Summer Undergraduate Research Program Updates

The application period for the 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) mentors is closed.

Students without mentors are encouraged to apply for the program through SURP-match via 2023 Info Ready SURP-match Mentee Application. See Mentee section below for more information. 

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program promotes, broadens, and supports the participation of undergraduate students in research, scholarship, creative, and performance activities at SDSU. 

2023 Mentor Application and Program Timeline:

• November 30, 2022: Mentor Applications open via (2023 Info Ready SURP Mentor Application).
• January 20, 2023: Mentor Applications due 11:59 PM
• Week of February 6, 2023: Notification of awards
• February 21, 2023: Deadline for mentors to accept award (mentees selected and notified shortly after)
• February 24, 2023: Colleges notified of awards
• March-May 2023: Hiring/onboarding process 
• June 5, 2023: SURP begins
• June 5, 2023: SURP kick-off meeting
• August 11, 2023: SURP Social

Criteria

• SDSU faculty, research professors, and lecturers, who have student mentoring experience and are engaged in research, scholarship, creative, and/or performance activities.
• Only one proposal per mentor. However, faculty can apply to support 1-2 students through SURP-match. Faculty pursuing this option will have the opportunity to choose from a pool of students who do not have a faculty mentor.
• Faculty must propose research, scholarship, creative, or performing arts experience for undergraduate students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program at SDSU (with a graduation date after May 2023).
• Student Mentees must be paid $17/hour and are expected to work between 15-20 hours/week during the10-week program period.
• Student employment for this opportunity must not conflict with any other appointments (TA, GA, ISA, SDSURF, etc.). For example, a student cannot work more than a maximum of 40 hours/week during the summer from combined funding sources per university policy.   

Budget

The maximum request is $3,500 per student mentee. Support will be provided for the following expenses:

• Minimum of $3,000 for student salary at $17/hour, between 15-20 hours/week during the 10-week program period
• Maximum of $500 for supplies or materials related to the research/creative project or student travel to conduct survey research or related activities (items such as computers, major equipment, or furniture, and travel will not be supported)

The 2023 SURP is supported by state funds. Please do not include fringe in your student salary calculations. Check with your department or college resource manager if you need clarification when developing your student budget. 

Application and Evaluation Criteria

The following elements are required for the application:

• Project title
• Project abstract: A non-technical abstract (2000 character limit) of the proposed work for the student. This should be understandable to an educated reader, who is not an expert in your field. This abstract should include an overview of the central theme of the work, specific details about the undergraduate student(s) roles and student learning objectives, and your mentoring activities. If you are applying for SURP-match, we will share this project description with the SURP-match applicants, who will select their top three project choices.
• Application type 
• 1) One undergraduate mentee: Apply under this option to mentor one student that you will identify. For example, you may have a student currently working with you or intend to recruit a specific student. If the mentor application is recommended for funding, the faculty mentor must provide the student’s information when confirming the award.
• 2) One SURP-match undergraduate mentee: Apply under this option to select a student mentee through SURP-match. Mentors participating in the SURP-match program will have access to a pool of students. If the application is recommended for funding, the faculty mentor must confirm the selection of a student from the SURP-match pool upon accepting the award.
• 3) Two undergraduate mentees (one undergraduate mentee + one SURP-match undergraduate mentee): Apply under this option if you want to mentor two students. The faculty can identify one undergraduate student from their current research group/recruit a specific student and must select an additional student from the SURP-match pool. Mentors participating in this application type will have access to a pool of students from the SURP-match program. If the application is recommended for funding, the faculty mentor must provide the students' information upon accepting the award, where one student must be identified from SURP-match.
• 4) Two SURP-match undergraduate mentees: Apply under this option to select two student mentees through SURP-match. Mentors participating in the SURP-match program will have access to a pool of students. If the application is recommended for funding, the faculty mentor must confirm the selection of two students from the SURP-match pool upon accepting the award.
• Project description 
• Mentorship and training plan: Provide a detailed description of your application type, student(s) role, training, and mentorship plan to engage student mentees in an intentional and meaningful experience in undergraduate research, scholarship, creative, and performance activities. Include specific elements of training you plan to provide (i.e. specific technical skills, communication skills, analysis or visualization of data, production design, archival research, as well as professional development and training) and skills the student is expected to have to ensure successful completion of the project. Additionally, provide strategies for students who do not have the skills that you need for the project and strategies to mentor and encourage student engagement and interaction during the program.
• Planned activities: Describe specific research, scholarship, creative, and performance activities-related objectives and student roles/tasks you have planned for your mentee(s) during this program under your mentorship. Describe the role of the undergraduate student(s) on the project (What specific skills/experience will be gained by participating in this project?) and how are those skills/experiences connected to the student’s professional/developmental trajectory.
• Timeline: Provide a timeline of your proposed mentorship, training, project activities for your student mentee(s). You should also include deliverables and expenditures, which considers the minimum number of hours/week required by the program and budgeting constraints. Please refer to the website for important program dates including the program kick-off and concluding meetings and student submissions of the mid-experience review and final material. 
• Budget: Provide a table / breakdown of budget by salary and project materials (if any) by student, and brief budget justification.

