intensive research | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

Summer Research Program for Undergraduate Students, Switzerland: Life Sciences and Technology

The Summer Research Program in Life Sciences and Technology at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), will offer an intensive research training opportunity to 25 undergraduate students interested in research careers in life sciences. This program will run from July 4th to August 26th 2011. (Earlier or later arrivals and departures can be arranged on a case-by-case basis between individual group leaders and participating students, however the student must be present for the core 8 weeks of the program. Any additional charges incurred by the change of dates must be covered by the student and/or lab.). Each participant will be required to submit a formal written report and present the results of their research at a student symposium held at the end of the program which provides an opportunity for participants to experience presenting their data to their peers and the scientific community at the EPFL.

Benefits to the Students
The participants will:

*Gain hands-on research experience and training with exposure to cutting-edge research.
*Experience what it is like to be a member of a research community working at the forefront of science, medicine and biotechnology.
*Have the opportunity to apply what was learned in the classroom to understanding and solving actual research problems in the laboratory.
*Acquire a better understanding of the scientific process and the application of the knowledge gained from basic science research and state-of-the-art techniques to solve complex problems in biology and medicine.

*Improve their critical thinking skills, including learning how to evaluate scientific information, design experiments, formulate ideas and test hypotheses.

*Explore career opportunities in academia by experiencing the excitement, frustration, and challenges of scientific research and gain an insight into what a career in the science entails.

*Prepare for future independent research projects and advanced research in graduate school.

Scholarship Application Deadline: February 15th 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

Associate Research Fellow – ESRC-funded project on asylum seeker advocacy organisations, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, UK

Asylum advocacy organisations have become a subject of intensive research interest and political commentary in recent years. The College wishes to recruit a Postgraduate Researcher to support the work of Dr Nick Gill, Dr Deidre Conlon and Dr Imogen Tyler. This post offers an outstanding opportunity to work as a researcher on an exciting new project on asylum/migration activist organisations. The position involves recruiting participants in the research via email, letter, telephone and in person, and interviewing participants in person (it may involve some travel within the UK).The post holder will take the lead on the recruitment of UK-based participants, the interviewing of UK-based participants and the day-to-day management of data, including on the project website.

Main purpose of the job:
The successful applicant will conduct research into Asylum Seeker Advocacy Organisations within a research team. The position involves taking the lead on the recruitment of UK participants into the study via email, letter, telephone and in person, and interviewing participants in person. The post holder will also undertake the day-to-day management of collected data, including the project website.

Main duties and accountabilities:
Duties include:
1. To undertake research as appropriate to the field of study including:
• Drafting, finalising and sending invitation letters to participate in research to potential participants in UK and US
• Emailing and telephoning participants to secure participation
• Maintaining good relations with research participants,
• Undertaking qualitative semi-structured interviews
• Transcribing and coding interview data from UK and US
• Analysing qualitative interview data
• Planning and managing own research activities and priorities to meet project targets.
• Contributing to resolving practical problems concerning the day to day running of the project, including making travel arrangements for the research team and organising expense claims.
• Contributing to research planning and development
2. To work in collaboration with colleagues as appropriate to the field of study including:
• Taking direction from the Principal Investigator or other senior colleagues.
• Attending project meetings as required
• Contributing to research planning and development
• Working with colleagues to form suitable interview questions.

Application Deadline 2010/08/09