MARC Program
Description
The MARC Program is an honors undergraduate scholarship program intended to encourage talented minority students to pursue careers in biomedical research leading to a Ph.D. Students in the MARC program receive a 100% tuition reimbursement, and a monthly stipend ($913.00) for conducting research at a science laboratory of Hunter College. Students are supported for a two-year period, usually during their junior and senior years. Health insurance is also available. The MARC and MBRS programs are federally funded by the National Institutes of Health to increase minority representation in biomedical research. As honors minority programs, both provide research experience and academic and financial support. The programs include intensive biomedical research under the guidance of faculty mentors and some course work. About thirty-five Hunter College faculty members are active in the programs, representing the Departments of Biological Sciences, Psychology, Chemistry, and Physics. Modern experimental methods and tools are utilized, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Spectroscopy, laser Raman Spectroscopy, Computer Analytic Techniques, Gel-electrophoresis, Chromatography, Electron Microscopy, Molecular Genetics and cell culture techniques. The areas of science research conducted at Hunter include Cell and Molecular Biology, Cell Physiology, Biochemistry, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biophysics and Biopsychology. Students travel to present the results of their research at national meetings. They also hear the latest biomedical research findings of prominent symposium speakers and meet students from across the country.
Eligibility
The MARC program is funded to increase the number of scientists who are members of groups underrepresented in the sciences. Specific groups include, but are not limited to Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islanders, Native American (American Indian, Eskimo). They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have declared majors in biology, chemistry, physics or psychology. The MARC program also encourages students with majors in computer science and math who are interested in bioinformatics or quantitative biology to apply.
MARC eligibility criteria include completion of sophomore year, an overall 3.0 GPA or better, solid science grades, and career interest in research. Prior to the review of applications, the office should have a completed application including an essay, two recommendation letters from Hunter science faculty, and a copy of a student transcript.
