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Bio Dept

SURF Schedule 2010
TBD

SURF 2010 dates are:
Tuesday, June 1 - Friday, August 6

Sample Schedule: SURF, 2009

Weekly Meetings

All students in the SURF Program will meet weekly in small discussion groups beginning the third week of the program (exact date TBD). The purpose of these groups is to provide a structured setting in which students can discuss their work with their peers, learn about others' work, and develop their scientific communication and evaluation skills.

During the course of the summer, each student will prepare a research paper written in the format of a journal article and present a 15 minute talk about his or her research. Toward the beginning of the summer, weekly discussion groups will cover topics including critical evaluation of data, critical reading of research papers, and the protocols of professional research communication. As the summer progresses, the focus will shift toward writing and peer-evaluating drafts of student research papers, and on research presentations.

Attendance in discussion groups is mandatory. This is an integral part of your training, and you are expected to attend every week. If you must miss a session you may make it up by attending the other session in the same week. However, you may not substitute a session from another week. If for some reason you cannot attend either section in a given week, notify your instructor in advance and schedule a one-on-one meeting with the instructor instead.

In-class participation is expected. Anticipate the deadlines for your work; discuss them with your mentor and set up pre-deadlines when you can review the work with your mentor, allowing time for her or him to give you feedback.

If you have a legitimate reason to move a deadline, and you communicate this reason to your mentor and instructor in a timely manner, then deadlines can be adjusted.

Recommended text (not required):

Victoria E. McMillan, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 3rd ed.1997

Payment:
SURF students must visit their mentors' departmental administrators in order to set up the first payment; to set up the second payment, please visit the Biological Sciences departmental administrator (Muin Rashid in 500 Fairchild).

SURF Stipend = $4000 paid in two installments:
First installment of $2000 will be paid approximately 5 weeks into the SURF program; check with your departmental administrators for exact dates.
Second installment of $2000 is paid when your article is turned into the 600 Fairchild Biology office. The article cannot be received before SURF is over on August 6th. Columbia payroll works on a two-week schedule. In order to be paid you must have turned your paper in 8 days earlier. For example:

Turn in paper _____Paid
9/10 ---------------------9/18
9/24 ---------------------10/2

In addition, those students who have worked for Columbia and have direct deposit established will receive their second paycheck directly into their bank accounts. The remaining students will receive their second payment from Muin Rashid in 500 Fairchild.

*IMPORTANT**PAYMENT INFORMATION**PLEASE READ*
In order to receive payment from Columbia University, you must complete the requisite paperwork. The payment policies and requirements seem to vary by department, so, for the first installment of your stipend, you must work closely with the financial administrators in your mentor's department (remember, the first half of your stipend comes from your mentor's department).

The second half of your stipend will be paid by the Biology Department (for those of you whose mentors are Biology faculty, both checks will come from Biology). You will be required to complete an I-9 form in the university's Financial Office, and will need either a U.S. Passport or State-issued Identification card AND Social Security card in order to do so. Please make certain to bring these documents with you. Also, please note that SURF students are considered Casual Employees of the university and, as such, are taxed on the money they earn through the program. You will be asked to complete an US W-4 form and a NY State IT-2104 tax form. Please note that employees of Columbia's financial offices are not permitted to assist students in filling out their financial paperwork, as such assistance can be construed as financial or tax "advice". Should you have any questions about filling out your payroll documents, please contact a professional (or, obviously, your parents!).