Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows

The CCU Summer Research Fellows Program is designed to target high-performing students who want to continue working with faculty on research projects throughout the summer. It is a twelve-, eight-, or six-week summer intensive research program designed for students to work directly with a faculty researcher. Student applicants must submit a brief summary of their proposed project, and their faculty mentor must provide a letter of support. Total available funding for all summer 2024 applicants is $52,000.

	“The CCU Summer Research Fellows program allowed me to actualize my potential as a professional artist.” -Mattie Flading, Visual Arts
Project: Energy Availability in Female Collegiate Beach Volleyball Athletes -Jake Vanarsdale, Exercise and Sports Science

Application Deadline:  Friday, February 23, 2024 (for both the student application and faculty mentor's form)

Click here to access the student application 

Click here to access the faculty mentor's form 

Eligibility (student applicants)

1. Must have completed at least 30 hours of course work
2. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
3. Must demonstrate academic potential and professionalism
4. May not work more than 20 hours per week at an additional summer job outside of CCU while working as a Summer Research Fellow

Student Applicant Requirements and Benefits

1. Student applicants must identify a faculty research mentor who will commit to mentor them on a specific research project in the summer (students will describe the project in their application).
2. In consultation with their mentor, applicants must select one of three time frames (6, 8, or 12 weeks) during which they are expected to work an average of 20 hours per week.
3. Student wages are based on a competitive base rate plus a summer housing allowance equivalent to double-occupancy campus accommodations (rates are the same regardless of whether a student chooses to live on campus or not). The wages for each time frame are:
   • 6 weeks = $2600 total funding for 120 total hours (at 20 hrs/wk)
   • 8 weeks = $3465 total funding for 160 total hours (at 20 hrs/wk)
   • 12 weeks = $5200 total funding for 240 total hours (at 20 hrs/wk)
4. Research course credit is not required or financially supported by the SRF program, but if credit is desired, applicants should discuss it with their faculty research mentors. The course requirements and number of credits will depend on the total hours worked and department-specific guidelines and standards for research courses in their discipline.  Students are responsible for enrolling in any desired research credits within their program, and they are responsible for all tuition expenses incurred.
5. Student Fellows will
   • receive one-on-one research mentorship from a faculty researcher, and in many cases, from a faculty/student/staff research team
   • obtain valuable skills, knowledge and experience to better prepare them for future academic opportunities, post-graduate study and employment

Faculty Research Member Requirements and Expectations

The Summer Research Fellows program does not directly compensate faculty research mentors.  Faculty compensation for summer research is available through internal Professional Enhancement Grants (PEG) and Faculty Summer Research Awards (FSRA), and through external grant funding.  By agreeing to serve as a faculty research mentor for a Summer Research Fellow, the faculty member is committing to: 

1. Assist the applicant in identifying a research project and an appropriate project duration for their application
2. Supervise the applicant at an appropriate level for their proposed summer project (6, 8, or 12 weeks, averaging 20 hrs/wk)
3. Arrange/provide appropriate project support (facilities, financial and logistical resources) to sustain the proposed activities for the project duration
4. Provide a recommendation for the student's application
5. Provide a brief formative and final assessment (short survey) of the student's performance.

Questions can be addressed to Ms. Pat Taylor (patt@coastal.edu) or Dr. Rob Young (ryoung@coastal.edu) in the Office of Research.