Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Description:

Title: Purdue University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program 2025

Application deadline: 15th January 2025

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program offers a unique, immersive, 11-week research experience designed to encourage undergraduate students in their pursuit of advanced educational and career opportunities in research. Eligibility includes undergraduate students at Purdue University, other U.S. institutions, and international institutions. Students selected will conduct research on either the Purdue’s West Lafayette or Indianapolis campus under the guidance of a faculty, graduate student, or postdoctoral mentor.

This competitive fellowship is a paid opportunity complemented with weekly professional development workshops and seminars to help build the technical and communication skills of participants. The program culminates with a student research symposium in which participants present their findings. All participants must submit a final report detailing their outcomes to both their project advisor and the Engineering Undergraduate Research Office (EURO).

Overview of Important Dates

Benefits

• $6500 Stipend: Receive a generous stipend of $6500 paid bi-weekly for your dedicated participation in the 11-week immersive research program.
• Expert Mentorship: Gain access to seasoned faculty and graduate student mentors who offer valuable guidance, ensuring a supportive and enriching research experience.
• Professional Development Seminars: Attend specialized seminars designed to enhance your professional skills, providing insights into various aspects of academic and research careers.
• Symposium Presentation: Showcase your research findings by presenting at the prestigious SURF Symposium, offering a platform to share your work with peers, faculty, and professionals.
• Social Engagement: Enjoy a vibrant social community by participating in activities designed for bonding with fellow participants, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
• Networking Opportunities: Engage in networking events, workshops, and seminars that connect you with professionals, researchers, and peers, expanding your professional network and creating lasting connections.
• Enhanced Communication Skills: Develop and refine your technical communication proficiency, a crucial skill for effectively conveying complex ideas, research findings, and insights in a professional context.
• $2500 housing allowance
  • ​All external students receive the housing allowance.
  • For Purdue students, they must apply by the priority deadline to be considered. If selected, they will be notified in their offer letter and the amount added to their bi-weekly compensation.
• Travel Reimbursement: External and Purdue-Indy students have access to a travel reimbursement of up to $1000. For external students, only those that apply by priority deadline will be considered for this subsidy.

Eligibility

• Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Purdue, another U.S. institution, or an international institution.
• Be a first-time participant in the Purdue SURF program, as students can engage in the program only once.
• Have completed at least one academic semester/quarter by the time of the SURF application.
• Maintain undergraduate enrollment for at least one academic semester/quarter following the conclusion of the SURF program.
• Be a rising junior or senior; Purdue-affiliated rising sophomores, including Purdue-Indy rising sophomores, are also eligible.
• Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8/4.0 or equivalnet at the time of application.
• Demonstrate the ability to actively participate in the majority of program activities. Requests for alternate start dates, up to one week post-program commencement, can be accommodated with faculty permission.

Expectations and Program Guidelines

Throughout your participation in the SURF program, you can anticipate the following expectations and guidelines:

• Adherence to Student Code of Conduct: All SURF participants are expected to adhere to the Purdue University Student Code of Conduct, maintaining a standard of conduct conducive to a positive and collaborative research environment.
• Duration of the Program: The SURF experience spans 11 weeks of intensive research. Any requests for vacations or time off should be discussed with the faculty mentor in advance and are subject to approval at the faculty’s discretion.
• Class Enrollment: SURF students are not permitted to enroll in classes while actively participating in the program. This allows for a focused and immersive research experience throughout the 11-week duration.

For more information on the structure of the program, please see the SURF program Policies and Requirements page.

Selection Criteria

Students will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Eligibility
• Application information and academic record
• Qualifications for available research projects
• Successful match to a project
• Prior research experience is not required: this program is well suited for the first-time researcher

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For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Purdue University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program 2025