Solving real problems.

Research opportunities and are centered around close faculty mentorship guidance. Selection for research programs is competitive and space is limited—but those who do participate find opportunities to co-author papers using their research, present results at national conferences, and establish network connections in their fields of study.

While Trinity offers multiple year-round opportunities for guided research experiences, many students opt to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. SURFs spend summers on campus, engaged in meaningful group or individual research, or advancing research projects guided by faculty advisers.

Student looking at rock through a microscope
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Award Forms & Housing Forms are due by Friday March 29, 2024 at noon!

Updated 2024 award and housing forms will be updated soon.  Check back or contact CELCS for more information.

2024 Summer Research Timeline
  • January 12: Research/Internship Informational Mixer, CSI Atrium, 2:00-3:00 pm
  • February 9: Application deadline
  • March 29: Deadline for award forms and housing applications (faculty and students)
  • May 13: Student move-in (afternoon)
  • May 14: Student kick-off/required orientation (half day)
  • July 18-19: Symposium
  • July 21: Deadline to move out of residence halls
SURF Program Timeline

Fall Semester - Reflect   
Reflect on your interests and talk to a faculty member with whom you'd like to work.

January - Attend & Connect    
Attend the Summer Research Opportunity Fair. Connect with a faculty member to discuss your ideas for a research project. 

February - Submit    
Submit your application(s) to your research program(s) of interest. Note that programs have different application procedures and eligibility criteria, so follow instructions carefully.

March - Complete    
If awarded a research fellowship, complete the Fellowship Award Form with your faculty mentor. Complete a campus housing application at the same time.

Late May - Begin    
Move into your summer residence hall. Attend the Summer EXL Orientation. Begin SURF experience!

June - Enhance   
Enhance your summer research experience by attending workshops, social events, and more.

Late July - Present    
Present your research at the Experiential Learning Symposium, the concluding event. Move-out of your residence hall.

Fall Semester - Celebrate   
Celebrate your accomplishment, and look forward to opportunities to present at a regional or national conference.

On-campus Research Opportunities

On-campus research is fully funded, with awards or stipends ranging from $1,000 to $4,500 or more.

Biology

Biology department fellowships (BSURF) are available for biology majors pursuing summer research with biology faculty.

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 9, 2024

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: 5

Award: up to $5,000

More info: Contact the Department of Biology.

Chemistry

Chemistry department research opportunities are available to students who have completed CHEM 1312 by May 2024.

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: ~35

Stipend: $5,000

More info: Contact chemistry professor Dr. Corina Maeder

Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science offers the HEP (Howland-Eggen-Pitts) Student Summer research fellowship for computer science majors pursuing summer research with CS faculty.

Apply: By application or invitation

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: 2

Award: up to $5,000

More info: Contact computer science professor Yu Zhang.

Geosciences

Geosciences department research opportunities are available for Geosciences and Earth Systems Sciences majors and intended majors.

Application: Application will be available on the GEOS STudents TLearn page beginning January 18th

Due Date: February 9, 2024

Requirements: 4-10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium and/or a regional or national Geosciences conference.

Number available: 10+

Stipend: $450/week, up to $5,000

More info: Contact professor  Dr. Kathleen Surpless, Chair of Geosciences. 

Hixon Environmental Studies

Faculty-student teams from any academic department or program may participate in the Hixon Environmental Studies research program.

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 9, 2024

Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application. Students must be graduating in December 2024 or later.

Number available: 3

Stipend: up to $5,000

More info: Contact biology professor David Ribble.

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program offers a transformative undergraduate STEM education to select socially and economically marginalized scholars majoring in a STEM subject.

Application: LSAMP scholars will apply through the LSAMP program at Trinity.

Due Date: Spring 2024

Requirements: ​​Recipients must be LSAMP scholars.

Number available: 6

Stipend: $3,500

Additional Resources: 10-week summer program with a Trinity faculty member.  Participants will receive room and board and  stipend.​

More info: Contact biology professor David Ribble 

Mach Research Fellowships

Mach fellowships provide funding to rising seniors for use in research or scholarly activity during their senior year.

Requirements: One Mach Fellow nomination is permitted per department. Mach fellowships do not have to be used during the summer.

Number available: 5+

Award: between $1,000 and $2,500 for supplies or travel

More info: Contact the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success.

McNair Scholars Program

Students already participating in the McNair Scholars Program may apply for summer research support.

Requirements: Participation in the McNair Scholars Program goes far beyond summer research. Scholars are expected to engage in research activities throughout the year.

More Info: Visit the McNair Program website.

Murchison Research Fellowships

Faculty-student teams from any academic department or program may participate in the Murchison Research program.

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 9, 2024

Requirements: ​​Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application (i.e., a student can only submit one application to Murchison); however, students are encouraged to submit applications to more than one program. Students must be graduating in December 2024 or later.

Number available: 24

Stipend: up to $5,000

Additional Resources: Total budget of $7,000, including student stipend (max $4,500), faculty stipend ($1,000), supplies, travel, etc.​

More info: Contact professor David Ribble or Armando Saliba

​​​​​​​​Undergraduate Research in the Arts and Humanities Research Fellowships

Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) are available to faculty-student teams working on projects in the arts and humanities.

Due Date: February 9, 2024

Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application. Students must be graduating in December 2024 or later.

Number available: 13-15

Stipend: up to $4,200

Additional resources: $1,400 per student for travel and/or supplies. Faculty mentors will receive stipend of $2,000

More Info: Visit the Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities pro

 

 

 

Other academic departments and programs may offer individual research or independent study opportunities. Visit your department’s or program’s “Student Experience” page to discover more.

Research Spotlights

McNair Scholars

Samsara Davalos Reyes ’19
Sociology
“This research is going to help me when I become a teacher, because I want to make sure I am integrating myself and getting to know a community as a whole.”

BSURF

Grace Hanshaw ’22
Biology
“I'm getting first-hand experience with science and doing something that I'm interested in. It’s been really fulfilling."
 

Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities Initiative

To Be Honest
Communication, Religion, Sociology, Theatre
“We realized, almost as soon as we started reviewing our research together, that these words would be powerful if presented verbatim on stage.”

Click here to view past summer research and summer internship student presentations from the Summer Experiential Learning Symposium