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Summer Undergraduate Research Program

symposium-scrappyAccording to the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), intensive research experiences over the summer are a best practice for students. The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is proud to announce the Summer Undergraduate Research Program to support students in full-time research endeavors during the months of June and July. Selected students will conduct research under the guidance of a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member (Primary Investigator [PI]) at Kennesaw State University. Faculty and students will be paid a stipend in order to work collaboratively on a research project in June and July. 

This is a competitive process with specific application requirements and post-award procedures. Two mechanisms of funding are described below for internally funded and externally funded student scholars. Terms of this funding opportunity is subject to change at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Research. Please contact our@kennesaw.edu for questions.

Click here to view former Summer Undergraduate Research Program Scholars.

Program Guidelines

  • The Office of Undergraduate Research would like to strongly encourage students in seeking external funding to conduct research over the summer while remaining at Kennesaw State University under the guidance of a full-time tenure-track faculty. This mechanism is to encourage our student scholars to compete on a national or an international level to bring pride to Kennesaw State University. The application must be initiated by the student or student/faculty pair. This mechanism also encourages faculty to mentor and discover students who are competitive in external awards.

    For students receiving external funds for performing research on campus during the summer, OUR will provide a matching stipend for Primary Investigators (PIs) at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Research. Student scholars who receive external fellowship/scholarships for work performed under the guidance of a full-time KSU faculty member will be featured in news stories from the Office of Research, similar to this one: https://news.kennesaw.edu/stories/2019/mcgrath-biology-fellowship.php  

    Limited funds for supplies will also be provided. Work must be performed under the supervision of full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty at Kennesaw State University. Students are allowed to apply for internal funded positions while pursuing external ones. For faculty to receive summer stipends, proof of acceptance for externally funded students must be provided to OUR by Monday, May 13, 2024. Please email this documentation to our@kennesaw.edu. 

  • A limited number of internally funded summer research scholars by the Office of Undergraduate Research will be selected by a review panel that will be assembled by the Director of Undergraduate Research to evaluate applications from student/faculty pairs.  

    Application to Seek Internally Funded Positions:

    • Submitted by Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:59pm
    • Application (to be initiated by the student applicant)
      1. Abstract: 100 words maximum
        • Please note that applications with abstracts exceeding the maximum word count will be disqualified and not reviewed
      2. Full Project Description: 750 words maximum (or 4600 characters, not counting the list of references). Required sections:
        • Significance/Introduction with citations from previous research
        • Methods
        • Expected Results and Timeline
      3. References/Works Cited/Bibliography (these are the sources used in the project description)
      4. Sponsoring faculty recommendation letter: Maximum 1 page single-spaced on letterhead and signed (12-point font, 1-inch margins). (Application will be auto-routed to PI)
        • In the letter, the PI should address the following at minimum:
          1. How long and in what capacity you've known the student.
          2. Previous work together and any outcomes from the work (for example, grant applications, presentations, publications, student awards, scholarships).
          3. Ability of the student to complete this work in the time frame.

    Please note that submitting any additional materials that were not requested, may lead to application disqualification.

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. If you have any other questions, please contact our@kennesaw.edu.

    • Full time student, pursuing a degree at Kennesaw State University
    • Work supervised by a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member
    • Undergraduate student who will not graduate until at least one semester after the program ends
    • Minimum GPA of 3.0
    • Has not participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) previously
    • Available to work 40 hours per week in the 8-week summer session in June and July
    • Available to present at the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars
    • The Office of Undergraduate Research will serve as the sole employer for students accepted into this program. Summer scholars cannot enroll in any course during June and July (within KSU or other institutions) because the workload for summer courses is intended to be high, and we do not want to incentivize students to overwork themselves. For an explanation of credit hours and time spent on the class, please click here. 
    • Full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member at Kennesaw State University
    • Available to mentor the student in June and July (in other words, will not take vacation during that 8-week summer session)
    • Has identified a student with whom to work on research in the summer
      • Due to the competitive nature of the program, only one student per PI will be approved
    • Has a well-defined project or multiple projects on which the student will work in the summer
    • Faculty who are not eligible for the full stipend amount are not eligible for SURP funding
    • Students will earn a stipend of $4,000.
    • PIs will earn a stipend of $4,000.
    • Accepted students can apply for summer funding needed to conduct the research (e.g., supplies, travel funds). Each student can apply for a maximum of $500. More details will be provided to funded students and mentors. 

