The Summer Clinical and Translational Research Program (SCTRP) is a ten-week mentored, summer research program designed to enrich the pipeline of college students' understanding of and interest in pursuing clinical and/or translational research, as well as to increase underrepresented minority and disadvantaged college student exposure to clinical/translational research.

In addition to mentored clinical/translational research experience, SCTRP students will participate in weekly seminars with Harvard faculty and graduate students focusing on topics such as research methodology, health disparities, ethics, career paths, and the graduate school and medical school application process. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in offerings of other Harvard Medical School programs such as career development seminars and networking dinners.

by Jessica McNeely and Allyssa Allen

Diwali is over, Halloween and All Saint’s Day passed, Guy Fawkes Day came and went….

That means it’s almost Christmas, right?  

Actually, you’re a little behind schedule. The Capitol Christmas Tree began its march towards Washington DC on October 29.

On that day, the 88 foot tall white spruce left its stomping (err…rooting) grounds in Chippewa National Forest, serenaded by a group of young men from the local Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. 

So far, the woody celebrity has greeted fans in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Before settling into Washington DC, it will make additional stops in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. 

Feel needled that a tree is getting more holiday travel than you? 

Well, yeah, so do we. But if you want to live vicariously through our photosynthesizing friend, you can follow the journey on the Capitol Christmas Tree blog. 

Across the US, many Republicans, like Cory Gardner (R-CO), unseated incumbent Democratic Senators, such as Mark Udall (D-CO).

Across the United States, netw0rk-news writers are shoving reports of the 2014 US Midterm-Election results down ever-deeper into their “Old News” bins

But the current Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), doesn’t want anyone to forget it. 

The fact that Joni Erenst (R-IA) would serve as the 1st female US Senator in Iowa history meant all $285,000,000 invested into Republican Senatorial campaigns this election paid off.

The Erenst victory was also important for another, more pivotal reason; the former Iowa National Guard Lieutenant Colonel’s election meant big changes were coming not only in Iowa, but in every state across the nation.

Joni was the Republican Party’s lucky number 7 in the Senate, tipping the balance of Congressional power fully into Republican hands for the first time in a solid decade. 

The last time Republicans controlled Congress was back in 2005.

However, taking control of a Congressional House is–by definition–no single-handed job. Republican Senate-hopefuls had to claim 6 other tooth-and-nail victories before securing the majority spot.

Here’s a quick run-down of them all:

1) Tom Cotton (R) defeats two-term incumbent, Mark Pryor (D) in Arkansas.

2) Cory Gardner (R) unseats Colorado incumbent Mark Udall (D).

3) After incumbent Senator Walsh (D) drops-out late in campaign season, Steve Daines (R) claims easy victory in Montana.

4) Thom Tillis (R) upsets incumbent Senator Kay Hagan (D) in  North Carolina nail-bitter.

5) Mike Rounds (R) rallies up from dismal October polls, drops-jaws after taking 51.6% of votes in South Dakota. 

6) Natalie Tennant (D) completely routed by landslide-victor, Shelley Capito (R) in race for West Virginia‘s open seat.

While Mitch McConnell anxiously ticks off the days till he trades titles with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), most Americans only hope that the Republican surge means temporary relief from the seemingly endless political gridlock in Washington. Will the Republicans now be able to fulfill their promise to improve our economy; and if so, will Democrats be able to rebound in 2016?

Obama and his administration have had to contend with quite a deal of disheartening news lately. So it’s only natural that he would be eager to tout any step forward–on the domestic front, or abroad.

Hence, his announcement that 1500 U.S. military “advisors” would soon be arriving in Iraq to help take the fight directly to ISIS.

It could be welcome news to Iraqis, who are recovering from a spate of suicide bombings throughout their country over the weekend by militants. 

The pivotal role in stemming the extremist group’s rampage, however, may ultimately belong not to the U.S.–but to Iran.

In fact, recent key gains by Iraqi military forces were made with the help of Iranian commanders, suggesting that Iran may be quietly leading the charge against ISIS.

Obama himself may have hinted at such in a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei emphasizing their shared interests in the campaign against the Sunni militant army.

But could Tehran end up at the helm of a “coalition of the willing?” It likely wouldn’t sit well with other Arab states in the region, who aren’t exactly warm towards the Shiite state.

But in a struggle against a murderous extremist movement of this scale, might it not matter?