Water activities abound in the Jupiter area. The Jupiter Waterway Trail connects the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal Waterway and Jupiter Inlet. You can canoe, kayak or paddleboard, enjoying lush stands of cypress and catching glimpses of wildlife that include alligators, manatees, otters and deer. Conservation experts can point visitors to a self-guided kayak tour of a cove where many species of sea turtles congregate. And you can snorkel or dive to explore the coral reefs and marine life—including docile goliath groupers (up to 8 feet long and several hundred pounds)—in the warm waters just off the coast. Families will enjoy collecting seashells on nearby Jupiter Island, ranked among Florida’s best sites for shelling.
Fans of major league baseball can take in the spring training games of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as their minor league affiliates, at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex. And motor sports enthusiasts can find plenty of events at the Palm Beach International Raceway. Florida has more than 1,200 golf courses and Jupiter’s Abacoa Golf Club is one of the finest public courses in the southern part of the state.
Harbourside Place, a complex of shops, restaurants and hotel accommodations, is situated along the Intracoastal Waterway and boasts a waterfront amphitheater. And Florida’s largest award-winning regional theater, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, presents top-quality plays and musicals throughout the year, attracting 100,000 people annually.
The Skaggs Graduate's School's location on the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute campus in Jupiter, Florida provide faculty and students with numerous recreational and sports-related opportunities for fitness training and relaxation.
From world-class golf courses, sailing and kayaking to professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams, South Florida is ideal for sports fans and active lifestyles. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the wide array of nearby beaches, nature trails and wildlife refuges, including Everglades National Park.
Campus Fitness Center: The center offers a state-of-the-art strength and fitness center, showers and locker room. Use of the facility is available at no charge for graduate students, faculty and staff.
Beaches: Jupiter is well known for its beautiful beaches. There are many things about Jupiter's beaches that attract visitors: the warm waters for much of the year, shelling, natural surroundings and wildlife, turtle nesting and much more.
Volleyball: A volleyball court is available on campus for use by students, faculty and staff.
Jogging/hiking/cycling trails: The Jupiter area provides various recreational trails, jogging paths and bike lanes for use and enjoyment by the community.
Graduate Student Council
The mission of the Graduate Student Council is to improve the graduate student experience at Scripps Research's Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences through advocating for students’ interests and issues.
Women in Science
The Women in Science (WIS) Club welcomes every member of our campus community. Throughout the year, we will plan series of events centered around professional growth and networking opportunities. We firmly believe that during your doctoral degree, exposure to a wide range of perspectives from academics, industry leaders, and fellow community members is essential.
Toastmasters
Scientifically Speaking Toastmasters' mission is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Founded in 2011 at the then Scripps Research campus in Jupiter, Florida, the group continues at the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute and is one of more than 14,000 Toastmasters International Clubs around the globe. Our club is open, inclusive and supportive. We bring together career-minded professionals from different organizations and industries in North Palm Beach County.
Monthly Happy Hour: Social gathering with other graduate students and research associates at a neighborhood establishment.
Research Fest: Present oral and poster presentations to our local scientific community held on the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute campus.
Scientific Meetings: The graduate program encourages all graduate students to participate in scientific meetings and workshops that can enhance your education.
Education and Community Outreach: This is an opportunity to improve scientific and communication skills, share enthusiasm for science with local schoolchildren and members of the public and improve teaching skills by mentoring a high school or undergraduate student.
Summer Internships for undergraduate and high school students: Sharpen your skills at communicating complex scientific topics and help spark a passion for research with the next generation of scientists.
Life Science Technology Hub: A monthly event for life science technology professionals. Meet other professionals connected with the life science industry from sectors in biotech, pharma, research, CROs, bioinformatics, medical devices, academia, instrumentation, lab services, venture capitalists, intellectual property and IT, among others.
BioFlorida: BioFlorida is Florida’s bioscience industry association. Its mission is to represent and advocate for the state’s biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Benefits for Scripps Research graduate students begin on the first day of active enrollment and terminate on the last day of the month the student is separated from the program. Coverage is available for a spouse, domestic partner (same sex), and/or children for an additional cost.
A successful apartment search usually takes several days or weeks, particularly for neighborhoods very close to campus. Rent for a room or an apartment can range from $800 to well over $1,000 per month. Palm Beach Post and Craigslist are good starting places for vacancies.
The adjacent Honors campus of Florida Atlantic University occasionally has temporary housing available in their dormitories. Email or call (561) 799-8828 to inquire about availability.
Please consider the following tips for finding a place to live:
- Determine the amount you can afford to pay in rent. Do not forget to include renter’s insurance, cable TV/internet, and utilities such as gas, electric and water in your calculation.
- Determine the amount of space you need. The more space you need or want, the more it will cost. What other features are important to you, such as pet policies, proximity to public transportation, and/or laundry facilities?
- Would you consider living with a roommate? If you are willing to share living space, you could save yourself several hundred dollars per month.
- Determine how far you are willing to commute to school. Think about the neighborhoods in which you would like to live.
- Check your credit report. You can request a credit report online from any of the three major reporting agencies. Some landlords or apartment complexes will not rent to people with low credit ratings.
- Prepare a list of names, address, and phone numbers of references and past landlords.
- Please consider the following resources for finding a place to live:
- Scan the apartment listings in the local newspaper.
- Check online rental websites.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints against the property management. Read reviews written by current and previous renters online.