  • Students should have submitted the following via the application on InfoReady:

    1. Abstract: 100 words maximum
      • Please note that applications with abstracts exceeding the maximum word count will be disqualified and not reviewed
    2. Full Project Description: 750 words maximum (or 4600 characters, not counting the list of references). Required sections:
      • Significance/Introduction with citations from previous research
      • Methods
      • Expected Results and Timeline

    The following requirement is to be uploaded as PDF documents:

    1. References/Works Cited/Bibliography (these are the sources used in the project description)

    The following requirement will be auto-routed to the PI for submission:

    1. Sponsoring faculty recommendation letter: Maximum 1 page single-spaced on letterhead and signed (12-point font, 1-inch margins). In the letter, the PI should address the following at minimum:
      1. How long and in what capacity you've known the student.
      2. Previous work together and any outcomes from the work (for example, grant applications, presentations, publications, student awards, scholarships).
      3. Ability of the student to complete this work in the time frame.

    Please note that submitting any additional materials that were not requested, may lead to application disqualification

  • The deadline for applications for Summer 2024 was Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST). 

  • The following criteria are used to evaluate the applications submitted:

    • Extent of prior working relationship between the student and the PI
    • Quality of writing
    • Word counts on application form not exceeded
    • Application guidelines were met, and no unrequested "extra" documents were submitted

  • We will accept 15 students into this program. 

  • Students in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program will participate in meetings with the other students in the program and staff from the Office of Undergraduate Research. The PIs should attend the first (orientation) and last (wrap-up) meetings. The schedule for 2024 is as follows: 

    • Date
      Time
      Location
      Topic
    • May 23, 2024

      11:00am to 12:00pm
      (Kennesaw campus)

      OR

      2:00pm to 3:00pm (Marietta campus)

      Academic Learning Center (ALC) Room 5500 (Kennesaw Campus)

      OR

      Marietta Campus (location TBD)

      Orientation (Students and PIs)
    • June 11, 2024

      11:00am to 12:00pm (Kennesaw campus)

      OR

      2:00pm to 3:00pm (Marietta campus)

      Academic Learning Center (ALC) Room 5500 (Kennesaw Campus)

      OR 

      Marietta Campus (location TBD)

      Elevator Speeches (Students)
    • June 28, 2024

      11:00am to 12:00pm (Kennesaw campus)

      OR

      2:00pm to 3:00pm (Marietta campus)

      Academic Learning Center (ALC) Room 5500 (Kennesaw Campus)

      OR 

      Marietta Campus (location TBD)

      Resumes and Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) (Students)
    • July 12, 2024

      11:00am to 12:00pm (Kennesaw campus)

      OR

      2:00pm to 3:00pm (Marietta campus)

      Academic Learning Center (ALC) Room 5500 (Kennesaw Campus)

      OR 

      Marietta Campus (location TBD)

      Practice Symposium Presentations (Students)
    • July 19, 2024
      11:00am to 12:00pm (Kennesaw campus)

      Academic Learning Center (ALC) Room 5500 (Kennesaw Campus)

      Wrap-Up Pizza Party (Students and PIs)
    • Upon notification of awards, student/faculty pairs will have five (5) business days to accept this position. Otherwise, it will be considered as forfeiture.
    • Participation in the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars.
    • Students must abide by the KSU Codes of Conduct at all times, including proper usage of institutional resources and funding.

 

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