1005737 ) on Wednesday January 28, 2009 @11:55PM (#26649177)

    Seriously, are we all supposed to congratulate you because you're so involved in computer stuff while being "only" grade 11? And you want something that will be academically challenging and research-oriented? And you have dual citizenship? Whoa!

    Even more seriously, please take a break from all the computer and robot stuff. You get enough of that every day by the sounds of it. You need to take the summer off to travel, see new things out there in the world, volunteer in the community, make some friends, meet some girls. You know, the real stuff that will get you ahead in life. Computers and robots will be there for you for the rest of your life, whether you still love them or not, but your friends, youth, health and curiosity may not be.

    • Re:Take a break (Score:5, Insightful)

      by pallmall1 ( 882819 ) on Thursday January 29, 2009 @12:59AM (#26649585)

      Computers and robots will be there for you for the rest of your life...

      University admissions might not be there. You can take a break when you get your degree. Besides, just because it's an engineering/science camp doesn't mean you can't make new friends there. Even girlfriends.

      Congratulations to aantn. Don't be afraid to pursue your interests. And learn now not to pay any attention to comments like those from SupplyMission -- you'll be getting those for the rest of your life.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by porcupine8 ( 816071 )
        Besides, just because it's an engineering/science camp doesn't mean you can't make new friends there. Even girlfriends.

        In my experience, these types of camps are a high school nerd's (of either gender) best chance for some action. It's amazing how many people are paired off within the first week.

      • University admissions might not be there. You can take a break when you get your degree.

        I see the point you're trying to make, and it may apply to average, underachieving nerds who need all the help they can get to get into a good school. But aantn seems to be in great shape for university admissions, regardless of whether or not he goes to science camp.

        Second, he may find out that some university profs (and future employers) appreciate the fact that he took the time to develop his cultural and artistic sides. You know what I've found in my life? It's less awkward to be around someone cultura

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by aantn ( 1463693 )
      No, I don't expect a congratulations and never asked for one. I appreciate the advice, but I'm already active in community programs and still have time to be with friends. At the same time, I enjoy computers and robotics and I think I would enjoy a science-related summer more than any other program.

    • Dual Citizenship (Score:1, Offtopic)

      by dj245 ( 732906 )
      Dual Citizenship is a pretty great thing to have, but it shouldn't be listed as a grand life achievement. Its one of the greatest gifts that a parent can give a child. There are many ways, but the easiest is for the mother (a citizen of one country) to deliver the baby in another country. Presto! Dual citizenship. Its not something I would trumpet about, but its nice to have.

  • Who tagged this "get a life?" You shouldn't even make a joke like that.

    To the student--check out the Ross Young Scholars Program and other similar summer math programs. Also, if you haven't already, check out artofproblemsolving.com.

  • asphinctersayswhat

  • US National Labs (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    The US National Labs take high school students as interns. Sandia National Labs in particular has research programs on robotics. It is possible for foreign nationals to intern, although it is significantly more hassle for foreign nationals from "sensitive foreign countries" (this DOE list includes Israel.) Still, it is the time of year for finding summer students, so move on it if you're going to.

    • Not likely enough time for security clearance (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Even applying today, there's enough lead time to get clearance for a foreign national to visit a US National Lab this summer.

      We've had to turn away europeans from one of our tour groups at Sandia, who applied with six months advance notice. DOE could not get them cleared in time.

    • Sandia's high school programs are specifically for New Mexico residents, unfortunately. Two years ago they offered 25 students they selected from ISEF [slashdot.org] a 2-week "internship" [it's fun playing with computers for a week, not so fun playing with chemistry for a week or calling the play a job, but hey, it's money and job experience; who am I to complain?], but they haven't offered it since as far as I know. If you're a New Mexican, you should certainly try to intern at Sandia in high school.

  • BU offers a High school research internship

    http://www.bu.edu/summer/high-school-programs/research-internship/how-to-apply.shtml [bu.edu]

    You might be able to swing something in the CS department there.

