Unfortunately, we are unable to enable master's degree students, as we require students to have at least 2 years of graduate-level research experience, and have 1-3 years of additional research work in their degree upon their return to Mexico to ensure the knowledge transfer from host to home lab takes place.

The scientific overlap and rationale for why you want to join a lab is one of the most important determinants in the selection of a researcher for MexaLink. Therefore, how you select your host lab is essential. 

We suggest you begin by identifying which experiments you would like to perform for your project that you are not capable of carrying out in your current lab. 

For example, if you are studying macrophage ontogeny and you would like to use a fate-mapping mouse to track monocyte-derived tissue macrophages, then look at which labs perform similar experiments: i.e. Florent Ginhoux's lab. 

There may be several labs that may be a good overlap, therefore, choose 3-4 labs and rank them based on how closely the models they use would suit your scientific needs.

There are several factors that are important for the selection of a MexaLink applicant. 

1. Scientific rationale: successful MexaLink applicants will demonstrate a clear choice of host lab and logical list of experiments he/she/they aim to complete during the research stay.

2. Letter of motivation. The applicant must demonstrate clear objectives of why he/she/they wish to participate in MexaLink.

Once an applicant identifies 1-3 laboratories that suit their scientific and experimental needs, MexaLink will contact those group leaders to determine whether the experiments the researcher has proposed are feasible to complete in their laboratory. The applicant will then be matched based on the most appropriate host lab. 

Selected applicants will then meet with the host PI and agree on a list of feasible experiments to perform during their research stay.