Summer Research Intensive

Group of students with notebooks and laptops

 

The Summer Research Intensive program supports faculty research and scholarly productivity. Our office matches funding to hire undergraduate research assistants and provides these students with specialized training in research methods, oral and written presentation techniques, and other professional development skills. 

 

From faculty:

  • "Our students became integral members of our research teams. . . [and] brought forward interesting ideas." 
  • "Both students exceeded my expectations in terms of productivity, and they were really inquisitive about research and generally a pleasure to work with." 

From students:

  • “This project has helped me realize that I like doing research as a mode of learning, compared to the traditional classroom.”
  • “This project has strengthened my communication and research skills, effectively preparing me for graduate school scenarios”

Information for faculty and students

OEL provides match funding

  • Faculty members may apply to fund up to two (2) Summer Research Assistants (SRAs)
  • SRAs must be 夜色王朝undergraduates enrolled in spring and fall of the same year
  • Up to $2000 is available to match faculty funds for wages and fringe benefits. Once this funding is exhausted, the faculty member is responsible for the student's full wage and fringe.
  • You may set the hourly wage in consultation with your student(s). We recommend $15/hour, which allows for approximately 200 hours of work during the summer. Sample work schedules might include: 
    • 5 weeks: ~37.5 hours/week 
    • 8 weeks: ~25 hours/week 
    • 10 weeks: ~20 hours/week 

How do faculty apply?

  • Application will open on January 31 and close February 28—see timeline below
  • Faculty from all schools and all ranks are welcome to apply
  • Faculty will submit a brief application detailing their current research project(s), along with specific duties and objectives for the students
  • It is not required for students to be identified at the time of application. We will assist with advertising the opportunity if needed.
  • Students must be enrolled in classes for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. They do not have to be enrolled during the summer.    

How will faculty be selected?

  • Faculty indicate funding source to be matched (e.g. grant, start-up funding, school/department, any matching funds) with a quality proposal 
  • Faculty/staff demonstrate how the SRI will be a meaningful, guided experience for students with a tangible outcome (e.g. abstract, IRB application, manuscript, conference presentation, or creative output)
  • Faculty are committed to summer SRI program values and expectations for their students (see below)

Priorities:

  • Proposal resonates with SMU's goals for excellence in research & scholarly/creative work
  • Proposals with clear objective and tangible outcome (see above)

What are the program’s values and requirements for faculty?

 

Value for faculty

  • Funding match for students to assist with research
  • Provost recognition for developing future scholars
  • Training for student assistants by graduate students, 夜色王朝Libraries, and Office of Engaged Learning
  • Support for co-publishing; uninterrupted time for writing manuscripts and grant writing 

Faculty expectations

  • Mentor student research
  • Attendance at one midpoint meeting with students and OEL staff
  • Completion of survey at end of summer

Undergraduate Research Assistants are accountable to the same policies from Research Compliance as the faculty. It is expected that these will be discussed with URAs as part of the mentoring process. Please be aware of these guidelines and discuss any concerns or questions that you have with your students.

HR Guidelines for hiring Student Workers

How do I apply?

SRI participants must be current 夜色王朝undergraduate students. Students are recruited rather than applying directly to SRI. Instead, faculty mentors apply for funding to hire up to two students. Ask professors you know if they are planning to apply and have open spots. Watch our Instagram as well. We will be posting available positions there.

Value for students

  • Substantial time to gain experience in research
  • Hourly wage (average is $15/hr)
  • Training in research methods, oral and written presentation techniques, and other professional development skills
  • Networking with other student researchers and faculty

Student expectations

  • Complete all professional work hours
  • Attend and participate in weekly workshops and speaker series
  • Participate in culminating Three Minute "Thesis" presentation session (team projects accepted and prizes will be awarded)
  • Complete a reflection survey
Undergraduate Research Assistants are accountable to the same policies from Research Compliance as the faculty. It is expected that these will be discussed with URAs as part of the mentoring process. Please be aware of these guidelines and discuss any concerns or questions that you have with your faculty mentor.

Besides working as research assistants, SRI participants meet for weekly workshops during the summer.

These sessions are informed by the  and aim to reinforce and broaden each students' experience in research.

Outline:

  • Who am I? (orientation, self-development, and networking)
  • What are my questions? (research questions, values, and professionalism)
  • How do I find answers? (literature reviews, methodologies, and critical thinking)
  • What am I doing well? (teamwork and leadership in research)
  • How do I communicate? (communication, storytelling, and résumés)
  • How do I show what I did? (slide decks, data, design, and delivery)
  • How do I refine my presentation? (tips, practice, and coaching for the Three Minute "Thesis" competition)

All participants present presentations in a Three Minute "Thesis" competition at the end of July.

 

 

2025 Timeline (subject to minor adjustments)

  • January 31 – application opens
  • February 28 – applications due
  • March 28 – acceptances announced
  • May 17 – students may begin work
  • June 2 – SRI workshops begin
  • July 25 – SRI workshops end
  • Aug 8 – final work day
  • Aug 15 – student & faculty reflections due

The Summer Research Intensive culminates in a Three Minute "Thesis" competition. These are the winners from previous years:

2024

1st: Sana Omar & Simran Waraich, "The Cobalt Crisis: the hunt for the recovery of critical and rare earth metals"
Faculty Mentor: Peng Tao, Chemistry

2nd: Paul Rowe, "Adherence to Guided Thinking Audio Recordings: In a Physical Activity Intervention"
Faculty mentor: Austin Baldwin, Psychology

3rd: Ritney Coleman and Jacob Warais (Data Science REU/Winona State University), "Data Science to Combat Labor Trafficking"
Faculty mentor: Beth Wheaton-Páramo, Economics

2023

1st: Jonathan Cox and Kendall Stieben, "How to Make Drugs in 3 Minutes"
Faculty mentor: John Buynak, Chemistry

2nd: Elliott Abel, Jacob Britt, David Brock (Data Science REU program), "Economic Viability of Semi-Urban Communities"
Faculty mentor: Cullum Clark, Economics/Bush Institute

3rd (Tie): Ashley Pritchard, Katie Lark, Christine Jator (Data Science REU), "Analyzing Dallas County Eviction Data"
Faculty mentor: Mary Spector, Dedman Law

3rd (Tie): Kevin Nguyen, "HEMI and Biodegradable Polymers"
Faculty mentor: David Son, Chemistry

2022

1st: Ruthie Miller, "The Associations Between Subjective Age and Cognition."
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Wilson, Psychology

2nd: Jasmine Baldwin, Mikala Gradner, Jenny Xu (Data Science REU), "Analyzing Dallas County Eviction Data"
Faculty mentor: Mary Spector, Dedman Law

3 (Tie): Joshua Ange, "How Charged Polyethylene Influences Dark Matter Backgrounds"
Faculty mentor: Robert Calkins, Physics

3 (Tie): Julia Griffin, "Virtual Study of Teenager’s Relationships"
Faculty mentor: Ernest Jouriles, Psychology

2021

1st: Abigail Hays, "Experimental Fluid Dynamics"
Faculty mentor: Paul Krueger, Mechanical Engineering

2nd (Tie): Sydney Holder, "Project STAIR: Social Media Analysis"
Faculty mentor: Leanne Ketterlin Geller, Education Policy

2nd (Tie): Lisa Phan, "Effects of clinical mutations on Complex 1's activity"
Faculty Mentor, Steven Vik, Biological Sciences

3rd: Regina Nguyen, "Listen Before You Speak: Centering Community Dialogue in Environmental Justice Efforts"
Faculty mentor: Janille Smith-Colin, Civil Engineering