The summer research school

Working in a laboratory during the summer can be a rewarding experience, an opportunity to earn more money than in take-away shops or pubs, and a chance to meet young researchers in the Faculty. It also looks good on your CV that you have spent time productively gaining work experiences.
In the Denecke lab, there are various routes available to gain summer placements

1) Spring trainees
Personal trainees in the Denecke group may obtain a summer bursary directly financed by the group, if they have mastered the key-techniques and shown dedication to research. Experience has shown that such students can make a real contribution to science and the funds are usually well invested. You may be allowed to continue the work you started during the spring, and this increases your chance to get a co-authorship on a research paper. Successful students have also been financed by the group to attend a summer symposium and present a poster. These are excellent learning opportunities and provide items to put on your CV. Check out the spring research school for details of how to enter this route.

 

2) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
ASPB created SURF to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in plant biology. SURF helps students conduct meaningful research in plant biology at their home institutions early in their college years. Exceptionally well-prepared first-year students and juniors who provide evidence of a strong commitment to plant biology will be considered. Recipients are expected to present their results at the ASPB national meeting in the following summer. You should note that the 2009 ASPB meeting will take place in Honolulu, Hawai!!!! Each fellowship provides a $3,000 student stipend; $500 for supplies; a one year student membership in ASPB; and a travel allowance to attend the ASPB national meeting. A $500 travel grant has been set aside for each recipient to offset travel expenses. The student must be a co-author of an abstract to qualify for the travel grant. Students from overseas or who have very limited resources for travel may make a case for additional travel funds, but the Denecke lab will also provide additional funds should a Leeds student succeed in getting a SURF award. As a life time member of ASPB with an ongoing research program in plant sciences and a strong commitment to undergraduate education Prof. Denecke is eligible to act as Mentor in the SURF program and interested Leeds undergraduates should contact him as soon as possible to receive assistance with the application process, as the deadline is approaching fast. SURF 2008 applications will be accepted December 12, 2007–February 25, 2008. Check out the following link (and further links from this page) for more details:
http://www.aspb.org/education/undergrad.cfm

3) Other funding schemes: There are further opportunities from the Centre for Plant Sciences, the Gatsby summer school, and various national programmes for summer studentships (Nuffield foundation, Wellcome Trust)…