This Internship Opportunity is available for students who have completed at least one year of college - please pass on to anyone you know may be interested.
The STEP-UP Summer Internship Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is an opportunity for underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students to participate in summer research in the areas of diabetes, nutrition, obesity, and digestive, kidney, and hematological diseases. The STEP-UP program supports students for ten full-time consecutive weeks of basic or clinical research with experienced faculty. The research experience begins on June 1, 2010 and is completed by August 8, 2010. The program culminates with an all expense paid trip to the Annual Undergraduate STEP-UP Conference in August 2010 in Atlanta, GA. Students will present their summer research to peers, mentors, and experts from the scientific community.
Who is Eligible?
Undergraduate students, including African American, Hispanic American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders, who have completed at least one year of college by June 1, 2010. Students must be U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or legal permanent residents.
What does STEP-UP provide for me?
- Student Participation Allowance of $4000 directly to you.
- Research Training Orientation program in May 2010.
- Travel expenses to the Annual Undergraduate Scientific Session and Research Presentations on August 4-7, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.
- Students must arrange their own summer housing using the allowance provided. Housing is available at some STEP-UP coordinating institutions. Contact the Program Coordinators for additional information.
Where would I do my internship?
Your research project can be done in the laboratory or clinic of NIH-funded investigators nationwide. STEP-UP coordinators will work with you to identify a location where you would like to work and a project in a research area that interests you. Students are matched with a research mentor at the institution or location of their choice whenever possible.
How do I apply?
Applicants must complete and provide:
1. The on-line application at the STEP-UP website - http://stepup.niddk.nih.gov. Applications are available beginning November 15, 2009 and must be completed before February 15, 2010. The application requires a brief personal statement of research interests and career goals.
2. Two Letters of Recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your academic abilities and accomplishments. Students should request Letters at least one month in advance of the application deadline.
3. An official college transcript.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Credit Repair – Watch Out for Scam Artist
There are advertisements everywhere offering you help with your credit. You will find claims in the newspapers, on the radio, on T.V., on the Internet and even calls from telemarketers, all willing to help you for a fee. You’ve seen the promises:
• “Credit problems? No problem!”
• “We can erase bad credit – 100% guaranteed”
• “Create a new credit identity – legally”
• “We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit forever!”
It is in your best interest to save your money. Don’t believe all of the headlines and catch phrases regarding what can be done in a few weeks to save your credit. Repairing your credit takes time, effort and a personal debt repayment plan. Now there may be items that can be removed from your credit, but these are items that are erroneous or that should have already been removed because you have satisfied the time frame with regards to the credit reporting guidelines.
Watch for warning signs! If you decide to use a credit repair service, beware of companies that:
• Want you to pay for the services before the services are provided;
• Do not tell you of your legal rights and what you can do on your own;
• Recommend that you do not contact the credit bureau directly;
• Suggest that you try to invent a “new” credit report by applying for a Employer Identification Number (EIN) to use instead of your Social Security Number; or
• Advise you to dispute all information on your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity.
Remember following illegal advice and committing fraud may make you subject to prosecution.
Under the Credit Repair Organization Act, credit repair companies can not require you to pay until they have completed the services promised. No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from your credit report. However, the law does allow you to request a reinvestigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. Everything a credit repair company can do for you, you can do for little or no cost on your own. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can:
• Obtain a free copy of your credit report, once a year or if you have been denied credit, denied insurance, or denied employment within the last 60 days.
• Dispute mistakes or outdated items for free. Simply ask the credit reporting agency for a dispute form or submit your dispute in writing, along with supporting documentation. Do not send in your original documents.
When the reinvestigation is complete, the credit bureau must give you written results and a free copy of your credit report in the dispute results in a change. If the item is changed or removed the credit bureau can not put the disputed information back in your file unless the information is verified for accuracy and completeness, and the credit bureau gives you a written notice that includes the name, address and phone number of the provider.
If the reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, have the credit bureau include your version of the dispute in your file and in future reports. There is no charge for a reinvestigation.
By law, credit repair companies must give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights under State and Federal Law” before requiring you to sign a contract. They must also give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents carefully before you sign a contract.
Whether you have poor credit or not you should periodically check your credit report. Checking your credit history for accuracy in advance could speed up the credit granting process if you are planning a large purchase.
To contact the credit bureaus:
All information provided was published by the Federal Trade Commission
• “Credit problems? No problem!”
• “We can erase bad credit – 100% guaranteed”
• “Create a new credit identity – legally”
• “We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit forever!”
It is in your best interest to save your money. Don’t believe all of the headlines and catch phrases regarding what can be done in a few weeks to save your credit. Repairing your credit takes time, effort and a personal debt repayment plan. Now there may be items that can be removed from your credit, but these are items that are erroneous or that should have already been removed because you have satisfied the time frame with regards to the credit reporting guidelines.
Watch for warning signs! If you decide to use a credit repair service, beware of companies that:
• Want you to pay for the services before the services are provided;
• Do not tell you of your legal rights and what you can do on your own;
• Recommend that you do not contact the credit bureau directly;
• Suggest that you try to invent a “new” credit report by applying for a Employer Identification Number (EIN) to use instead of your Social Security Number; or
• Advise you to dispute all information on your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity.
Remember following illegal advice and committing fraud may make you subject to prosecution.
Under the Credit Repair Organization Act, credit repair companies can not require you to pay until they have completed the services promised. No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from your credit report. However, the law does allow you to request a reinvestigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. Everything a credit repair company can do for you, you can do for little or no cost on your own. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can:
• Obtain a free copy of your credit report, once a year or if you have been denied credit, denied insurance, or denied employment within the last 60 days.
• Dispute mistakes or outdated items for free. Simply ask the credit reporting agency for a dispute form or submit your dispute in writing, along with supporting documentation. Do not send in your original documents.
When the reinvestigation is complete, the credit bureau must give you written results and a free copy of your credit report in the dispute results in a change. If the item is changed or removed the credit bureau can not put the disputed information back in your file unless the information is verified for accuracy and completeness, and the credit bureau gives you a written notice that includes the name, address and phone number of the provider.
If the reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, have the credit bureau include your version of the dispute in your file and in future reports. There is no charge for a reinvestigation.
By law, credit repair companies must give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights under State and Federal Law” before requiring you to sign a contract. They must also give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents carefully before you sign a contract.
Whether you have poor credit or not you should periodically check your credit report. Checking your credit history for accuracy in advance could speed up the credit granting process if you are planning a large purchase.
To contact the credit bureaus:
- Equifax – 1-800-685-1111 – http://www.equifax.com/
- Experian – 1-888-397-3742 – http://www.experian.com/
- TransUnion – 1-800-916-8800 – http://www.transunion.com/
All information provided was published by the Federal Trade Commission
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