Apply to Join the College of Charleston Honor Board!

by Reese Michaelson

The College of Charleston’s student-led Honor Board is looking for new members!

The Honor Board: The Honor Board is the College’s student-led judicial board, coordinating hearings to determine whether students are responsible for infractions of the codes outlined in the Student Handbook. Conduct process allows students to tell their side of the story to a Board or Panel composed of students and faculty/staff, who then make a decision about where the responsibility lies and any consequences that follow.

Commitment: There are minimal time requirements. Following the completion of a short training session and observation, members are required to serve on at minimum one case a semester, which rarely exceeds a total of two to three hours of preparation, participation, and deliberation. Members participate as their schedules allow and are encouraged to do so as often as time permits.

Benefits: Uphold the values of academic integrity and equity at CofC, enhance your resume with impressive experience, and join a diverse group of student leaders!

Great Fit For: Any student in good academic and disciplinary standing with the College. The Honor Board encourages students from all backgrounds (majors, minors, races/ethnicities, student organizations, etc.) to apply for membership.

To Apply: Click here to open the application.

Learn more about the Honor Board here.

Apply for the Southern Regional Honors Council Partner in the Parks Student Grant!

by Reese Michaelson

The Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC) is offering up to $8000 annually for students interested in the National Collegiate Honors Council’s Partner in the Parks program!

Partner in the Parks: This program was established through a Centennial Grant from the National Park Service to address waning national park attendance and connect university honors students with America’s natural wonders. The program offers immersive, five-day academic adventures in national parks, combining education, stewardship, and recreation.

The Grant: SRHC provides Student Grants to offset the cost of attending any NCHC Partners in the Parks program. All recipients of SRHC grants are encouraged to present the results of their projects or experiences at the following SRHC meeting.

To Apply: Click here for the application instructions. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis, so act quickly! The priority application deadline is April 1st.

Learn more about the Partner in the Parks program by clicking this link.

Fund your summer experience through the Honors Summer Enrichment Program

by plasmatinc

Applications are now open for the Honors College Summer Enrichment Program. The program supports Honors students pursuing impactful opportunities and experiences over the summer months with…

  • Significant financial support
  • Supplemental workshops and activities
  • Peer-to-peer collaboration

Great Fit For: Priority will be given to students pursuing their first substantive summer experience, and to those for whom a summer experience would not otherwise be possible without significant financial support.

What it can Support: Faculty-led research / Internships / Study abroad / Creative and artistic projects / Community impact projects / And more!

How to Apply: Complete the application form by Friday, February 28 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Learn More: Check out the Summer Enrichment Program webpage for more details and application instructions. Contact Nick Plasmati (plasmatinc@cofc.edu) with any questions.

Summer research internship in the Norris Lab at MUSC with a $4500 stipend award

by plasmatinc

The Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award will provide an Honors College student with a $4500 stipend to support a summer research internship in the Norris lab at MUSC.

The Internship: Join the Norris lab in ongoing research into cardiovascular development, investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart.

  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 2 – July 25, with exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Benefits:

  • Gain experience in a research lab setting.
  • Support data analysis into RNA sequencing and pathophysiology molecular studies on mice.
  • Valuable mentorship from MDs, post-docs, MD/PhD candidates, and more.
  • Bolster your medical school credentials.

How to Apply: Complete the online application with statement of intent + resume/CV + unofficial transcript by Friday, February 14.

The Norris lab at MUSC is offering a summer internship for an Honors College student to participate in ongoing cardiovascular research.

  • The intern will be supported by the Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award, a $4500 summer stipend.
  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 2 – July 25. The exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Research

The Norris lab has over 25 years of experience understanding genetics of syndromic and non-syndromic diseases like mitral valve prolapse (MVP), aortic stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve diseases, and cardiomyopathies.

This particular summer research internship will focus on the lab’s ongoing research into cardiovascular development.

Specifically, the lab is investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart, focused on protein expression and interactions within and between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes and their effect on cell proliferation and maturation.

Researchers on the project are currently involved with analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data as well as performing further molecular studies on mice to determine the pathophysiology.