The page limit is 3 pages, including budget and timeline. This should be written and submitted by the mentor and will be rated using the following evaluation rubric (100 points total). If you do not include the required application elements or adhere to the page limit, we will not review your proposal.

2023 Program Dates and Requirements

• Hiring/onboarding process (March-May 2023): You must hire your student and wait for confirmation before your student is able to begin working. Please refer to this document “Student Employment Authorization Action Complete” for more information.  
• SURP begins (May 31, 2023): Only hired students can begin! Please refer to this document “Student Employment Authorization Action Complete” for more information.  
• Mid-experience review (Due July 7, 2023): students will complete a set of brief questions about their experience, progress, challenges, and plans for the remainder of the program. They will also provide a figure, photo, graphic, etc. and caption of their ongoing work.
• SURP ends (August 11, 2023)
• Final material (September 1, 2023): 
• Students will complete a brief questionnaire about their experience, progress, challenges, and products. In coordination with their mentors, student mentees will also provide an abstract (in preparation for SRS), figure, and caption that highlights the work completed.
• The faculty mentor is responsible for submitting a brief questionnaire about their experience and final expenses.
• Presentation at 2023 Student Research Symposium: The student is expected to present the 2023 SURP work at the SDSU Student Symposium in Spring 2024 unless for some reason it is not appropriate or feasible.

2023 SURP-match

Why participate in undergraduate research? Getting additional experience might be necessary to help you be competitive for the best jobs or graduate school programs. Learning by doing is a great way to get more out of your degree. Being mentored by professors or graduate students is valuable and can provide hand-on applications outside of the classroom. You might learn something that will change your perspective and ignite a passion for discovery and your future career choices. Your work can contribute to discoveries, interventions and creative works that make a positive impact on the world.

Open to undergraduate students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program at SDSU (with a graduation date after May 2023). If you already have a mentor, please reach out to them to inquire about potential projects for 2023 SURP through the regular application process outlined above. If you do not have a mentor, apply to our 2023 SURP-match program.

Your application will be reviewed by available faculty mentors, who are eager to work with the next generation of professionals. If selected, you will be provided compensation according to the faculty mentor’s project proposal (at least $3,000 during the program period of June 5-August 1). Throughout the 2023 SURP, you will interact with your mentor and provide updates on your project; you will also have the opportunity to present at the 2024 SDSU Student Symposium.

2023 SURP-Match Application Timeline

• January 23, 2023: SURP-match Applications open for undergraduate students without mentors via 2023 Info Ready SURP-match Mentee Application
• For full consideration, submit your application by February 6, 2023.

Questions

Please contact Dr. Alicia Kinoshita, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities ([email protected]), if you have any questions or would like additional information.