The Application Process

Students should first examine the possible research teams within the SINE program and identify a research topic and group in which they would like to work.  An important consideration in the application process is the potential for a match between the research interests of the student and the research being conducted within the SINE program.  Students should rank the top 1-3 laboratories in which they would be interested in working. It is not necessary that applicants have experience in neural engineering, although a background in engineering, neuroscience, or life sciences would be helpful.  The goal is to provide students with research experience that best serves their need to explore neural engineering as a potential career option.  

Students should then complete the SINE 2008 application form.  In addition to requesting information about the applicants' background, we ask students to prepare two separate short essays (~250-500 words) addressing different aspects of their interest in neural engineering research.

• Why are you interested in conducting neural engineering research?  What are the aspects of this field which make you consider neural engineering a potential career path?  How are these interests related to the research laboratory or laboratories in which you would like to work?

• What are your expectations of the SINE program?  What experience and knowledge do you hope to obtain from the summer?  What is there in your background, or what is missing in your background, that makes you believe that you will benefit from this research experience?

In addition to these brief personal statements, students should obtain:

• an official copy of their undergraduate transcript  

• 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or other individuals who have knowledge of the applicant and can help us evaluate their potential for conducting neural engineering research
  

Both the essays and items listed above should be completed as part of the application form.

Students should assemble all of these materials and send them together in one email to sine@northwestern.edu using the subject heading '<YOUR NAME> SINE Application 2008'.

Transcripts and letters of recommendation can also be sent separately and confidentially to the following address:

Danielle M. Kerkovich, PhD
Associate Director for Research
Sensory Motor Performance Program
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
345 E Huron, 1401
Chicago, IL 60611 

All application materials must be received by March 31, 2008.

SINE is a equal opportunity program.  We especially encourage applications from minority students, women, and students from institutions with underrepresented scientific research programs.