The McNair Scholars Program at West Virginia University is now accepting applications for its 2013 Summer Research Internship.

Through financial aid, academic advising and undergraduate research opportunities, the McNair Scholars Program pushes underrepresented students toward their doctorate degrees.

The program is recruiting rising juniors and seniors who must meet the following criteria:

– Are a first-generation and low-income student or member of an underrepresented group such as African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

– Will have completed sophomore year by May 2013

– Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

– Are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

– Have a desire to pursue graduate degrees

Benefits include $2,400 in stipends, graduate school and GRE preparation, research opportunities with WVU faculty, free conference travel and campus visits, cultural activities and a shot at publication.

McNair Scholars participate in a six-week summer research internship, year-round graduate school preparation seminars, conduct a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor and present research at a national McNair conference.

Applications can be downloaded from http://mcnair.wvu.edu/.

The McNair Scholars Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education in honor of engineer, scientist and NASA astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who was killed in the 1986 Challenger explosion. The program came to WVU in 2000, and since, more than 100 Mountaineers have benefited.

A video on the program can be viewed here.

Application deadline is Jan. 15, 2013.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Betty Mei, McNair Scholars Program
304.293.4316, Betty.Mei@mail.wvu.edu

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