HST Summer Institute

Overview

The Summer Institute at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology offers a unique opportunity for outstanding undergraduate college students considering a career in biomedical engineering and medical science. This highly competitive program offers a hands-on research experience in a scientific community internationally recognized for its leadership and commitment to excellence. Students are supported by cutting-edge research facilities and expert mentors.

Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, participating institutions include Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), i2b2 National Center for Biocomputing, and others, the Institute is part of an effort at MIT to help facilitate the involvement of talented students in engineering and science research; in particular underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Selected applicants become part of HST's accelerating effort to alleviate human suffering and disease through applied learning in a variety of biomedical research areas. There are two areas of study:

Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, or the use of computer science techniques, such as electronic databases and three-dimensional modeling, to gather and analyze life sciences data; particularly information from genomics.

Biomedical Optics, or the use of lasers and light to develop new applications and modes of treatment in the areas of medicine and biology.