FAQ

In this section you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us about them.

What are some of the benefits of becoming a part of the MARC Program?

• An annual stipend of around $12,000 for the calendar year
• Some tuition based on need
• An appointment in a laboratory at Brooklyn College or an affiliated institution, doing research with a faculty mentor part time in the academic year and full time during the winter break
• Access to special MARC courses and workshops in various aspects of research, including a required course on responsible conduct of research and research ethics
• Discussion of research career opportunities in universities, government laboratories, and industry, including meeting representatives of these career sectors
• Counseling on choice of and application to graduate school, including help in preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Support for attendance at and participation in local and national scientific meetings where MARC students present research results along with professional scientists
• Opportunities to network with working scientists, research faculty, and administrators from top-tier graduate programs
• Access to information about numerous paid and unpaid summer research opportunities at other colleges and research universities and in industrial settings
• The opportunity to become part of a community of students in the MARC program and other science programs in an on-campus center focused on the needs of undergraduate students doing science research

Why must I not have another paying job if I participate in the program?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) regulation that students may not accept paid part- or full-time employment outside of the MARC program while they are receiving MARC stipends because of the level of support and time commitment that MARC requires. However, scholarships are permitted, and we encourage you to apply for as much fellowship support as you can, because it is a credential that can help in getting in to graduate school.

What are some of the required activities for the MARC program?

The NIH requires that all MARC Fellows take the Responsible Conduct of Research course in the spring of their junior year. The MARC program also requires attendance at MARC program meetings, research meetings, special events on science in the New York area, etc.

The program requires that students participate in at least one research externship, normally in the summer after their junior year. There are many summer programs open to our MARC Fellows, at some of the best research universities, in private industry, and at government laboratories. The program staff works with the student and the mentor individually to find appropriate summer placements for the student’s research interests and direction.

Can I get more information about participating in research?

To find out about research opportunities, contact the MARC program staff. You can also make inquiries at the science departments about faculty research programs. When they enter the program, MARC Fellows choose a mentor from the research-active faculty. We assist in making placements, based on what the student defines as the major research interest; although we cannot always make an exact match, we come as close as we can.

In selecting an appropriate mentor, we look at individual student interests, the faculty member’s research activities, and individual characteristics of student and mentor. Students are expected to work a significant portion of hours in the mentor’s laboratory during the academic year and full time during the summer and winter breaks, unless the students participate in an off-campus research externship.

How long will I be a MARC student, and when can I apply?

The MARC program is designed to fill two full years. Ideally, students are admitted as MARC Fellows at the end of the sophomore year, so that they have two summers and two academic years for program activities before they graduate. If there is space, the MARC program can sometimes admit students in the first semester of their junior year (e.g., if the student is a transfer student).