Student Research Opportunities
There are a variety of research opportunities and summer experiences that will allow students to further explore their research interests, work closely with faculty mentors, and collaborate with a cohort of other students to expand and produce knowledge.
Georgetown University Research Opportunities Program (GUROP)
The Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (GUROP) equips motivated students with the opportunity to learn the discipline and experience the rewards of scholarly research by working with faculty on their research projects. Students spend a minimum of 60 hours per semester/summer working with a faculty mentor on that faculty member’s research project.
American Bar Foundation—Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowship
The American Bar Foundation’s Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowship is designed for students of diverse backgrounds interested in pursuing graduate scholarships in social science fields. The program provides an introduction to graduate research and careers in law and social science.
Caltech—Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) have a prominent place at Caltech. Since the SURF program’s inception in 1979, its diverse students have conducted research with individual mentors at the forefront of their fields. SURF’s goal is for students to experience their research as a creative intellectual activity spanning the entire program, starting on the first day and ending with presentations on SURF Seminar Day.
Committee on Institutional Cooperation — Summer Research Opportunities Program
The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is an introduction to graduate education intended to increase the number of students from underrepresented communities who pursue graduate study and research. This preparation involves intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and various enrichment activities. There are 15 CIC Member Universities, including Chicago, Maryland, Northwestern, Pennsylvania State, and Rutgers.
A nonprofit organization, the LAGRANT Foundation’s objective is to increase the presence of underrepresented groups in a number of fields, including advertising, marketing, and public relations. To this end, the LAGRANT Foundation provides scholarships, workshops, mentors, and internships to various underserved undergraduate and graduate students.
The Leadership Alliance — Summer Research Early Identification Program
The Leadership Alliance, founded in 1992, is responsible for operating the Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP). SR-EIP encourages students from groups underrepresented in STEM and humanities fields to pursue careers in research by providing them with mentors, professional networks, and resources to prepare competitive applications to graduate schools. SR-EIP is intended for undergraduates planning to apply to Ph.D. or MD-Ph.D. programs.
Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) seeks to provide the necessary skills and coaching to African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans to lead organizations and communities across the globe. Over one hundred partners, including corporations and social enterprises, rely on MLT for talent and insights from their pipeline of diverse rising leaders. (Eligibility: at least a sophomore).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program
Founded in 1986, the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) is designed to promote graduate education and improve original research through increased diversity. By increasing the number of underrepresented students in the research enterprise, MIT seeks to improve the quality of graduate education and ensure that underserved communities have access to research and teaching careers.
Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP)
Housed in the Institute of African American Research (IAAR) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) is a graduate-level research experience for highly talented undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing doctorates in the humanities, social sciences or fine arts. MURAP aims to foster the entrance of students from underrepresented minority groups, as well as others with a proven commitment to diversity, into Ph.D. programs and faculty positions in academia. Each summer, the program brings a cohort of 20 rising juniors and seniors in college to our campus for an intensive, ten-week research experience.
Northwestern University—Summer Research Opportunity Program
Designed for underrepresented students interested in a variety of fields of research at Northwestern, the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) is an eight-week experience for undergraduate sophomores and juniors. SROP participants should be interested in pursuing academic research or teaching in the future.
Princeton Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Princeton’s Graduate School offers an eight-week summer research program for undergraduate students from underrepresented communities who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or a career in instruction and research. The program assists students in creating competitive applications for doctoral programs, with the ultimate goal of continuing on to a career in teaching and original research.
Purdue Summer Research Opportunities Program
The Purdue Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) seeks to enhance diversity in fields that require graduate degrees by encouraging talented underrepresented undergraduate students to pursue further education. SROP participants—including but not limited to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans—are exposed to a number of intensive research experiences with faculty mentors.
UC Irvine — Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
UC Irvine’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program provides both undergraduate and master’s students from diverse backgrounds the chance to work side-by-side with faculty mentors on research projects. The program is intended for students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. or M.F.A. degree and has the added benefit of offering assistance with applying to and enrolling in graduate school. The SURF program is open to nearly all fields of study at UC Irvine.
UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research
UCLA’s Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) provides diverse undergraduate students with the chance to work side-by-side with faculty mentors on various research projects. The programs, available in nearly every academic field, are intended for students who plan to pursue academic careers in instruction or individual research.
University of Michigan—Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute
The University of Michigan’s Ford School has hosted a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute for over three decades. PPIA is a seven-week program that gathers diverse undergraduate students in a single location to focus on preparation for careers and scholarship in policy work. A $1,000 stipend, reimbursement for travel expenses and housing is included in the program.
University of Texas — African American Literatures and Cultures Institute
The University of Texas at San Antonio African American Literatures and Cultures Institute (AALCI) prepares African American students to pursue careers in research and teaching by providing stipends, individualized instruction, and other training. AALCI recognizes the pressing need for diversity in US higher education, and seeks to involve a greater number of African Americans in roles ranging from graduate scholarship to administrative leadership.