SURF - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
- What is SURF?
- Program Components
- Expectations of Student Participants
- Funding Package
- How to Apply
- FAQ
What is SURF?
UCI's unique Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program offers undergraduate diversity students with outstanding academic potential an opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects. The program provides students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. degree and enter academic careers with the tools needed to facilitate the application, admission, and enrollment process for graduate school. The program is open to all academic fields (e.g. arts, education, humanities, social sciences, social ecology, biological sciences, engineering, computer science, physical science, etc.).
Program Components
Undergraduate Mentorship Experience
Scholars are matched with UC faculty members whose special expertise and interests matches those of the student’s research interest and career goals. Faculty members serve as advisors and mentors and assist the scholars in developing and completing a research action plan.
Graduate School Preparation
Scholars participate in a graduate preparation component to provide special training in areas critical to academic success. This includes workshops and sessions on the following:
- Successfully applying to graduate school
- Successfully applying for fellowships
- GRE preparation courses
- Scientific writing
- Preparing academic presentations
- Academic career planning
Summer Research Program Symposium
SURF culminates with the Summer Research Program Symposium. All summer participants will present either an oral or poster presentation on their summer research.
Networking Opportunities
Throughout the Summer Research Program, SURF participants will have the opportunity to share information and experiences with participants of other diversity program including AGEP SRP, UC LEADS and the California Pre-Doctoral Program. Participants will also be assigned to a Graduate Student Mentor for the duration of the summer that will help facilitate the program, and serve as a peer mentor and point of reference for the student. This is also a great opportunity for participants to gain insight into the life of a graduate student.
Expectations of Student Participants
- Scholars will be required to reside in assigned University housing provided by UCI.
- Scholars will be required to attend and participate in all scheduled activities.
- Scholars must commit to working full-time in their assigned labs (40 hours per week) for the full 8 weeks of the program.
- Scholars will have individual academic and research obligations with their faculty mentor/advisor.
- Scholars should expect to meet at least once a week with their research mentor/advisor, or more often, depending on the project and the mentor's arrangement.
- Scholars will be expected to meet with the program coordinator during regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the research project.
- Scholars will be required to submit a research outline, abstract and final paper in accordance with the program timeline.
- Scholars will be required to present their research at the University of California, Irvine Summer Research Program Symposium at the end of the program in August.
Funding Package
- Participants will be awarded a $3,000 research stipend.
- On-campus assigned housing for the summer.
- Roundtrip travel costs to UCI will be covered within program limitations (up to $400).
How to Apply
The deadline to apply for the SURF program is March 1, 2010. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Applications must include:
- A completed application form
- A two-page personal statement
- An unofficial transcript of all college coursework
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member who can best assess your ability for academic research and your motivation for graduate school
Applications must be submitted both by e-mail and by mail as follows:
- BY MAIL: All application materials must be submitted in one envelope and must include the following:
- A completed application form
- A two (2) page personal statement
- An unofficial transcript of all college coursework
- One letter of recommendation from a college faculty member who can best assess your ability for academic research and your motivation for graduate school
- BY E-MAIL: The completed application form must be submitted electronically as a Word document to diversity@rgs.uci.edu. Completed application forms must be saved and e-mailed as follows:
- Application Word document must be saved as “Last name - Program Name” (Example: “Fabrega - SURF.doc” or “Santana - AGEP.doc”)
Submit application packets to:
Daniel Fabrega, Coordinator for Outreach, Recruitment and Retention
University of California, Irvine
120 Aldrich Hall
Graduate Division
Irvine, CA 92697-3180
Tel.: (949) 824-8730
Fax: (949) 824-9096
E-mail: dfabrega@uci.edu
