Program Requirements | Expectations
All
SFP Programs operate under the Caltech Honor Code http://donut.caltech.edu/about/boc/ug_handbook.php
Get help!
The friendly, helpful staff of the Student-Faculty Programs office and JPL
Education office are here to assist you with questions or problems that
arise during the summer. If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact
us or come in. The summer passes very quickly, so it is better to address
issues sooner than later!
You get out
of your program what you put into it
Like most any opportunity, students will get out of their undergraduate research
experience what they put into it. Those who work hard on their projects, ask
questions, delve into the subject and reflect on what they are doing and why
they are doing it, will learn a great deal. They will gain self-insight about
what they like (or don’t like) to do. They may get strong recommendations
from their mentors for graduate school or jobs. Participants can develop good
communication skills, which will benefit them throughout their careers. Mentors
and co-mentors expect students will commit themselves fully to the research.
Your project
is not just a summer job!
USRP is designed to be an educational and professional research experience.
Students should devote full effort to the project during the ten-week period
and are discouraged from holding jobs, taking classes, etc. Students should
have their own small projects that are part of the ongoing research in the
mentor’s lab. Students should become colleagues with other members of
the group. They are not “laboratory or research assistants.”
Laboratory
relations
Students are expected to participate fully in the life of the research group,
respect the work of all members of the laboratory, and attend and participate
in laboratory meetings or other gatherings. Students should work as hard and
as long as other members of the group work. Often students work directly with
a co-mentor who will have day-to-day supervision. The co-mentor’s
responsibility is to guide and assist the student, provide expertise, and answer
questions.
Communicate!
Ask questions! For most students, your program provides an introduction to
research. It is a chance to learn a lot, and it is important to ask questions
about things you don’t understand. Participants should also communicate
their expectations to their mentors and/or co-mentors, just as mentors/co-mentors
should discuss expectations with students. Most problems that arise during
the summer come from misaligned expectations.
Meet all requirements – on
time
Future
applications or recommendations could be jeopardized by not completing
all requirements.
