Thoughts on Mayo Clinic SURF program?

[neurogeek95]

I was thinking about applying for the mayo clinic surf program for 2015 but I had a couple of questions. What was a typical day in the program (let's say...the molecular/biomed department)?
Was it group-oriented or did you get to have an independent project?
Also, how did lectures work (if there were any)?
Where did you stay during the program and about how much did it cost to stay there?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[zzxxzz]

There was a SURF in my lab (in a different school) last summer. Supposed to work 9-5, but they usually didn't work anywhere near that much. Pretty much guaranteed a poster, which is a plus. All the SURFs stayed in the dorms, were fed, and were given a stipend.

Keep in mind that schools know SURF programs are pretty much designed to produce posters without too much effort. Some people work hard and produce great posters...many others mail it in and the PI basically makes the poster.

 

[nemo123]

There was a SURF in my lab (in a different school) last summer. Supposed to work 9-5, but they usually didn't work anywhere near that much. Pretty much guaranteed a poster, which is a plus. All the SURFs stayed in the dorms, were fed, and were given a stipend.

Keep in mind that schools know SURF programs are pretty much designed to produce posters without too much effort. Some people work hard and produce great posters...many others mail it in and the PI basically makes the poster.

Not all summer research programs are the same as you've described. Mayo SURF is a little different from the SURF you're referring to. Mayo doesn't give housing nor food (since they don't have dorms), but if you need it, you can live in a hotel located right next to the clinic and pay for it using your stipend. As for getting a guaranteed poster, this is also dependent on the summer program... Many SURFs/SURPs have a final poster session for everyone in the program, but some of them (ie some of the AMGENs) don't have them. I did a couple summer programs, and some of my friends in the program worked really long hours (my friend once worked for 48 hours straight because of an experiment that he had to tend to, but got the next day after that off, and a lot of my other friend had to go in on weekends).

I believe @JohnnyRomanes did Mayo SURF so I'm sure he can give more specifics about the program.

 

[neurogeek95]

Thanks for answering, guys! @JohnnyRomanes, how was your experience at mayo surf?