Harvard Summer Program in Bangalore, India
This page contains content from the Summer School 2009. For current information, visit the Harvard Summer School website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
Information on the programs being offered summer 2010 will be available online in early September.
Harvard Bangalore Science Initiative
Faculty: Venkatesh N. Murthy and additional faculty in Bangalore
(8 credits: UN) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 28–August 22
Application deadline: February 27
Cost: $5,250
At the hub of Indian science, Bangalore is an ideal setting for scholarly exchange between Harvard and three elite research centers—the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, and the Indian Institute of Science. Students are introduced to a range of techniques useful for performing modern quantitative research in the life sciences, integrating into the ongoing research activities of the host lab. To complement the supervised laboratory research, students can also attend the many seminars held daily and the lecture component of advanced summer courses offered by the host institution. In addition to the science component, students can attend cultural events in Bangalore, participate in wildlife conservation at nearby national parks, and make day or overnight trips to historic sites in south India. Interested students can also explore classes and workshops at the Srishti School of Art, Design, and Technology located very close to NCBS.
Course of study
BIOS S-98r Study Abroad in Bangalore, India: Supervised Reading and Research in Quantitative Life Sciences
Students conduct supervised research in quantitative life sciences—including chemical biology and biophysics—in a host laboratory. Participating laboratories are chosen from a large set based on the individual student’s interests and the specific direction of the course. Students integrate into the ongoing research activities of the host lab, and are introduced to a range of techniques useful for performing modern quantitative research in the life sciences. Depending on the laboratory, this could include molecular biology, cellular biology, synthetic biology, chemical biology, single molecule biophysics, neuroscience, nucleotide and protein analysis, medicinal chemistry, genetics of model organisms—C. elegans, Drosophila, and mice—and cutting-edge microscopy techniques—such as confocal, total internal reflection, and multiphoton microscopy. Prerequisites: introductory coursework in basic biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Coursework that includes a laboratory component, or other previous laboratory experience, is desirable.
Course credit
For Harvard College students, this program counts as one full-year course (8 credits) of degree credit.
Transfer credit. Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary among schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
Venkatesh N. Murthy, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University
Additional faculty in Bangalore
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old to apply. The application materials, outlined below, are due February 27:
- An application form (applications for this program are no longer being accepted)
- Official transcripts (sent directly from schools to the address below; unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for Harvard College students only)
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A supplementary statement describing interest in the program, relevant coursework, and travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite)
Applications should be addressed as follows:
Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Students will be notified of admission decisions by mid-March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $5,250, plus a nonrefundable $50 application fee. In addition, students are responsible for a health insurance fee ($165; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States) and for transportation to and from Bangalore. The cost of the program covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room and some meals
- Excursions (including meals when appropriate)
Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses.
Payment deadlines
Harvard Summer School online services allows accepted students to make payments or deposits with a valid credit card.
Students can also mail their payment, along with a completed Study Abroad Payment Form (available in Forms), to:
Student Financial Services
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
For those admitted to the program, a nonrefundable deposit of $525 must be received by April 15 to secure a place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Funding
Harvard College students are eligible for funding through the Harvard College Office of International Programs (OIP), as well as a variety of centers around campus. All Harvard Summer School study abroad programs qualify for summer funding. Programs of eight weeks or longer in duration (including extensions of Harvard Summer School Programs approved by faculty members) qualify for Rockefeller International Experience Grants; programs of shorter duration qualify for other summer grants.
Students may consult the Funding Sources Database for more information on all sources of funding. Please note that the funding application deadline for summer grants and Rockefeller International Experience Grants is February 27.
To apply for any study abroad funding, students need to provide information about the program’s budget, submit an application through the Common Application for Research and Travel (CARAT), as well as supplementary documents to the relevant center, if necessary. Additional information on the funding application process is available through CARAT.
Also see the Harvard College Financial Aid Office summer school page for information about assistance.
Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
Students live in student housing—hostels—located in the expansive and wooded NCBS campus. Rooms most likely will be singles with private baths, or shared between just two students from this program. The main cafeteria is within walking distance and offers all meals.
Additional information
Contact Venkatesh N. Murthy, vnmurthy@fas.harvard.edu.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible: (617) 495-0977, (617) 495-9419 (TTY), or disabilities@dcemail.harvard.edu. Request-for-accommodation forms and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 15. See the Disability Services page for more information about disability services, including request forms and guidelines for documentation.
Students applying for admission to Harvard’s study abroad programs should understand that although the University provides reasonable assistance and support to facilitate the participation of qualified students in its programs (including students with disabilities and health impairments), some of our programs are located in parts of the world where accommodations may not be readily available. Students are encouraged to be forthcoming with the disability services coordinator about any specific needs and functional limitations so that the Summer School can collaborate with those students in a way that fosters their safe participation and allows them to fully appreciate any barriers that they may face, depending on the location and rigors of the particular program.
Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be canceled.