The Summer Research Program (SRP) at Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI) offers students the opportunity to excel in conducting research at QEERI during the summer and access state-of-the-art research facilities under the mentorship of QEERI's distinguished scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and engineers.

Students will train for 8 weeks, Sunday through Thursday, and each student will work with a designated researcher based on the area of research interest. The intensive nature of the program will require a full-time commitment from the student (exceptions can be made if necessary).

At the end of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion for the internship.

Program Activities

In addition to working as part of a research team in QEERI, the students are required to participate in a variety of academic enrichment and professional development activities.

Orientation (Half day)

• Introduction to the program and meeting fellow summer interns.
• An overview of QEERI’s structure, research focus, programs, research team, facilities, etc.

Hands-On Research Experience Under the Supervision of QEERI Researchers (8 Weeks)

Each student will be matched with a specific research group based on the student’s background, their area of research interest, and the availability of space in the host laboratory. Once admitted to the selected research group, the student will work as a member of the research group under the supervision of the mentor. Prior to the start of the program, students will coordinate with the mentor to discuss the project and the supervision and training plan.

Seminars, Professional Development Workshops, and Social Activities

Participating students will be required to attend seminars given by research scientists from QEERI and/or QEERI guest speakers. The goals of these seminars are to broaden the student’s scientific knowledge. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to attend professional development workshops and socialize with fellows in the program, covering topics like grants management and research partnerships. The informal setting and the discussions it will facilitate during and after the activities encourage student interactions with the QEERI team, thus enabling students’ integration into the QEERI community.

Student Presentations and Poster

All QEERI-SRP scholars are required to give a poster and two 15 - 20 minute presentations to their peers and QEERI staff. The first presentation will be during the program and will be a summary of a selected research paper. The second presentation and the poster will be about the students’ projects and will take place after the program. QEERI mentors will assist the students in preparing their presentation and poster, and provide guidance, and critical and constructive feedback aimed at helping the students improve and sharpen their presentation and scientific communication skills.

Eligibility

To be considered for the program, the applicant must:

• Hold a Qatari residence permit
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate program in STEM and have completed at least 2 years of coursework by the summer of this year.
• Have a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Application Process

Applicants must fill in the online form and submit the following documents:

• Completed application (QF template)
• Updated resume/CV
• Letter of interest (include area of research interest)
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty/instructors (They must be familiar with the student, and are in a position to assess the student’s capabilities)
• Latest university/college transcript
• Selection of two projects
• Copy of Qatar ID card

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by the QEERI selection committee based on specific criteria including:

• The student’s academic record
• Letters of recommendation

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (in person or via online meeting) by members of the selection committee before making the final admission decision. The placement of students will be aligned with their research interests.

Target Number of Participants

The target number of participants will depend on the availability of laboratory space and staff.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, May 10, 2024.