On June 29, the Havard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) program hosted a graduate fair and barbecue for college students interning in Harvard's many summer research programs. Undergraduates from across the country — working in labs across Harvard's campuses — had a chance to come together, explore their options for graduate school and beyond, and hear directly from current Harvard graduate students about life in the lab or the clinic.
HILS, a federation of twelve life sciences PhD programs at Harvard, has sponsored the barbecue — held at the Queen's Head Pub in Memorial Hall — for five years now, and this was the second year that the socializing was preceded by a chance for Harvard's graduate programs to describe their offerings to the summer scholars, many of whom are considering graduate school and a career in academia or research.
Harvard boasts an incredible richness of summer research opportunities for undergraduates, and these work experiences are increasingly sought-after by talented college students looking to hone in on their interests, expand their connections, and perhaps gain a mentor for advice and letters of recommendation as they plan their next steps. Harvard is particularly strong in the opportunities it offers to undergraduates from underrepresented minority groups.
The graduate fair featured a panel of five PhD and MD students. From the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the panelists were Cherie Ramirez, a PhD candidate in the Division of Medical Sciences; Scott Chilton, a PhD candidate in molecular and cellular biology; and Lynn McGregor, a PhD student in chemical biology. From Harvard Medical School, the panelists were Aaron Quarles and Bethany Strong.
After the panel discussion, held at Dudley House, students met with representatives from all of Harvard's graduate schools, within and outside of the sciences, as well as with faculty or students from particular degree programs.
