Join Our Group!
Our lab is an official partner of the NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Training Program. Each summer we provide 1-2 high-school students an opportunity to work in our lab as a part of this summer enrichment training program. The NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Program is run by the Utah company, NeuroRobotic Technologies. The Utah NeuroRobotics Lab partners with this summer program to provide students with direct hands-on training in neurorobotics.
What to Expect
Research Areas. We have had several high-school students working in our lab from a variety of different programs and backgrounds. We've worked with pre-engineering students and pre-life-science students. High-school volunteers in the lab have built exoskeletons, developed virtual and augmented reality systems, designed new clinical diagnostic tools, and led human-subject experiments. Check out the list of ongoing research and our trainee projects.
Program Outcomes. Working in the lab is a great way to supplement your learning, boost your resume, and explore career options. As a high-school student, you will get first-hand experience with research that will help you apply your knowledge and identify new areas to focus your coursework. Working in a lab as a high-school student is a great way to help solidify your college major. Because our lab is so interdisciplinary, you will be able to work with biomedical engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, computer scientists, neuroscientists, and more! You can learn more about current and alumni high-school students on our team page.
Student Outcomes. Past high-school trainees have published first-author manuscripts and presented at international conferences. High-school trainees have also placed in the Utah State Science Fair and attended the International Science Fair. Trainees have received prestigious scholarships, including the General Sterling Scholar, and received full-ride scholarships at in-state and out-of-state public and private schools, including the University of Utah, Arizona State, Duke, and Stanford.
Summer Enrichment Program
Selection Process. The NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Program is a highly completive summer enrichment program for high-school students. Because the experience is tailored to each student, only 1 to 2 students are selected each year out of dozens of highly qualified applicants. Applications are open to all high-school students, but priority is given to student who are preparing for undergraduate studies at the University of Utah or are from diverse backgrounds. Qualified applicants will typically have completed some AP/IB STEM courses and have prior experience with at software design (i.e., programming), mechanical design (e.g., 3D-printing, CAD), or hardware design (e.g., microcontrollers, soldering). Your local high-school robotics or programming club are excellent ways to increase the competitiveness of your application. The various university-wide summer camps at the University of Utah also offer a free opportunity to build these skills.
Timeline. The NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Program provides a custom 2-month summer research experience for high-school students. The exact start date and end date are flexible, but the program often runs from June 1 to August 1. Applications are due by May 1, and applicants will be notified of a decision by May 15.
Cost. The NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Program requires tuition to support the programs administrative staff and offset research costs (e.g., 3D-printing supplies, microcontrollers, software packages) incurred by the lab hosts such as the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab. 2 months of summer tuition starts at $2000 USD. Tuition costs may increase depending on the specific start and end dates selected. Tuition is due, in full, at the start of the program (typically June 1).
Application Process. To apply, please submit a 1-page resume (pdf format) and brief cover letter (pdf format; 300 words or less) to neurorobotic.technologies@gmail.com. Applications are due by May 1. Decisions will be made by May 15.
Questions. The Utah NeuroRobotics Lab simply serves as a partner for this program run by NeuroRobotic Technologies. Questions should be addressed to neurorobotic.technologies@gmail.com.
Recommended Program of Study
Prospective/incoming undergraduate students who are interested in working in the field of neurorobotics are encouraged to pursue a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Although our research is highly interdisciplinary, we feel students are best prepared at the undergraduate level through the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. Two example programs of study are provided below. One is focused around "Neural Engineering" and trains students in the fundamental electrical engineering skills necessary to develop state-of-the-art brain-computer interfaces and biomedical devices. The other is focused on "Robotics" and provides students with the training to build and control robotics devices, such as exoskeletons and bionic arms. Students who are not in the Electrical and Computer Engineering major are encouraged to adapt this program of study as much as possible to fit their program requirements.
