NYSTEM is New York State’s publicly-funded program whose mission is to support stem cell research in the state by providing grant opportunities for basic, applied, and translational research and development activities related to stem cell biology. NYSTEM’s other focus areas are scientific training, infrastructure development, as well as ethical, legal, social issues and education.

    Through the generous support of the New York State Department of Health, Columbia University now offers a summer research program to a select group of motivated undergraduate students who will benefit from the opportunity of hands-on stem cell related laboratory research. This is a chance to experience the joys of discovering something completely new while learning to overcome the challenges inherent in scientific research. Students work at Columbia University (either at the Morningside Heights campus or at the Medical Center campus).
    In order to be considered for the NYSTEM program you must working on a stem cell-related project. Professors whose laboratory work relates to stem cells are denoted on the mentor page by an asterisk. The NYSTEM Program is competitive, with awards based on grades, recommendations and career plans. You may apply if you are a US citizen or permanent resident and currently a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior at a four-year college or university in the United States, Puerto Rico or other US territory. If you are a Columbia University or Barnard College undergraduate student and wish to be considered for the NYSTEM program, you should apply to the SURF program and you will automatically be considered for both programs.
    No previous research experience is necessary and you do not need to be a biology major to apply. Students are expected to work full-time for the duration of the program, so participation is not compatible with attending summer school, volenteering or working at another job.
    The NYSTEM Program runs for ten weeks, beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. The 2012 NYSTEM program will be from Tuesday, May 29th to Friday, August 3rd, 2012. During the 10 weeks, students work full-time (about 40 hours/week) on independent study projects under the guidance of a research scientist. Concurrently, each student is required to attend weekly meetings which include stem cell-related lectures by faculty, oral presentations and writing a research article. Additionally, each NYSTEM student will be required to speak at the NYSTEM Symposium at the end of the summer and perform an outreach activity such as presentation at an external conference or high school teaching module. Furthermore, Columbia and Barnard students are required to present their work in poster format at a symposium, held the winter after the program.

Participants receive a stipend of $4000 and housing on the Morningside campus of Columbia University. Please be aware that you may be charged a Facilities Fee that is not covered by the NYSTEM program. In 2011, the fee was $442.

Applications are available until 5pm on February 1st.

For further information, please contact:
Chanda Springer
surf@biology.columbia.edu
744 Mudd, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10012
Tel: 212-854-2262