Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program
The Honors College promotes discovery, inquiry, and creativity-based opportunities through mentored research experiences. To that end, the Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program (HSURP) allows students to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor or a research team to examine various research topics across many disciplines. Additionally, it is a great way to meet fellow honors students and participate in professional development workshops and social activities.
Program Dates
HSURP runs May 28-July 26, 2024. A $2,500 stipend is provided in two installments over the nine-week program.
Professional Development Workshops
- Resumes & Job Interview Skills
- Maximizing the Library as an Undergraduate Researcher
- Strategies For Increasing Success When Applying To Graduate And Professional Schools
- Strategies for Making the Most Out of Undergraduate Research Conferences
- Applying for Nationally Competitive Scholarships
Social Activities
- VCU Outdoor Adventure Program
- Museum and Park Visits
- Pizza & Movie Nights
How to Apply
Each project is unique and may include running lab experiments, literature reviews, data collection and cleaning, web scraping, and statistical analysis.
Students may view project descriptions and access the application via this link.
The priority application deadline is Monday, March 18, 2024. A letter of recommendation is required and an email request will automatically be sent to listed recommenders once the application is complete.
Eligibility
HSURP is open to all majors in good standing with the Honors College and VCU.
Additionally, students must plan to be enrolled full-time during the Fall semester after participating in HSURP.
Requirements
Upon receiving an offer from HSURP, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:
- To devote full effort to conducting the HSURP project; students must disclose plans to take summer courses, hold a job, or any involvement in activities that may conflict with HSURP before accepting the offer
- To update digital time sheets, detailing work done on a day-to-day basis
- To regularly update a blog outlining your experience with your research and your progress in the program
- To submit two written assignments, one halfway through and one at the completion of the program
- To participate in weekly workshops, group meetings, social activities, etc.
- To give an oral presentation about your work during the final week of the program
- To participate in VCU’s annual Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity, or another conference of your choosing
A vital part of the application process is the interaction between student and mentor. This is the best time to find out more information about the project, mentor expectations and your role as a researcher. During the interview, you should discuss what you would like to gain from the research experience, including whether the project is suitable for you to meet your presentation requirement (undergraduate research conferences sponsored by VCU, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the National Collegiate Honors Council, etc.), as well as any time commitments that will prohibit or limit your involvement in the project.