Research Apprenticeship Program

About the Program
Mission Program Requirements Administration

Since its inception, the Monell Center has made a strong commitment to the education and training of high school and undergraduate students. More than 350 students spent at least eight weeks during the summer months, earning a weekly salary by meeting the challenges of serious research responsibilities in projects such as cloning the olfactory receptors; investigating flavor preferences in the young infants, children and the elderly; developing non-lethal repellents for agricultural pests; or studying the chemistry of air quality on people's health perceptions. Many students also work at the Center during the school year.

Our program is an intensive paid internship that offers high school and undergraduate students an extraordinary opportunity to learn about science and be a part of basic research. Its mission is to increase scientific knowledge and technical expertise and stimulate an interest in science and medicine as careers by accomplishing the following goals:

Provide students with hands-on research training and stimulate the students' interests in science and medicine as careers

Improve student learning in science and encourage critical thought and communication skills

Increase appreciation of the chemical senses

The Research Apprenticeship Program

Our current program consists of:

At least eight weeks of full-time structured research activity during the summer with a Monell scientist. Because Monell scientists devote 100% of their time to research, this experience is intense and at the forefront of scientific research in the chemical senses.
Enrichment activities that include lectures on the mechanisms and functions of the chemical senses; public speaking and written communication; and ethical principles guiding human and animal research.
A symposium during which apprentices present their research findings to scientific staff, family members, and friends.
Opportunities to learn about careers in both medicine and science by meeting with physicians, medical school educators and scientists working at both academic and industrial institutions.
Post-program contact for students to discuss current research findings and career opportunities in science and facilitate the creation of a mentoring network among past and current participants.
Additional research experience and sponsoring of science fair projects for several of the high school students.

For more information on the types of research at Monell, please visit the following sites:
Sensation and Perception
Neuroscience
Nutrition and Appetite
Health and Well-Being
Chemical Ecology and Communication

Program Requirements

To meet the requirements for the Research Apprenticeship Program, students must:

Be currently enrolled in a high school or undergraduate institution
Be able to prove eligibility to work in the United States
Have a strong interest in science and research

Please direct all correspondence and inquiries to .