MSHP: Undergraduate Research

A summer research experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) typically involves undergraduate or sometimes high school students engaging in hands-on research projects under the guidance of experienced faculty members or researchers. These programs aim to provide students with exposure to real-world scientific research and laboratory work, allowing individuals to make significant contributions to the scientific community early in their careers. These opportunities also provide individuals to experience science early in their career, to solidify their interest in becoming a scientist.

Duration and Structure:

Summer Duration: Typically spans a 6 to 10 weeks to a few months during the summer break.
Structured Program: Organized with a mix of structured learning, hands-on research, workshops, seminars, and sometimes field trips.

Research Projects:

Diverse Topics: Cover a wide range of STEM disciplines, from biology, chemistry, physics, and
engineering to computer science and mathematics.

Hands-On Work: Involves active participation in experiments, data collection, analysis, and
interpretation under the guidance of a mentor or research supervisor.

Mentorship and Guidance: Faculty Mentors: Assigned to provide guidance and support throughout the research project. Research Teams: Collaborate with peers and mentors, fostering teamwork and sharing of ideas.

Learning Objectives:

Critical Thinking: Develop critical thinking skills by solving problems and tackling real-world research challenges.

Experimental Techniques: Gain proficiency in laboratory techniques, research methodologies, and scientific inquiry.

Communication Skills: Present findings through presentations, posters, or written reports.

Networking and Exposure:

Interactions: Opportunities to network with professionals, researchers, and other students in the field.

Seminars and Workshops: Attending talks and workshops by experts to broaden knowledge and perspectives.

Benefits:

Skill Enhancement: Develop research skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis abilities.

Career Development: Gain valuable experience that can enhance resumes and applications for graduate programs or jobs in STEM fields.

Clarification of Interests: Helps students explore specific STEM areas and decide on future career paths.

Stipends: These opportunities often come with a summer stipend for the student. The stipend might vary, but it is often around $2,000 to $6,000 for the summer. These programs often also cover housing and travel expenses.

Application and Selection:

Competitive Process: Often requires an application that may include transcripts, recommendation letters, and a statement of interest.

Selection Criteria: Based on academic performance, interest in STEM, and potential for contribution to the program.

Overall, a summer research experience in STEM provides a hands-on, immersive learning opportunity
for students to explore their interests, build valuable skills, and consider potential career paths within
scientific research and related fields.

Community College Students Specific Federal Programs
MICRO-CCS: https://publish.illinois.edu/micro-ccs/
DOE CCI (applications due 1/9): https://science.osti.gov/wdts/cci
DOE SULI (applications due 1/9): https://science.osti.gov/wdts/suli
NIH CCSEP: (applications due 1/12) https://www.training.nih.gov/ccsep_home_page

Some of the major undergraduate research programs at the University of Illinois
CDA: Center for Digital Agriculture
FoDOMMaT: The Future of Discovery: Training Students to Build and Apply Open Source Machine
Learning Models and Tools
I-MRSEC: Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Physics at Illinois (this also includes the IQUIST program)
POETS: The Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems
RISE: Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) Research Internship in
Sustainable Biology Program
SURE-Tox: Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Toxicology

Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy (RISE)

The Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) is sponsoring a research experience for undergraduates this summer. The Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy (RISE) provides bioenergy research opportunities for undergraduates from underrepresented groups in STEM.

Students will be paired with a CABBI mentor, conduct research, attend career development seminars, learn about the graduate school application practice, and practice STEM communication by presenting research at a summer symposium. On-campus projects are available at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Iowa State University, Penn State University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The application deadline is February 20; the program will run 10 weeks (May 28 - August 2, 2024). Students interested in gaining experience in plant biology, agronomy, synthetic biology, genetics, environmental sciences, chemical engineering, and civil engineering are welcome to apply for this program, which includes a $6,000 stipend and $2,000 housing allowance!

Project descriptions and the application are available here: https://cabbi.bio/outreach/rise-summer-internships/

Illinois Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students

Illinois Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students in Science and Engineering page
https://grainger.illinois.edu/research/undergraduate/reu-program

Other Opportunities

Summer Research Opportunities are offered all around the nation and the world. Here are other pages to find out more about these opportunities.

1. Pathways to Science: http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/undergrads.aspx
   1. Use Advanced Search to select “Community College Student”
   2. Use Advanced Search for international students
   3. Can search many different academic disciplines
   4. Has more resources in addition to the search function
2. American Chemical Society: http://getexperience.acs.org/
3. NSF Student Search page: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp
4. NSF ETAP (Common App used by many NSF-funded programs): https://www.nsfetap.org/applicant-info
5. Ask Career Services: https://www.dacc.edu/career-veterans-center