International Research Attachments (i-RAP)

USA: UC Davis GREAT Summer Research Program 2013

What is this programme about?

The UC Davis Global Research Experience in Advanced Technologies (GREAT) Summer Research Program offers the best undergraduate students from leading universities, the opportunity to gain valuable research experience in science and engineering during the summer at the University of California, Davis.

The GREAT programme is also a great opportunity (no pun intended!) for students to develop a competitive edge in applying for Master’s and Ph.D. programmes at UC Davis, through developing relationships with faculty mentors, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students.

When does the programme take place?

8 July to 30 August 2013

Where does the programme take place?

University of California at Davis, California, USA

What is the research content?

Students will gain introductory research experience in state-of-the-art laboratories under the mentorship of leading faculty members at UC Davis, such as learning about planning and managing experiments, conducting independent experiments, analysing data, and summarising research results.

Students will be matched mainly with Professors in the College of Engineering. Faculty members in chemistry and the medical, biological & environmental sciences will also admit students. A list of available UC Davis faculty mentors for summer 2013 is available here.

Students will be enrolled in 5 credit units of independent study in the GREAT Research Professional Development Course. Course grades will be based upon research performance, attendance and personal conduct.

Academic credit MAY be available. Students interested in obtaining credit must work with their faculty for credit mapping. IRO does not apply for credit transfer on the students’ behalf.

What does it include?

The programme will include:

Research experience under the guidance of UC Davis faculty. Participation in an academic course on graduate education and research methodology. Academic transcript from UC Davis and a Certificate of Completion. Participate in a capstone UC Davis Interdisciplinary Research Symposium with scholars and students engaged in multidisciplinary research collaborations. Local public bus transportation in the city of Davis. Cultural and recreational field trip to a scenic destination in Northern California.

 

What is the student accommodation?

Students will be able to choose from a variety of housing options in the city of Davis, California. A basic meal plan will also be provided with the accommodation.

How much does it cost?

UC Davis will provide each successful applicant with a GREAT Program Fellowship worth USD $3,100. The amount is applied as a direct waiver to the programme fee. Please see below for an estimate of the other relevant costs.

Item	Cost
Programme Fee	Waived by the GREAT Program Fellowship (worth USD 3,100)
Other Fees - Training / Research Expenses - Registration Fee - Visa Administration - Insurance	USD 3,310 (approx. SGD 4,105)
Accommodation (inclusive of meal plan)	Approx. SGD 2,500
Airfare (to Sacramento International Airport)	Approx. SGD 2,500
Airport Transfer (Pre-arranged shared private pick-up service)	Approx. SGD 65 (two-way)
Visa	USD 320 (Approx. SGD 400)
Miscellaneous Expenditure (e.g. entertainment, etc.)	Approx. SGD 1,300
Total Estimated Cost	Approx. SGD 10,870

Please note, these are estimated expenses and actual expenses may differ based on price shifts and personal spending habits!

Is financial assistance available?

Participants of this programme are eligible to apply for the NASA Enhancement Bursary or Scholarship. For more information, visit this webpage: http://www.nus.edu.sg/iro/financial/out/nasa/index.html

Number of placements available? 10

What are the eligibility requirements?

Students from any faculty (preferably majors in engineering, chemistry and the medical, biological and environmental sciences) who have completed at least one year of study at NUS prior to participating in this programme. Students should not be in their graduating semester prior to participating in this programme. CAP of 4.0 and above. UC Davis recommends that applicants have a strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. career with UC Davis, and have strong communication skills.

 

Is a visa required?

Yes. UC Davis will assist in providing documentation needed to apply for a visa.

Students are to consult the Embassy of the United States in Singapore to determine the visa application procedures required for their participation in the programme.

U. S. Embassy, Singapore
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Phone: (+65) 6476 9100
Fax: (+65) 6476 9340

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have proper entry documents for all countries they plan to visit as part of this programme!

How do I apply?

Application deadline is Monday, 25 February 2013.

Application Procedure and Required Documents:

	Students are to complete the IRO Programme Application Form. Submit your application form together with the following documents via email to: irook@nus.edu.sg
		Latest copy of your unofficial NUS transcript. Copy of the personal details page of your passport. Letter indicating your financial ability to participate in the programme. Please include a copy of your latest financial statement with a minimum of USD $3,000 equivalent in your bank account. Students supported by their parents should provide a letter and financial statement from their parents.
	Complete the UC Davis online application form at: https://extension.ucdavis.edu/intl_apps/great.aspx During the online application, students should list three UC Davis faculty members they would like to work with. At least one faculty member listed must be from the GREAT Mentor Faculty List. Students will be subjected to UC Davis’ assessment procedures for acceptance into the programme.

 

Who to contact for more information?

For additional information or related queries, please click here.