Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience Program (MUSE)
Deadline for 2008 has already passed.
Please check back late December for 2008.
Description
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience Program (MUSE) is designed to expose minority undergraduate university students to the field of medical physics by performing research or assisting with clinical service at a U.S. institutions (university, clinical facility, laboratory, etc). The charge of MUSE is specifically to encourage minority students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) or non-Minority Serving Institutions (nMSI) to gain such experience and apply to graduate programs in medical physics.
The mission of the AAPM is to advance the practice of physics in medicine and biology by encouraging innovative research and development, disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering education and professional development of medical physicists, and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. This program supports this mission by introducing bright young scientists to the field of medical physics through summer fellowships.
Student Eligibility
Each applicant shall have completed at least 2 years of their undergraduate studies, but shall not have graduated, i.e. rank of junior or senior. Preference will be made to applicants that have declared a major or be eligible to declare a major in physics, engineering, or other science, which requires mathematics at least through differential equations and junior level courses in modern physics/quantum mechanics and electricity and magnetism or equivalent courses in engineering sciences. Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and those eligible to live and work in the U.S. Non-citizens and non-permanent residents must provide evidence at the time of application (e.g. visas and permits issued by INS) that they are authorized to work in the USA during the period of the fellowship.
Fellow Application/Award Process
Each applicant must complete the AAPM-provided student application and ensure that it and all required supplementary information are returned to AAPM Headquarters by the due date. An application is not complete unless all information is provided. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee consists of qualified medical physicists, who will review all applications and make final decisions regarding award of fellowships. We expect there to be Six awards in 2008. Once the fellowships have been awarded, the Subcommittee Chair will work with each student to select an appropriate mentor.
Remuneration, Travel, and Local Accommodations
The summer fellow will receive a stipend of $4,000 USD payable to the host institution for the 10-week period. This is not a salary; it is meant solely to subsidize students so that they may participate in the program. There are no other benefits. The summer fellow is responsible for health or any other insurance. All summer fellows will be responsible for obtaining and paying expenses for travel to and from the summer work site, for living expenses, and any other personal expenses. However, the host institution and mentor might assist the fellow by providing temporary housing information.
Award Period
The fellowship will be for a period of 10 weeks during the summer academic period (May 1 to September 30), which is mutually suitable to the mentor and fellow.
Mentor Qualifications
EachEach mentor shall be a faculty medical physicist in a university environment, a person working in a medical physics related field or a qualified medical physicist. It is preferred that the mentor be a full member of the AAPM. Each mentor shall be employed by a university, a research facility, a hospital or clinical facility, or a radiological industry within the United States. Each mentor will be required to submit a signed Indemnity Agreement to the AAPM.
Mentor Application/Selection Process
Each mentor must complete the AAPM-provided Mentor Application and return it to AAPM Headquarters by the due date. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee screens and selects qualified mentors who offer an opportunity for an outstanding research project or clinical experience in medical physics. In making that assessment, the Subcommittee evaluates the appropriateness of the project for junior or senior physics students (or equivalent), the qualifications of the mentor, the appropriateness of the laboratory and clinical facility, and the availability of administrative support.
For more information, contact:
Jacqueline Ogburn
AAPM Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience (MUSE)
Education Assistant
(301) 209-3394
E-mail: jackie@aapm.org