Research in Sciences Summer Program FAQ

If you have any additional questions about the Research in Sciences summer program, please reach out to Anika (adane@wesleyan.edu).

  • Eligibility

    The Research in Sciences summer program is open to First Years, Sophomores, and Juniors currently enrolled at Wesleyan University. Students may apply for a fellowship each year.

    Fellows work with faculty mentors affiliated with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Enironmental Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Behavior, Physics, Psychology, and the College of Design and Engineering Studies. You must have a faculty mentor and a research proposal to apply. 

  • Application Requirements
  • Program Requirements
    Research fellows are expected to:
    • work a full time schedule. Specific hours may be set by your mentor.
    • attend all required workshops. Fellows should consult with their mentors about additional workshops.
    • participate in the Summer Science Symposium. Most of our fellows will present a poster. Students may also give an oral presentation.

    The Research in Science Summer Program is an immersive in-person on-campus research experience. In a small number of select cases, research may be done remotely if required and strongly advocated by the faculty mentor. In many cases, research cannot be conducted virtually. 

  • Housing

    Summer Research students are required to arrange their own housing. On-campus summer housing is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Your acceptance to the Research in Science summer program makes you eligible to apply. The summer housing application can be found at this link after April 1, 2024.  If you have questions, contact the Office of Residential Life directly at 860-685-3550 or submit a ResLife Help Ticket through your WesPortal. 

    On-campus housing may be available at no charge or at a reduced rate for students with high financial need. If you feel you are eligible for this, please check the relevant box on the summer housing application and the Office of Residential Life will verify your eligibility.

  • Dining
    Please visit Summer Dining for information on the summer meal plan and cafeteria hours.
  • Transportation

    Wesleyan's  Transportation Department offers a grocery shuttle to two Middletown grocery stores, Aldi and Price Chopper. During the summer program this free service operates every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The van leaves from the Usdan University Center to Aldi and Price Chopper and returns.

    WesPass Program: River Valley Transit buses are FREE for students!  Just show your WesID when you hop on a bus and you're good to go. 

    River Valley Transit buses stop at the corner of William/High Streets (Route 583, Route 584, and Route 590) and at the downtown Middletown terminal every 50 minutes. Use the Trip Planner to figure out your route, your stop, and when the bus is coming (scroll down below the map). Additional bus stops near campus are now on the Wesleyan map or you can see this handy poster of nearby destinations. Links to bus schedules are on the RVT website.   

    • Route 581 (Stop & Shop, Bob's Stores, Dollar Tree, Marshalls, Saybrook Rd. medical centers)
    • Route 582
    • Route 583 (Price Chopper, Big Lots, Chipotle, Goodwill)
    • Route 584 (Shop Rite)
    • Route 585 (Walmart)
    • Route 590 gets you to Meriden Train Station in less than 20 minutes.  In Meriden, you can connect to New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, Bradley Airport, and beyond via train.  Meriden is also home to the Meriden Mall with service on Saturdays.  This poster gives more information on how to connect to other transit using MAT, or read more below.
    • Route 644 connects Middletown to Old Saybrook, where you can get on an Amtrak or Shoreline East train
    • Route 645 connects Middletown to Haddam, Killingworth, Clinton, and Madison (home to Hammonasset State Park)
  • Payroll

    Research Fellows will be paid hourly at a rate of $17.50/hour for an expected 37.5 hours per week. A student who works all of these hours would receive approximately $5000.

  • Additional Work

    The CIS RIS program is intended to be an immersive research experience and fellows are expected to work a full-time schedule. You should not accept other work during the program without prior authorization from the Director. Requests to do additional work should be made in consultation with your faculty mentor.

    If the additional hours are paid through Wesleyan you will be limited to 40 hours a week total. The RIS program expects 37.5 hours per week, so that leaves just 2.5 hours a week for other Wesleyan-paid jobs. No overtime is authorized.

  • CIS Majors

    All CIS majors are required to spend at least one summer performing research. CIS majors are guaranteed to recieve a fellowship for their first summer research experience and do not need to apply separately.

    CIS majors are paid at the same rate as all fellows and must fulfill all the same requirements.

  • Named Fellows

    There are two named fellowships available to summer students. There is no additional application process; CIS assigns these fellowships based on the student's research proposal and faculty reference letter. 

    The Siegel Fellowship specifically supports summer research in neuroscience and behavior. 

    The Sonnenblick Fellowship supports first through third-year students conducting a summer research project in the scientific fields of astronomy, biology, chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry, molecular biophysics, neuroscience, and physics.

    Students who are awarded a named fellowship are expected to write a brief report of their summer research experience to be shared with the Siegel and Sonnenblick families and the Office of Advancement.