Summer Research Institute

Program Attributes include:

• June through August (10 weeks) online program,
  non-UArizona students are welcome to apply; 
• A stipend of $5,000;
• Six units of upper-division undergraduate course credit (tuition and fees paid by the Graduate College);
• Due to COVID-19, a UA Faculty mentor in your chosen field of study may or may not be available for in person meetings. NOTE: we have a team of staff members to support scholars to achieve the objectives of the summer program; 
• Coursework and workshops on organizing research, research ethics, public speaking/communication skills training, preparation for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), creating and presenting an outstanding research poster, and crafting a successful graduate school application;
• The opportunity to join with like-minded scholars in preparation for graduate school.

All students that meet the following criteria may apply.  Students who have faced challenges in gaining access to higher education, e.g. pell eligible, first-generation college students are highly encouraged to apply. SRI is open to UArizona and non-UArizona students.

• Undergraduate juniors and seniors who have successfully completed 85 semester units toward a bachelor's degree, with a graduation date of Dec. 2023 or later
• Enrollment during the previous year in an accredited four year university or community college
• U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residence or Refugee status
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Time to commit to a full-time schedule of 40 hours a week

The Summer Research Institute seeks to provide you an opportunity to engage in research with a professor in your field at the University of Arizona; due to COVID-19, we may or may not be able to place all students with a mentor.  A data science skill buiding course is available for students without faculty mentors. Note: a UROC support team will ensure you are able to meet the goals of the program.  

For those assigned mentors, you will most likely be invited to participate in your mentor's ongoing research project or a focused project will be discussed.  

The research objectives of the program are substantial and will require your full-time commitment. You will be expected to work on your research project and writing class for a total of 40 hours a week and attend required workshops and seminars.

SRI Staff confirms mentors for SRI participants.

"Mentoring is an essential part of graduate education. The mentor is responsible for ensuring that the student becomes sophisticated in a discipline or field of study, is challenged intellectually, learns how to think critically, and aspires to create new knowledge.  Mentors are:

• Advisors: people with career experience willing to share their knowledge;
• Supporters: people who give emotional and moral encouragement;
• Tutors: people who give specific feedback on one's performance;
• Masters: in the sense of employers to whom one is apprenticed;
• Sponsors: sources of information about and aid in obtaining opportunities;
• Models: of identity, of the kind of person one should be to be an academic."

- Mentoring: The Faculty-Graduate Student Relationship, A Position Paper of the Graduate Council of the University of Arizona.

"I think that I wouldn't have had the confidence to apply and actually go through with my studies if it wasn't for the experiences, encouragement and support from SRI and its staff. "

-SRI Alum

The Summer Research Institute is expected to be held "in-person" for summer 2023.  The SRI Coordinator/instructor(s) will communicate with all students via UA email and post the summer calendar, course information, and announcements to the UA course management website, called "D2L”.  SRI's summer program is full-time, 40 hours per week, and full participation is required.

Program Overview (Tentative based on COVID-19 Guidelines)

Sunday, June 4, 2023 - UROC Welcome (General Orientation), 4:00 p.m.    
Monday, June 5, 2023  -  SRI/MHD/MARC Student Orientations 
     - Research Schedule - 30-32 hours a week per faculty approval
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 through Friday, June 10, 2022 - GRE Test Preparation Workshop
Week of June 12, 2023 - Technical Writing Course begins
     -GRE Math/Writing Assistance Sessions TBA  
Friday - June 16, 2023 - Graduate School Symposium
Thursday - June 22, 2023 - GRE Office Hours w/Michael Flynn   
Thursday - June 29, 2023 - GRE Office Hours w/Michael Flynn  
TBA, 2023 -  Kellner Presentation/Commuication Skills Training
     - Kellner Individual Program Meetings Schedule - TBA
Friday, July 7, 2023 - GRE Test Preparation - FINAL Review
Friday, August 4, 2023  -  SRI Colloquium (Oral Presentations)
Monday, August 7, 2023  -  UROC Poster Session & Closing Ceremony