The ultimate goal of the research is to elucidate some of the mechanisms behind heart maturation and development. 

Application Materials

Upload the following application materials through the online application form by Friday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

  • Statement of Intent: Briefly discuss your academic and career goals. Your response should outline why this area of research interests you and what you are hoping to achieve from the experience.
  • Updated resume/CV.
  • Unofficial transcript.

Funding

The internship is supported by the Kendra Springs '23 Memorial Endowed Research Award, which will provide the intern with a stipend for summer living expenses up to $4500.

The Kendra Springs Memorial Endowed Research Award has been created through the generosity of Clark and Julia Springs and many family members and friends in memory of Kendra Springs. Kendra’s family aims to support internship opportunities for Honors College students who exhibit Kendra’s drive for finding new treatments and cures for cancer. Kendra was a bright light and a constant inspiration. Her ability to tackle complex research questions to make an impact in people’s lives was impressive and her passion for her studies was palpable and unrelenting. Her contagious smile and her quiet, yet unparalleled passion for finding a solution for those with rare diseases will be forever missed.

Kendra was an Honors College student who studied chemistry at the College of Charleston. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kendra successfully completed an internship at the Norris Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. Kendra passed away on July 12, 2023.

  • The award recipient is also automatically accepted into the Honors Summer Enrichment Program.
  • To receive this award, recipients must be a current College of Charleston Honors College student in good standing.

 

MUSC’s Dept. of Surgery offers a funded summer internship through the PASS Program

by plasmatinc

The PASS (Pipeline for Aspiring Surgical Students) Program provides summer internships with the MUSC Department of Surgery.

The Opportunity: The PASS Program provides up to three Honors interns with an immersive 10-week summer experience focused on laboratory and clinical research and designed to prepare students for a career in academic medicine, all under the mentorship of Department of Surgery faculty.

Great Fit For: Aspiring surgeons / Future medical scientists / those thinking about pursuing an MD/PhD or MD/MS and looking to bolster their application credentials

Get Funded: Students accepted into the PASS Program also participate in the Honors Summer Enrichment Program, which includes funding of up to $4000 to support their PASS internship.

How to Apply: Complete the online application with statement of intent + resume/CV + unofficial transcript by Friday, February 21 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

What is the P.A.S.S. Program?

P.A.S.S. stands for Pipeline for Aspiring Surgical Scientists. The program offers Honors College students an immersive 10-week laboratory and clinical research experience under the mentorship of faculty in the Department of Surgery at MUSC’s College of Medicine. For Honors students considering careers in surgery or medical science, there's no better way to gain hands-on research and clinical experience over the summer months.

What are the Benefits?

Gain real world experience in laboratory and surgical settings, develop lab and clinical skills, work with faculty mentors, and participate in the type of activities that can bolster an application to MD, MD/PhD, or MD/MS programs.

The Internship Experience

PASS interns will spend 10 weeks immersed in laboratory and clinical research, all under the mentorship of Department of Surgery faculty members. Potential opportunities for research include…

  • Transplant Immunology and Surgical outcomes, specifically focused on developing novel technologies and therapies to promote organ tolerance in transplantation in the Lee Patterson Allen Transplant Immunobiology Laboratory or outcomes research in the Transplant Clinical Research Core
  • Regenerative medicine, specifically relating to biomedical implants, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and 3D printing and visualization
  • Surgical Oncology research, both clinical and basic research investigating mechanisms behind cancer development and prevention and/or outcomes of therapeutics in patients
  • Cardiovascular research, focusing on basic mechanisms preventing cardiovascular disease and correlating clinical outcomes research
  • Clinical outcomes research within the Surgical Outcomes and Innovation Network at MUSC Dept. of Surgery (SORIN) and in GI surgery and general surgery within the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital Patient population

Internship Requirements

Funding

PASS interns are automatically accepted into the Honors Summer Enrichment Program, which will provide them with a stipend for living expenses up to $4000 (participation in the Honors Summer Enrichment Program is required of all PASS interns).

