Important Timelines

December 5, 2023: Near-Peer Mentor/Assistant Near-Peer Mentor/Teacher Applications open. Apply here.

January 29, 2024: Student Application opens. Apply here. 

There will be 9 sessions of GEMS between June 10 – August 16, 2024

General Information

GEMS will be offered on 3 platforms:

• In-person
• Hybrid
• Asynchronous

Locations for In-person GEMS:

• WRAIR, Silver Spring (Biomedical and Engineering)
• Bowie State University (BSU) (Biomedical and Engineering)
• Morgan State University, Baltimore (Biomedical and Engineering)
• UMD, College Park (ONLY for students registered in UMD’s Talent Search Group)

Levels:
GEMS levels (Fall 2024 grade levels)
Beginning (7^th and 8^th grades)
Intermediate (9^th and 10^th grades)
Advanced (11^th and 12^th grades)

GEMS sessions:

SESSIONS	LOCATIONS
	WRAIR	BSU	MSU	UMD (Only if registered in UMD’s Talent Search)
June 10-14	Advanced/ Intermediate
June 17-21	Advanced/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate
June 24-28	Beginning/ Intermediate	Beginning/ Intermediate	Beginning/ Intermediate
July 1-5	No class	No class	No class
July 8-12	Beginning	Beginning	Advanced/ Intermediate
July 15-19	Advanced/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate	Beginning/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate
July 22-26	Beginning/ Intermediate	Beginning/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate
July 29-Aug 2	Beginning/ Intermediate	Beginning/ Intermediate		Advanced/ Intermediate
Aug 5-9	Advanced/ Intermediate	Advanced/ Intermediate
Aug 12-16	Beginning/ Intermediate/ Advanced	Beginning/ Intermediate/ Advanced

NOTE: Students will only be able to apply to one location and for only 1 session (week). 

GEMS program offered at UMD is specifically for students registered in UMD’s Talent Search program. 

WRAIR and Bowie State University (BSU) locations: there will be no class on June 19 on account of Juneteenth.

Asynchronous GEMS

July 1-5: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced

Aug 12-16: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced

Virtual GEMS

July 1-5: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced

(Additional sessions may be added)

GEMS is free to all applicants.

Student participants who attend GEMS in-person are eligible to receive $125 stipend to offset cost of transportation and food.

Student participants in hybrid and asynchronous GEMS are not eligible to receive a stipend.

 

Information for Near-Peer Mentors, Assistant Near-Peer Mentors and Teachers

The GEMS Near-Peer Mentor is typically a college undergraduate. Closer in age to our students, NPMs share their STEM interests with the students, guide students in a hands-on exploration of STEM concepts, and develop meaningful connections throughout the week. In addition to a strong understanding of the STEM content, NPMs offer guidance in choosing high school courses, applying to college and scholarships, and adjusting to college-level academics. NPMs receive stipends based on their educational level.

The Assistant Near-Peer Mentor is usually a high school senior or junior with interest in STEM fields and an ability to work as a team. ANPMs perform a variety of tasks such as maintaining the supply inventory, prepping the lab and assisting the NPM teach a class. Stipends are based on educational level.

GEMS Teacher supervises NPMs/ANPMs. GEMS Teacher may be a high school teacher or an academician/educator with a strong base in STEM fields. The GEMS Teacher must be creative with the ability to multi-task and have strong leadership skills. Stipends are based on educational level and experience.

Information for Audio-Visual Intern Applicants

Typically a college undergraduate or HS senior, the Audio/Visual intern will serve as subject-matter expert and content developer (recording/editing/etc.) for STEM programming across all formats of GEMS. Stipends are based on educational level.