description of program / 2000 interns / previous summer's interns/ intern resources / additional information
The City College Interns in Materials Research (CCIMR) program is a cooperative effort between the Educational Outreach component of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the Sciences Division of Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). The goal of this program is to provide an eight week summer research internship to students and faculty of SBCC. Prospective undergraduate research interns are recruited by SBCC science faculty early in the Spring.
|
|
|
front row Willie Thomas, Cynthia Bermudez, Sally Ghizzoni, Ashley Sanders-Uptain, Elis Madrigal back row: Al Flinck, Fiona Goodchild, Sara Millis, Linda Martin-Tiller, Daisuke Chihara, Dottie Pak, Rich Ahroon |
The students come from Biological Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Earth and Planetary Science, Math and Physics. Applications from these students are screened by a selection committee made up of SBCC faculty and MRL educational outreach personnel. The final group of participants are selected based on their demonstrated interest and experience in collaborative activities, their demonstrated interest in science in general, their scholarship and their exposure to basic science courses. Students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply.
Concurrently, MRL educational outreach staff recruit potential lab situations for the interns. The interests and backgrounds of each intern are considered relative to the research focus of the sponsoring lab. Even when precise matches are not possible, interns with general interest in science have thrived in labs with a focus apart from their specific interest. Ultimately the selected interns are placed with a mentor from the sponsoring lab.
The CCIMR program also provides two SBCC faculty interns and MRL educational outreach staff representatives to act as mentors to the undergraduate interns. The SBCC faculty interns may also be placed in a research group with a research mentor and take on their own research projects. Maintaining weekly contact between the student interns and the SBCC faculty and MRL staff is the highlight of the program. Three weekly meetings with the interns and staff take place outside of the laboratory environment. The focus of these meetings is on:
|
|
|
front row: Greg Cain, Geoff Wallace, Aaron Pfannestiel, Issayas Afework. back row: Al Flinck, Dotti Pak, Fiona Goodchild, Kieche Meleson, Amin Elachchabi, Giorgia Bettin, Marisol Alvarez |
Student and faculty interns present their research objectives and activities at the four week half way point to their peers and mentors. This is a practice presentation for the final presentation. The end of the program is a formal presentation of the intern's research results and experiences. It is a widely announced event which is the culmination of the eight week internship.
The CCIMR project has completed its eighth summer. The program's effectiveness is demonstrated by the success the interns have in their ensuing academic and professional careers. The CCIMR internship program is a unique research opportunity for community college students made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation and the Materials Research Lab. Finally, the program would not be possible without the dedication and cooperation of the MRL Faculty, graduate students, and staff.
Are you a past participant in the CCIMR program? If so, please email Sally Ghizzoni (ghizzoni@sbcc.net) or Al Flinck (flinck@sbcc.net) to update us on your whereabouts and activities.
For additional information about the CCIMR program please contact
Sally Ghizzoni, SBCC Chemistry Department, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. (805) 965-0581x2799, ghizzoni@sbcc.net
Al Flinck, SBCC Biology Department, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. (805) 965-0581x2394, flinck@sbcc.net
Genny Anderson, SBCC Biology Department, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. (805) 965-0581x2328, anderson@sbcc.net
Information about the UCSB Educational Outreach Program is available at MRL Education Programs.
