The Biological Discovery in Woods Hole (BDWH) Program is designed as an intensive, 10-week experience for undergraduates at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.  The major portion of each student’s time will be dedicated to an individual research project under the direction of one of the participating mentors – see Mentor List below.  The program will be conducted from mid-June through mid-August each summer and will integrate the students with the marine setting and the unique intellectual blend of year-round and summer investigators at the MBL to provide a diverse and varied undergraduate research experience.  The program will focus on the molecular, cellular, and physiological processes that give rise to and regulate complex physiological systems, and which ultimately mediate organismal behavior.  Investigators use both marine and non-marine models.  The program’s goal is to recruit highly motivated students, especially from under-represented groups and/or schools with limited research opportunities and immerse them in research programs under the guidance of mentors selected from visiting summer investigators, or year-round investigators at the MBL who are fully committed to enhancing the undergraduate research experience.  To augment the research experience, students will participate in field trips and attend weekly course meetings, seminars and/or luncheons that will explore a wide range of topics (e.g., graduate school application, ethics, career paths) to encourage the students to prepare and pursue a career in biological sciences.  There will also be group activities, field trips, and barbeques to provide peer interactions.  Finally, the program will culminate with an undergraduate research symposium.

• Undergraduate student participants will be supported with National Science Foundation funds and must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.  An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (par-time or full-time) leading to a bachelor’s degree.  
• Students who will have graduated from their institution prior to the summer program are not eligible to apply.  
• Students who are transferring from one institution to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer, may participate.  
• High school graduates who have not yet enrolled and students who have received their bachelor’s degree and are no longer enrolled as an undergraduate are not eligible.