Harvard Summer Program in Bonn, Germany
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.
Biomedical research and cultural study at the University of Bonn
Faculty: Robert Lue and various faculty at the University of Bonn
(8 credits: UN) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 2–August 5, 2009
Application deadline: February 27
Cost: $6,300
The University of Bonn is the site of a novel collaboration with Harvard Summer School and the Harvard Life Science Division. This program combines laboratory experience in biomedical research with the acquisition of intercultural skills in Bonn, a United Nations host city that has a profound international presence. Students participate in an intensive scientific project in a university lab and partake of a range of cultural activities, including language instruction and site visits. The University of Bonn has a long tradition of biomedical research and extensive experience hosting study abroad programs. Those accepted to the program benefit from the intensive commitment of their academic supervisors, their professors, and the chairs of the participating departments. Each week, students come together with students from other universities to take part in discussions and excursions that relate to their work and to the research landscape in Germany. While this facet of the program focuses on scientific issues, it also brings into play aspects of politics and ethics that create a unique opportunity for intercultural communication.
Course of study
BIOS S-98r Study Abroad in Bonn, Germany: Supervised Research in the Life Sciences
Students conduct supervised research in a life sciences laboratory. Participants include the departments of genetics, cell biology, cellular biochemistry, molecular medicine and experimental immunology, and physiological chemistry. Students work on ongoing research activities of the host lab, which, depending on the project, introduces them to a range of techniques in protein biochemistry (such as cell fractionation, protein purification, and optimization of enzyme activity), DNA and RNA analysis (such as PCR, the application of aptamers, and siRNAs), medicinal chemistry (drug design and ligand/receptor assays), cell biology (immunhistochemistry, primary cell culture, and transfection of cell lines), genetics of model organisms (Drosophila and mice), and cutting-edge microscopy techniques (such as confocal microscopy). In addition, students attend German language and culture classes particularly geared to their needs and exclusively arranged for this program. Prerequisites: introductory coursework with a laboratory in chemistry, molecular biology, and cellular biology.
Course credit
For Harvard College students, this program counts as one full-year course (8 credits) of degree credit in independent research.
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
Robert Lue, Professor of the Practice of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Director of Life Sciences Education, Harvard University
Faculty members at the University of Bonn, who are professors and chairs of the participating departments, supervise student research on site.
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old to apply. The application materials, outlined below, are due February 27:
- An application form (the application period for this program has ended)
- 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, coursework in chemistry and biology, 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 $6,300, 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 Bonn. The cost of the program covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room
- Course materials
- 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 $630 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 university student guesthouses located in Bonn-Endenich. All rooms are singles with private baths, and students share the house kitchen and pantry. They may also take advantage of the university’s cafeteria system.
Additional information
Contact Ann Georgi, ageorgi@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 495-9533; fax (617) 496-6148.
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.
Images are © copyright University of Bonn. Used with permission.