WHAT IS PSI?

The Student Research Project was modelled on UROP - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, a programme found at many highly ranked universities and research centres around the world, whose aim is for students to gain experience in the field of research.

It is a well-known fact that students of technical and natural sciences in BiH are very often deprived of the opportunity for practical teaching and research, which makes it harder for them to get to know their field better, develop their skills and knowledge, and decide whether they want to pursue scientific work.

As part of the solution to this problem, ANNT members decided to offer students the opportunity to gain research experience, which, due to the current situation, would be carried out online. The aim of the programme is to connect Bachelor's and Master's students with mentors with whom they will work on research projects, giving them motivation to continue pursuing science and improving their knowledge, as well as valuable experience and a recommendation for applications for internships/study abroad.

Last year we successfully completed the first cycle of PSI.

The programme is completely free of charge, and our mentors are volunteers.

PROJECTS

Here you can find the list of projects and the mentors in charge of them. A total of seven mentors have offered eight projects (some projects involve joint mentorship by several experts). Our mentors focus on fields such as physics, computer science and mechanical engineering, biology, forestry, etc. In the project description itself, in addition to the topic and mentor, you can see what prior knowledge you need and what skills you will acquire.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION 

The project is intended for first- and second-cycle (and integrated) students of natural and technical sciences at universities in BiH. PSI mentors work in fields such as physics, computer science, mechanical engineering and forestry, but applications are not necessarily limited to students of these fields. You can find the list and descriptions of projects on this page, and in the application form itself you will be able to select the project (or projects) you would like to work on.

Apply by filling in the Google form - the application deadline is 15.05.2022.. When applying, you will need to upload your CV and transcript of grades. You can find tips on how to write a good CV here, and for templates and editing we recommend Overleaf. In addition, it is important for us to know what motivates you to apply for this project. For this reason, we also ask you for a motivation letter of no more than one A4 page - in it you should introduce yourself, explain what motivates you to pursue science, what skills you have, why you are applying for this project and what your future plans are. Please note that the motivation letter is not a direct retelling of your CV; rather, it should provide additional information. Candidates will be selected by each mentor separately for their own project. You present yourself to your mentors through your CV and motivation letter, so we advise you to pay attention to these two things.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Your first obligation is to write a good CV and motivation letter, which will be the decisive criteria for mentors when selecting candidates. You may have an interview with the mentor during the selection process. Selected candidates are expected to conscientiously and thoroughly complete the tasks assigned by their mentors over the next six months.

You will have a meeting with your mentor every week (approximately). Selected students will also need to attend any social gatherings with other students and meetings at which everyone will present the progress of their project. As we are aware of the obligations of students, and of mentors, during the academic year, we expect most of the research to be done during the summer, i.e. the summer break. Candidates are required to attend and actively participate in the final online session, where you will present your work to ANNT members and other PSI participants. After the project ends, we expect feedback from you so that we can improve PSI for the next generation of interns. We hope the description of obligations has not discouraged you. Candidates' duties will in any case be adapted to their university obligations, which you will agree on with your mentors. For these six months, in addition to the valuable experience of working with BiH researchers and the knowledge gained in your field of interest, you will receive a certificate confirming that you completed an internship with ANNT and a letter of recommendation from your mentor. You will also master skills such as writing reports and presenting your work to others.

 PROJECT TIMELINE

  • April - May: Applications (deadline 15.05.)
  • May: Selection process, start of work with mentor and first meetings
  • June - October: Work on projects, possibly midterm presentations
  • October - November: Final presentations, sharing experiences of the programme and issuing certificates

Note: the timeline is not strictly fixed and is subject to change if the commitments of mentors and students so require.

For further information, you can contact kontakt@annt.ba.

Good luck with your application!