The Program

The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) High School Research Fellowship program is a hands-on and mentored laboratory experience for Maine high school students interested in biology, medicine, or research. MDIBL's summer scientific community is world renowned for research in cellular, molecular, marine, and comparative physiology, marine genomics, bioinformatics, and environmental health sciences. Laboratory Principal Investigators come from prestigious universities and medical schools throughout the world. The stimulating intellectual environment of MDIBL is matched by a strong sense of community. Many young scholars who have worked at the Laboratory speak of their experience in their later years as one of the most important on their path to a career in science.

Up to 12 six- to eight-week research fellowships are available, in both residential and day programs, matching selected high school students with an MDIBL research scientist. The program begins with a three-day short course, Marine Physiology and Molecular Biology, where students learn and practice important laboratory techniques. Following the course, students meet with their mentors to plan their research project. For the remainder of the fellowship, students are fully engaged in their project—conducting experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and keeping their lab notebook and research portfolio. Students meet weekly to discuss their projects and listen to guest speakers. At the end of the fellowship, students prepare written reports and give oral presentations to their peers and mentors.

Residential students are housed separately by gender in two cottages. Male and female Residential Advisors provide evening and weekend support and supervision. Meals are prepared by our cooking staff and are served in the MDIBL Dining Hall.

Requirements

Students must receive a faculty nomination to apply to this program. Nominations forms must be received and approved by MDIBL education staff before a full application can be accepted. The nomination deadline is January 1, 2008; MDIBL education staff will contact all nominated students to initiate a full application.

Students must have completed chemistry, biology, and mathematics and be in grade 10, 11, or 12 at the time of the application. All Maine high school students are eligible. Students from Hancock County are additionally eligible for Hancock County Scholar Awards. Partial support may be available for students outside the state of Maine based on the availability of funds, mentors, and residential space.

Contact

Michael McKernan
Director of Education
207-288-9880 ext. 102
internships@mdibl.org