Program Requirements | Expectations
All
SFP Programs operate under the Caltech Honor Code http://donut.caltech.edu/about/boc/ug_handbook.php
Get help!
The friendly, helpful staff of the Student-Faculty Programs office is here
to assist you with questions or problems that arise during the summer.
If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact us or come in. The
summer passes very quickly, so it is better to address issues sooner
than later! We can be reached at 626.395.2885, sfp@caltech.edu,
or visit us in 137 Beckman Institute.
You get out
of your program what you put into it
Like most any opportunity, students will get out of their undergraduate
research experience what they put into it. Those who work hard on their
projects, ask questions, delve into the subject and reflect on what they
are doing and why they are doing it, will learn a great deal. They will
gain self-insight about what they like (or don’t like) to do. They
may get strong recommendations from their mentors for graduate school
or jobs. Participants can develop good communication skills, which will
benefit them throughout their careers. Mentors and co-mentors expect
students will commit themselves fully to the research.
Your project
is not just a summer job!
SFP programs are designed to be an educational and professional research
experience. Students should devote full effort to the project during the
ten-week period and are discouraged from holding jobs, taking classes, etc.
Students should have their own small projects that are part of the ongoing
research in the mentor’s lab. Students should become colleagues with
other members of the group. They are not “laboratory or research assistants.”
Laboratory
relations
Students are expected to participate fully in the life of the research
group, respect the work of all members of the laboratory, and attend
and participate in laboratory meetings or other gatherings. Students
should work as hard and as long as other members of the group work. Often
students work directly with a co-mentor, a graduate student or postdoctoral
scholar or a member of the technical staff at JPL, who will have day-to-day
supervision. The co-mentor’s responsibility is to guide and assist
the student, provide expertise, and answer questions.
Communicate!
Ask questions! For most students, your program provides an introduction to
research. It is a chance to learn a lot, and it is important to ask questions
about things you don’t understand. Participants should also communicate
their expectations to their mentors and/or co-mentors, just as mentors/co-mentors
should discuss expectations with students. Most problems that arise during
the summer come from misaligned expectations.
Meet all
requirements – on time
Requirements for SFP students are few but extremely important:
- Meet the
eligibility requirements
- Students
awarded a fellowship should expect to work hard on the project during
the ten-week summer period
- Students
must submit two progress reports
- They must
write and submit an abstract for publication in the annual abstract book
- They must
give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar days (or another
time mutually agreed upon with mentor and Student-Faculty Programs office).
- Participants
are required to submit a technical paper by the stated deadline
Future applications
or recommendations could be jeopardized by not completing all requirements.
Compensation
Students receive $500/week.
