Summer Research Opportunity for High School Students

I have a summer research opportunity for high school students I hope you can share with interested parties. Your assistance in recruiting for this summer program would be greatly appreciated. The High School Apprenticeship Program, funded by the ARO, and called HSAP, supports research opportunities for two high school students (2) for several weeks during this next summer (2022). High School Seniors and Juniors are most encouraged to apply since they will have a greater understanding of the research project. Student candidates for both programs will apply through a web site however they should feel free to contact me and discuss with me even before (and/or after) they apply. Feel free to share my email (norton@marshall.edu) and/or my cell phone number 304-654-4610 with students of your choice. For this opportunity no prior research experience is required. The usual Science courses appropriate for the student’s level are all that are required. Some other details:
High School Apprenticeship Program:
Applications must be filed online. Early application is encouraged so the deadline does not slip by ! If students have any difficulty filling out the form, they should feel free to call/contact me.
In short, selected students would perform experiments related to designing and creating sensor related materials using DNA Origami and other laboratory techniques. The apprenticeship would be between 5 and 8 weeks in duration (only 2 are available in my lab per year). The students are required to work for a minimum of 200 hours up to 300 hours during the summer, and their stipend is set by the program at $10 per hour during the summer. We will work hard to align with their summer schedule, including any breaks they will need for vacation time. There is no geographical (state) limitation, however they should just live within commute distance. There are some stringent eligibility requirements which are listed below. I know that there are excellent students who meet these requirements, and I hope you can encourage such students to apply. It is fine if they would like to discuss our mutual interests with me before applying, email seems like a good way to first get in contact with me to discuss the opportunity (norton@marshall.edu). They should indicate an interest in the ARO HSAP program in their email to me so that I know of their program of interest since I am involved in several similar opportunities with slightly different application/selection/age requirements. Students should also be informed that because their applications will go through a pre-approval process to make sure the applications are competitive, the student should do their best job of making a compelling application packet. This includes completely answering the questions requiring essay or extended answers.
This is the more formal language suggested by the HSAP program:
The High School Apprenticeship Program is an Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) effort which provide high school students, especially those from underserved and underrepresented populations, a summer Research & Engineering apprenticeship opportunity at Army partner universities.

Each student apprentice will receive an educational stipend from $ 2,000 up to $3,000 and is required to conduct research for a minimum of 200 hours and a maximum of 300 hours during the summer months. Although we can be flexible, the optimum window for working these hours is 8 weeks (for students electing for the 300 hour option) of the 9 week period starting on June 6, 2022 and ending on August 5, 2022. Student effort toward project tasks is expected to be ~ 7.5 hours per day. We understand that students may need to take time off during this period for vacation or other reasons.

HSAP Student Recruitment Process and Selection Criteria:
The basic criterion for selection of student apprentices will be the potential shown for pursuing careers in the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Factors to be consideration in the selection process include:
(i) Previous demonstrated abilities or interests in STEM;
(ii) Potential for a successful career in the field as indicated from overall scholastic achievement and/or high school teacher recommendations;
(iii) Students statement on the application form collected at a centralized site for the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP);
(iv) Interviews conducted by the mentor with student applicants; and
(v) Students must be underserved and underrepresented in STEM.

Required Qualifications:

REAP-supported student apprentices must meet the AEOP’s definition of underserved and underrepresented (U2) to qualify for participation in the program. The AEOP defines underserved and underrepresented (U2) participants as those who possess at least two of the following criteria:
• attend a rural, urban, or frontier/tribal school;
• low-income students (FARMS);
• females in certain STEM fields (e.g. physical sciences, computer science, mathematics or engineering)*;
• identify as racial/ethnic minority in STEM (i.e., Alaska Native, Native American, Black or African American,
• Hispanic, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, other);
• students with English as a second language (ELL);
• first generation college student (1stGEN);
• students with disabilities (ADA);
• a dependent of a military service member or veteran.
o Military child – dependents of members of the Active Duty Armed Forces
o Military-connected – military child plus the dependents of members of the National Guard and Reserves
o Military-affiliated – military-connected plus the dependents of Veterans
o Military-connected schools – schools where a minimum of 15% of the student population is military-connected

In order to be considered for the apprenticeship, all students must apply to the AEOP High School Apprenticeships through the application available online by clicking the “Apply Now” button of this page :
https://www.usaeop.com/program/high-school-apprenticeships/

The opportunity in my lab is Code R160, listed as the next to the bottom entry in the table on this web page:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16DlWbDHf6pzDiykBfd65s9my71Eypw_qA8TtFFQDIYM/edit#gid=0

There is an instructions page suggesting the most efficient and effective way to fill out the application located at this URL:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1azvF6vTN9NivffF0PtFFPyc-tRFG45SA2U9ThWtUYIY/edit

Since the forms have time limits and require essays and extra documents it is a great idea to read the instructions.
Although the application window closes February 28th, I hope students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, so that in case there is any problem with their application, it can be addressed well before the deadline.
Any students you can suggest will be appreciated. Please do feel free to share this email with students of interest and feel free to encourage students to inform their friends of the opportunities. Emphasis should be placed on students likely to pursue post college education and we hope the students are strongly considering Marshall as their college of choice. Since housing is not a part of the stipend, local students will likely benefit most from this program. Although high school seniors are preferred, juniors and sophomores have had very successful summer programs at Marshall.
I can also send a flyer if you would like to forward it to someone or print it out to post for students to see.
Thanks for any students you can send our way or any suggestions you can provide for supporting students in STEM,

Dr. Michael L. Norton
Department of Chemistry
1 John Marshall Drive
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
Biotech Office phone: 304-696-3489
Imaging Lab: 304-696-3569
web: http://www.marshall.edu/mbic/
‘God loves the noise as much as the signal.’ Lewis M. Branscomb

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