The Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research offers Project L/EARN, an exciting program designed to increase graduate school enrollment among students from groups that are traditionally under-represented (African-American, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islanders) in health-related graduate programs.

We invite sophomore and junior students with an interest in health and/or mental health research to apply to the Project L/EARN Summer 2008 research training program. The summer program is an intensive nine-week internship opportunity for qualified students who would like to obtain research skills and "hands-on" experience in health and mental health research under the guidance of a distinguished faculty mentor. Summer training often leads to involvement in faculty research during the subsequent academic year. Faculty mentors represent a diverse array of disciplines, including health economics, medical sociology, medical anthropology, public health, social work and health psychology; all head vigorous research programs. Each intern will be matched with a faculty mentor whose work is most closely aligned with his or her particular interests, skills, and background.

The core of the summer program is a daily workshop that provides technical training in research methods, study design, data management, and statistical analysis (programming in SPSS and exposure to SAS). Project L/EARN has been designated as one of Rutgers University's Graduate Education Preparation Programs. Interns will be provided with GRE preparation, as well as extensive guidance with respect to applying to graduate school.

Project L/EARN is more than a full time commitment. Consider it the equivalent of a very demanding course load and a part time job. Participants cannot take any additional summer classes or hold employment during the program period and are required to live in the campus housing provided. Participants are required to attend all seminar series and program events (on and off-campus), meet with mentors regularly, and complete all scheduled assignments within the timeframe provided.

The internships provide students with a $3,500 stipend, tuition, and room and board for the duration of the inen-week program so that they can "learn while they earn." Students also receive 3 academic credits for the program. The program will operate from June 1st to August 9th 2008. Project L/EARN is directed by Professor Peter Guarnaccia and Diane (Deedee) Davis, and is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers University.