Probably the most confusing and asked about element of the DF Sci Res Program is the summer internship. Please take some time to read the answers to the FAQs from students and parents. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the program coordinator, Erica Curran, at currane@dfsd.org
Do SciRes students have to complete an internship over the summer?
This is one of the many pathways that students are able to take while developing their projects. If a student is interested in a high-level project that requires the use of a high-tech lab, this is often the route recommended. However, it is NOT one of the requirements for the program. Students can also complete projects from home, remotely, during the school year, and using many other avenues to collect and analyze data on the topic of their choice.
How do students find mentors?
A large part of the sophomore year (and junior year, if necessary) is spent working on finding the right mentor for each student. While there is tremendous support and guidance from the teachers in the program, the responsibility ultimately rests with each student to reach out to appropriate professional scientists and make connections.
How do I get to my internship?
Students and their parents are responsible for making sure the student is able to commute to the location of the lab or facility. This is actually one of the reasons we are lucky enough to have so many students working in labs in NYC. It is fairly straightforward for students to use public transportation to commute to these locations over the summer.
How much time should I commit to my internship?
In general, it is important to note that research TAKES TIME! Because there is no guarantee on the outcome or the data, there can be no set time that is guaranteed to produce a research project. With that said, there are certain expectations that go along with different types of research projects. If you plan to work in a lab, these summer internships typically require between 4-8 weeks of work in the lab. The expectations of time will vary dependent on the type of research being conducted and the specific lab. There are many other types of projects that will require varying levels of time commitment. And while quantity does not necessarily indicate quality, the trend seems to be that the more successful projects tend to be those which the student approached it with dedication, tenacity, and hard-work.
How do I pick my research project topic?
The most important thing is to find a topic or area of research that you feel passionate about! Research consists of lots of time and hard work but this work becomes extremely rewarding when you are working on a project that you feel passionate about. And your project can relate to almost ANYTHING that you find a connection to.
However, while deciding this topic, it is important to be realistic. Maybe your passion is researching dolphins? That's great! But sadly there are not any dolphin or marine science research facilities in this area. There ARE research facilities that are researching aspects of the ocean and environment that affect dolphins, though! And through your work with these researchers, it will become more likely that you may eventually be able to work directly with dolphins. Maybe you will be able to use your experience to help you find a job researching dolphins while in college or after. Often these internships are stepping stones to much larger scope research projects. The sky's the limit!
However, while deciding this topic, it is important to be realistic. Maybe your passion is researching dolphins? That's great! But sadly there are not any dolphin or marine science research facilities in this area. There ARE research facilities that are researching aspects of the ocean and environment that affect dolphins, though! And through your work with these researchers, it will become more likely that you may eventually be able to work directly with dolphins. Maybe you will be able to use your experience to help you find a job researching dolphins while in college or after. Often these internships are stepping stones to much larger scope research projects. The sky's the limit!