Mission:
The mission of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) is to provide opportunities for students majoring in science, mathematics or engineering to apply research methods and techniques by working closely with faculty on challenging scientific problems.
Program Description:
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is a 6-8 week non-residential research program open to UVI students majoring in science, mathematics or engineering. The length of the research experience will be agreed upon by the student and faculty mentor. Through a competitive selection process, students will be chosen and paired with faculty members doing research in an area of interest to the student. Each participant will receive a competitive stipend for their summer work. Program dates typically coincide with UVI's Summer Session II.
Student Responsibilities:
- Students are expected to meet with their mentors on a regular basis. The exact meeting times will be determined by the mentors.
- Students are expected to keep written documentation of their research.
- Students are expected to attend all meetings as scheduled by the SURE Coordinator.
- Students are expected to complete evaluation forms when required. This extends past the SURE program.
- Students will be required to present work at the Summer Research Symposium at the end of the program.
- Students are expected to participate in on and off campus research conferences. Ability to be funded to participate in off campus research conferences will be dependent on UVI Research Symposia participation.
- Students will participate in follow-up activities that relate to evaluation of this program. This may include responding to surveys about your experiences in the program, as well as your future career decisions.
- Students are expected to participate in the program full time, and thus should have no outside employment, and take no summer courses during the second summer session.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for SURE, students:
- Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Must submit a complete ECS application
- Must apply to other off island research opportunities
- Must provide proof of US citizenship of permanent residence*
How does one apply?
Submit a complete ECS application (available on the ECS Homepage) by February 28th. If there are any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the College of Science and Math - ECS Program by sending an email to ecs@uvi.edu or calling 693-1249.
Who are potential research mentors?
Current UVI professors can serve as research mentors during the summer. We recommend you visit the online UVI Directory of Science and Math faculty to view their employee profiles. You can read about their expertise, research interests, and publications, if available. Try setting up an appointment to meet and talk about potential research projects.
Funding Source:
Funding for this program is provided through a grant from the National Science Foundation's HBCU-UP program. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) promotes excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering or Technology fields, and through research experiences.
*International students may be eligible if special funding becomes available.