Summer Program Application Mentorship (SPAM) Program

Summer undergraduate research fellowships are great opportunities to do cutting-edge research, explore graduate school, and make connections with potential letter writers. However, finding the right summer program and putting together a competitive application can be difficult and intimidating.

Scientists at Scripps Research are hosting a free, 5-month, one-on-one mentorship program to support students from underrepresented backgrounds as they work to obtain their first summer research fellowship.

Each participant will be matched with a Scripps scientist who can help edit personal statements, identify relevant summer programs, give advice on how to request letters of recommendation, or just answer any questions about a career in chemistry or biology!

Participants will also have access to research seminars as well as career, training, and development trainings hosted at Scripps Research.

ELIGIBILITY

We welcome applications from students who are underrepresented in the sciences, including but not limited to students from the following backgrounds:

- Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander
- Students with a physical or mental disability
- First-generation college students
- First-generation in the U.S.
- Students from low-income families
- Students who identify as LGBTQ+

Please don't hesitate to contact us at srspamentorship@scripps.edu if you have any questions.

Organizers

RESOURCE	DESCRIPTION
Pathways to Science Program Database	An excellent, although non-exhaustive database of SURF programs in biology and chemistry. A great place to start your search!
Application Organizer	A Google sheets file with examples for how you can organize the programs you’re applying for, faculty you may want to work with, and letter of recommendation deadlines for your letter writers. Make a copy to put in your Google drive and edit to suit your needs!
Obtaining Strong Letters of Recommendation M.I.T. Brandeis University Seattle Pacific University	A few helpful online resources to guide how to request letters of recommendation and how you can work to build rapport with potential letter-writers.
Cientifico Latino Sample Personal Statements	Cientifico Latino is a nationwide program that helps underrepresented grad school applicants by matching them with mentors (sound familiar?). They’ve put together some awesome personal statement examples for STEM programs! Most of them are for graduate school, but there’s a lot to learn from any and all of the samples listed here.