Howard Hughes Scholars Program

The Georgetown-Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholars program is in its second decade of support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The program provides a research-intensive 4-year course of study with advanced coursework and extensive undergraduate research opportunities in biology. The program utilizes the cooperative efforts of research scientists in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the Medical Center at Georgetown. Students with strong academic backgrounds and substantial interests in the pursuit of careers in biomedical research and/or teaching are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

The Scholars Program requests applications from high school students who have demonstrated significant potential for careers in biomedical research by virtue of their achievements in science courses, in PSAT and SAT examinations and in high school research experiences, including summer research opportunities.

Incoming first year students who have applied to or have been accepted to Georgetown College and who have indicated Biology as their choice of major are invited to apply to the Hughes Scholars Program by downloading and completing the application form. Students will be notified of the outcome of their application to the program before the beginning of the fall semester. Biology majors also may apply at any time during their first two undergraduate years if they are electing to pursue the Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. degrees after college.

Program Highlights

During the school year, Georgetown-Hughes Undergraduate Scholars participate in regular monthly Friday evening group dinners with occasional guest faculty members who speak informally about their careers in science and the elements that motivated them to pursue these careers. A goal of these informal dinners is to promote a sense of community and academic cooperation among the scholars while fostering their interest in careers as research scientists and/or teachers. These dinners also are a time to bring to life the foibles of their instructors and the academic experience, to eat good food and to chill out.

During the summers following the first, second, and third years, Georgetown-Hughes Scholars remain on campus for 10 weeks from May through the third week in July to pursue highly mentored research in Georgetown University biology/biomedical labs. Although some Scholars will elect to begin research during their first academic year, the first summer research interval typically marks the beginning of a three-year research experience that will lead to the required senior thesis for Biology majors. Additionally, during the first summer, students enroll in a neurobiology class taught by program director, Dr. Joseph Neale, and a team of graduate students from the Medical Center. Program specific courses in bioinformatics is given during the second summer. Housing and a stipend are provided to scholars during the summer session.

Hughes Teaching Scholars

In a new program component, Hughes Scholars with an interest in a career in teaching will participate in an advanced program that we have developed for training students in teaching methods. This program includes a formal course in the spring term of the third year, followed by an optional summer interval to prepare teaching materials, developing teaching portfolios and practical teaching experiences in a public urban secondary school during the fourth year.

Students continue their summer research with their mentors during the school year, particularly during the third and fourth year. Many students have been able to contribute as a co-author to a publication from the mentor's laboratory. A list of some of these publication is found under Hughes Scholars Research.

In highly mentored environments, scholars' intellectual and technical skills as a research scientist are emphasized in preparation for advanced study in the most selective Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs in this country. In their senior year, Georgetown-Hughes scholars are encouraged to present their research at relevant meetings of local and national scientific societies, as well as at the university-wide undergraduate science forum sponsored by the Potomac Chapter of Sigma Xi, the national honorary scientific research society.

Past Georgetown-Hughes Scholars have been accepted to many of the country's most highly recognized M.D., Ph.D., and M.D./Ph.D. progams.