MALARIA FACTS

• Of the 300-500 million clinical cases of malaria that occur globally each year, 90 percent of them are in Africa. 
    
• Malaria is endemic in more than 90 countries. 
    
• Forty percent of the world population is at risk for malaria. 
    
• Ten percent of world population gets sick each year with malaria.

DEATH BY MALARIA

• Number of fatal cases of malaria each year: over 1 million
    
• Most common age at death: 4 years 
    
• Every 30 seconds, a child dies of malaria
    
• Five percent of African children are killed by malaria, almost 3,000 each day, or the equivalent of seven jumbo jets full of children crashing every day. 
    
• Up to 23 percent of African infants are born with the malaria parasite.

Are you ready to play a part in breaking the vicious cycle of this disease?

UMBC undergraduates are invited to apply for exclusive internship positions with senior researchers at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (JHMRI).

Internship opportunities include the advancement of these key research priorities:
•    Creating next-generation antimalarial drugs
•    Exploring new approaches to vaccines
•    Developing new diagnostic techniques
•    Creating new strategies for mosquito control
•    Mapping the mosquito and the disease in endemic countries

Internship package:
•    Students will be matched with a Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute faculty mentor and research project
•    The internship period will be 10 weeks, June 1 - Aug 3, 2012.  
•    Student interns will be paid a competitive stipend, $3,000
•    Interns will be invited to participate in lab meetings, journal clubs, JHMRI seminars and events.
•    Interns will participate in the JHSOM/JHSPH poster sessions, the week of August 1.
•    Note: Internship does NOT provide or guarantee summer housing or commuting expenses.  The institute will assist in matching selected applicants with funding opportunities for housing/ transport.

Application components to apply via Position ID 9247878 UMBCworks:
•    NIH Biographical Sketch form (Download from http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html)  
Personal statement should address:
              1) your interest in scientific research and
              2) how this experience will complement your career path
•    Unofficial transcript
•     Supplemental Information Form (Downloadable from UMBCworks)
•    Two (2) recommendation letters
•    CV/Resume (optional)

Deadline: December 7, 2011
Early applications are STRONGLY encouraged.

Eligibility:
•    Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents of the U.S.
•    Any undergraduate can apply.  Prior research experience and courses in the basic biological sciences are a plus.  Students from underrepresented minority groups and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested in careers in science, medicine or public health are encouraged to apply.
* All students must be continuing their undergraduate studies during the Fall 2012 semester

For more information on the application process, contact Kerry Kidwell-Slak in the Shriver Center at kerryk@umbc.edu.  

For questions regarding the JHMRI Internship program, contact Genevieve Nixon at gnixon@jhsph.edu