Who Should Apply

This opportunity is ideal for aspiring medical scientists considering a career in academic medicine (not just in surgical fields). For those thinking about pursuing an MD/PhD or MD/MS, this is a great chance to gain practical experience and bolster your application credentials.

To be considered, applicants must be a current Honors College student currently in good standing.

Application Process

1.) Apply to the PASS Program by Friday, February 21 at 5 p.m. EST.

Applications are to be completed using the PASS Program application portal online. To complete your application you will be asked to…

  • Upload an up-to-date professional resume or CV
  • Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript
  • Write a statement of intent (500 words). Statement should discuss academic and career goals and explain, in specific and persuasive terms, the importance of the knowledge and skill gained from participation in the PASS program to academic and career development. Prior research experience should also be discussed. Note: If the student is intending to enroll in summer courses or be employed, he/she must describe how course work, employment and any other commitments will be balanced with the PASS program expectations. Students are not permitted to enroll in more than one course during the project period.

2.) Applicants who are selected as finalists will be contacted in early March to arrange a formal interview with MUSC Dept. of Surgery faculty. At that time finalists will be asked to submit a formal application to the Honors Summer Enrichment Program.

Questions about the application process? Contact Honors@cofc.edu.

 

Grab coffee with global sustainable development expert Ellie Flock ’16

by plasmatinc

Honors alumna Ellie Flock ’16 is back in town and will meet with a select group of Honors students for a casual conversation over coffee.

Who’s Ellie?

  • Graduated from the Honors College in 2016 with a degree in public health.
  • At the College, she served as an Honors Engaged student director, a member of the women’s health research team, and held a public affairs internship with the American Red Cross.
  • Earned an MA in Global Health, Conflict & Security from King’s College in London.
  • Her master’s degree was supported by a Rotary Ambassadorial Global Grant.
  • She’s since worked for various international development organizations and is currently a senior project management with global sustainable development firm Chemonics International.

Great Fit For: Public Health / Global and sustainable development / Getting a master’s overseas / Applying for a Rotary Ambassadorial Grant

Join the Conversation: Be sure to register and reserve your spot at the table.

Announcing HONORS IGNITE DAY: Friday, March 14th!

by Reese Michaelson

The College of Charleston Honors College is excited to announce Honors Ignite Day: Student Professional Development with a Future Focus!

The Event: Honors Ignite Day is an Honors exclusive student professional development-oriented event focused on giving you the tools to set up for your future. Students will have the opportunity to network with, hear from, and build relationships with top industry leaders and minds from a variety of fields.

Save the Date: Honors Ignite Day will be held on Friday, March 14th, from 2:00–6:00 p.m., followed by a networking reception for all attendees. We recommend setting the time aside on your calendar now; trust us, you won’t want to miss this!

Topics Will Include: Anything and everything to set you up for success! Learn and hear about polishing your resume and LinkedIn, grad/law/med school and post-grad job applications, elevator pitch tips, financing your post-grad plans, and so much more in a variety of formats, including:

Skills Development Workshops  •  Panel Discussions  •  Speed Networking  •  …and More!

Keep an eye out! More information—including how to register—will be coming your way soon!

Sophomores: Give us Feedback on the Honors First-Year Experience!

by plasmatinc

Second-year Honors students have the opportunity to participate in the Honors College’s strategic planning process and give us valuable feedback to improve the first-year experience.

The Opportunity: Your opinion is essential to inform actionable improvements to the Honors experience. At this time, we are interested in learning about your first year in the Honors College and your experience in our FYE course sequence. We invite you to participate in a focus group to solicit constructive feedback on your initial year in the Honors College.

Details: We will host two listening sessions moderated by Mr. Nick Plasmati and Ms. Bridget Alaniva. Each session is limited to 15 students. The sessions will be at…

  • 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 25th, in HONS 200
  • 5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 26th in HONS 200

To Register: Sign up to reserve a spot in your preferred session! This opportunity is specifically for sophomore Honors students.

We appreciate your commitment to ensuring the Honors College provides the best experience possible for all our students!