Interested mentors should complete the brief registration form by Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 which includes a description of potential research/design/creative work topics and any student qualification requirements. Key details for the program include:
- Students will be novice researchers, and projects should be appropriate for novice researchers in your discipline.
- SURF will be May 27th – July 31st with required in-person programming for all student participants.
- You or a designated mentor should be available to the student for the duration of the program. Mentors are expected to attend a welcome event (May 30th) the first week of the program and the final poster session (July 31st).
- OURI selects SURF students and matches them with mentors based on the required skills/characteristics that you list. The info you provide on the next page is essential to ensuring an appropriate match.
For more details, check out the questions below. Also available on this PDF:
- What does it mean to be a SURF Mentor?
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While the exact meaning of mentorship often differs depending on the discipline and parties involved, we expect SURF mentors to offer guidance through the research process and their specific summer project. This relationship involves helping the mentee develop skills related to the discipline and appropriate for the project (such as technical skills, writing skills, specific software usage, etc.).
Given the versatility of these mentor relationships, we strongly recommend establishing shared and realistic expectations at the beginning of communications.
Mentors can also be in various positions (such as faculty, graduate students, or post-docs). However, we ask that the Principal Investigator of the research group be listed as the Rice faculty mentor in the student application.
- What is expected of me?
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For the program duration (May 27th to July 31st), mentors are expected to:
• ensure regular support of the student researcher,
• attend the Welcome Reception (Friday, May 30th),
• attend the research symposium (Thursday, July 31st),
• confirm student is satisfying OURI requirements for SURF research effort.
These responsibilities can be completed by the mentor or another appropriate researcher involved in the project.
- What are the key details for students (for SURF 2025)?
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Students are awarded the $5,000 stipend through the Office of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry and are expected to conduct about 30 hours of research per week for ten weeks (May 27th to July 31st). There will be weekly programming (such as workshops and graduate student advisor meetings). Applications will open January 27th and close February 23rd. The selection committee will notify applicants of the decison the week of spring break (March 17th-March 21st).
- Do SURF mentors receive a stipend?
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While the goals of the SURF program are to provide students with valuable research experiences, skills development, and mentorship, the stipends are designated for students from under-resourced backgrounds rather than faculty. Many faculty members are motivated by an interest in mentoring these students and contributing to their professional development. OURI can provide documentation of a mentor's engagement with the SURF program in support for promotion or nomination packages.
- I have already agreed to mentor a student. Can they apply for SURF?
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Yes, it is completely fine if you have a student in mind. We suggest that the student applies with you listed as their mentor along with a project description that both of you agree to beforehand. This process does not guarantee that they will be accepted into the program. The student must still meet the eligibility requirements and submit an application.
The SURF program is only open to returning Rice undergraduates. We prioritize novice researchers, first-generation, and limited-income students, and students who have completed the 1-credit UNIV 201: Research Readiness course.
- Do I have to be in Houston?
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Remote mentorship will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We strongly suggest that remote mentors identify a postdoc or graduate student who will be in-person to serve as a day-to-day contact. The mentor will still need to keep consistent and regular contact with the mentee. Mentors are expected to attend a welcome event on May 30th and the final poster session on July 31st.
However, students are required to remain in Houston for in-person attendance at workshops, advising, and a symposium. Research activities that require travel are allowed on a limited basis but may not begin until after June 27th. The student is responsible for obtaining approval for all travel plans, including for research purposes, with OURI to ensure program requirements are met.
- Will I get to approve the students who are assigned to me?
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Students will be assigned based on the qualifications listed by the mentor beginning in late March. Faculty will have an opportunity to discuss projects and interact with potential SURF mentees before confirming the match. We do this to ensure we can match student interest while at the same time allowing faculty to review if the student meets any skill qualifications necessary to complete the work.
- Can I have more than one student mentee in SURF?
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The committee does not limit the number of mentees a mentor can have in SURF. However, OURI can support a limited number of fellows for the summer of 2025. We cannot guarantee all students who apply will be selected for the program.
- What happens if a mentor is not matched with a SURF student?
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OURI publishes the list of mentors who sign up each year on our website. We use this list throughout the following year to direct students to faculty who are willing to support undergraduates who are new to research.