FLASCS Assistantship Application - 2024/25 Logo

  • FLASCS Research Assistantship Application

    Thank you for your interest in the NOVA FLASCS program! FLASCS is an opportunity for NOVA Science and Biology students to learn foundational scientific research skills through an assistantship at George Mason University's Center for Molecular Engineering. During assistantships, students will work with GMU faculty and graduate students on current research projects in the laboratory sciences. Selected students will earn a $1,200 stipend for participating. Applications for Spring 2026 are open and interviews will be conducted in December until positions are filled.

  • Program Description:

    If accepted to the research assistantship, you'll be asked to commit to the following activities:


    - Attend an orientation session at NOVA's Manassas campus during early Spring 2026.

    - Complete an assistantship at George Mason's Center for Molecular Engineering. Assistantships will take place from January - June, with an approximate time commitment of 10 hours / week.

    Assistantships will be held at the Center for Molecular Engineering (10920 George Mason Circle, IABR 3300, Manassas, VA 20110). Learn more about the Center here.

    Eligibility:

    In order to be eligible for this program, students must:

    - Be a current A.S. in Science or Biology student at NOVA in good standing

    - Have completed CHEM 111 and BIO 101

    - Have completed or be co-enrolled in CHEM 112 and BIO 102 at the time of the assistantship

    - Have at least 6 consecutive hours of availability during the week to work at the Center for Molecular Engineering.

    - Be eligible to work in the United States

    Students selected to this program will receive a stipend of $1,200 for participating. Please contact Chris Russell at crussell@nvcc.edu with any questions you might have.

  • Demographic Information

  • Narrative Questions

    Why are you interested in a research assistantship at GMU? How will this program benefit you?
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  • References

    Please provide names and emails of two references that can speak to your knowledge and capabilities in the sciences. We recommend references be professors from laboratory courses that you have completed.
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  • Pre-program Survey

  • The following questions are designed to help us learn more about your current experiences and confidence related to STEM research. Please know that your responses will not affect your chances of being accepted into the program. There are no right or wrong answers–we’re just hoping to understand where you’re starting from.

     

    For each statement below, please indicate your level of agreement:

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  • Consent Form

    Please read this consent agreement carefully before you decide to participate in the study.

  • Purpose of the research study: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the FLASCS research assistantship.

    What you will do in the study: For this study, you will complete a survey evaluation of your experiences during your assistantship. You will be asked to participate in recorded interviews about your experience during the program. You can skip any survey or interview question that makes you uncomfortable and stop any interview/survey at any time.

    Time required: Completion of data collection activities will require about 45 minutes of your time. Completion of evaluation survey will take approximately 15 minutes. Interviews will last approximately 30 minutes.

    Risks: There are no anticipated risks in this study. Researchers will keep all data secure and will strip it of identifying information before analysis.   


    Benefits: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this research study. The main goal of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of undergraduate research experiences in fostering the development of STEM identity among early career students in the laboratory sciences.
     
    Confidentiality: The information that you give in the study will be handled confidentially.  Your information will be assigned a code number.  The list connecting your name to this code will be kept in a locked file.  When the study is completed and the data have been analyzed, this list will be destroyed.  Your name will not be used in any report. Audiotapes and videotapes will be destroyed after all data are analyzed.

    Voluntary participation: Your participation in the study is completely voluntary.  A decision not to participate in data collection will have no effect on employment or your status in the assistantship.

    Right to withdraw from the study: You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.  If you withdraw from the study, any audiotapes or videotapes will be destroyed.

    How to withdraw from the study: If you want to withdraw from the study please tell the researcher.  There is no penalty for withdrawing.  If you would like to withdraw after your materials have been submitted, please contact Chris Russell (crussell@nvcc.edu).  Payment will be prorated based on the time at which you withdrew.

    Payment: You will receive a total of $1,200 for participating in the FLASCS research assistantship. You will need to provide your SSN for payment.

    Using data beyond this study: The data you provide in this study will be retained in a secure manner by the researcher for 5 years and then destroyed.

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  • If you have questions about the study, contact:

    Chris Russell
    Project Manager, Information and Engineering Technologies Division
    Northern Virginia Community College
    10500 Battleview Parkway, Ste. 221
    Manassas, VA 20109

    Telephone: 703-530-3505
    Email: crussell@nvcc.edu

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