    The Problem is you really have to start a month or two applying to programs like these...Check out PROMYS, and there is a Stanford one as well.

    The "best" is supposed to be RSI...but again they have stopped taking apps.

    http://www.cee.org/rsi/ [cee.org]

    • I did this the summer after my junior year (over a decade ago), I definitely recommend it. It was a great experience - even though the prof I worked with was in Chemistry I was doing programming. And you're basically free in Boston (with a curfew), which is awesome for a 16-year-old. Glad to see it still exists.

      (I also proceeded to get into MIT after that, as did at least two of the other participants, but YMMV, obviously.)

  • Research oriented job (Score:1, Flamebait)

    by jsse ( 254124 )
    I'm currently establishing a new research lab, estimating how many booms to drop in destinated locations in order to achieve world peace. The project is (expected to be) funded by major weapon manufacturers. Frequent travel between US and Israel is needed because there's where we found major suppliers and clients.

    I think this suit your interest very well, please submit your CV.

  • Los Alamos, and other national labs (Score:5, Informative)

    by gardyloo ( 512791 ) on Thursday January 29, 2009 @12:51AM (#26649531)

    http://www.lanl.gov/education/precollege/ [lanl.gov]

    Los Alamos (where I work) is always interested in having bright students (of any level, high school and beyond) come and work here. My particular group hosted a high school student last summer. I'm sure the other national labs have similar programs. Just snoop around the website (this might be a place to start for ideas: http://www.lanl.gov/education/profiles/index.shtml [lanl.gov]), email people who are doing cool things, and you might be surprised at the opportunities that open up.

  • Not necessarily Slashdot specifically, but you'll find it here as often as elsewhere -- people spouting all sorts of opinions with no basis in fact. Occasionally, you'll find that not only do they not have any actual statistics or facts to back up their position, nor does their opponent, but in fact, no one does.

    That would probably be an interesting place to start your research.

    Can't think of anything right now, though. I suppose you could start with my post, here -- am I completely full of shit, or are the

  • RSI (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    There's a research program at MIT called RSI [cee.org]. It's pretty competitive, but they take about 20 international students every year.

  • Many universities offer summer research opportunities for undergraduates. My robotics lab at the University of Michigan, for example, (april.eecs.umich.edu) has a large population of undergraduate researchers.

    Students from under-represented backgrounds can often get help with placement (e.g., ARTSI, www.artsialliance.org).

    In short, I encourage you to find labs that you are interested in working with. Keep in mind that PIs get many solicitations from potential students... as a result, it can be fairly compet

  • The Weizmann institute outside of T.A. runs a summer program (two versions actually, one for HS students and one for undergraduates) called the Karyn Kupcinet International Science School for Overseas Students. At least, that's the part of the program I participated in, as an American undergrad. But there were a lot of Israeli HS students around, so I think you would be eligible. You get to troll the institute's websites and rank the distinguished faculty members you would like to do research with in order
  • But at my university, the chemistry department does take on high-schoolers with an interest (and some background) for chemical research, part-time unpaid during the academic year, and $10/hr for 10 weeks during the summer (the standard research period). Just start emailing everyone you can find who's doing work that sounds interesting - you're bound to find something.

  • I don't frequently vent, but I have to submit that the responses to this earnest young scholar from Israel have been bigoted, insensitive, and broadly creepy. If you replace all the holocaust comments with 9/11 comments, and replace all the jewish-world-domination-conspiracy comments with stupid polack or shiftless nigger comments, maybe it'll become apparent just how gratuitous, bigoted, ignorant, and insulting this thread really is.

    I've always been proud to associate myself with the slashdot community -

  • Hi! In most of the stances I have seen, for NSF requirements only US citizens can apply, and I'm from Spain. Do you know any summer research program at the US that accept non US citizens? Thanks ;)

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