Undergraduate Research Opportunities
New Summer Research Institute for 2012
A new Summer Research Institute (SRI) for Undergraduates is scheduled to be offered at the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) from June 1 to August 9th, 2012. The SRI@FMHI is open to students from USF and other universities in the United States. The program will provide an intensive ten-week research experience for students who are interested in conducting research on mental illness and related disorders. Twelve students will be accepted for Summer, 2012. The admissions criteria and on-line application are available on the SRI@FMHI website. Please note that FMHI has received unofficial notification of approval of the funding for the SRI@FMHI and anticipates formal notification soon. In the interim, applications are being accepted. Review of applications will begin on March 16, 2012.
Hurricane Research Experience for Undergraduates: Social Aspects of Hurricanes and other Disasters: Preparation, Response and Recovery with Vulnerable Populations
The Hurricane REU program at the University of South Florida provides a stimulating and interactive 9-week summer research experience for undergraduates. This interdisciplinary program fully engages students in a collaborative exploration at a Research I institution with distinguished faculty mentors drawn from disciplines such as Anthropology, Sociology, Education, Psychology, Geography, Public Health, Humanities, and Social Work.
Research Intensive Student Experience (RISE)
RISE is an undergraduate research certificate designed for students who are enrolled in a CBCS major or minor. The certificate provides a planned sequence of courses to support the systematic development of students as undergraduate researchers. The certificate is intended: (1) to provide students who plan to apply to graduate school with a credential signifying their completion of a systematic undergraduate research preparation program, (2) to encourage students to pursue research mentorships that will lead to the completion of an independent research project, and (3) to guide students toward the goal of disseminating the results of their research at a national conference or peer-reviewed publication. Students in the certificate will have the opportunity to apply for Undergraduate Research Assistants through the CURE initiative. Students can also apply for mini-grants to pilot test their own research projects conducted in partnership with faculty mentors and advanced graduate students.
Continuous Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)
CBCS students may apply for undergraduate research assistantships through CURE. Priority is given to students enrolled in the RISE undergraduate research certificate. As participants gain more research experience, they may be promoted from Research Assistant I to Research Assistant II and III, until they reach the highest level, Undergraduate Research Scholar, in their senior year. The goal of CURE is to immerse students in the culture of research and actively engage them in the process of becoming a scientist.
Undergraduate Research Interest Group (URIG)
In 2010-2011, an Undergraduate Research Interest Group will be initiated for CBCS students to meet to discuss their research ideas and form cross-disciplinary collaborations. Open to all students in the College, URIG members will be invited to the CBCS Distinguished Researcher Lecture Series and will have the opportunity to meet with the these speakers to discuss their research interests. In addition, URIG members will participate in field experiences to learn about the need and importance of research from a community perspective. In the past, field experiences for undergraduate researchers included Pinellas Hope (a tent city project for individuals who are homeless), the medical examiner’s office, and family and adult drug courts. They also participated in DUI checkpoints. These experiences are not just observational but allow students to interact with stakeholders, such as judges and families affected by crime and violence. These experiences have provided helpful insights to inform student research topics.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Undergraduate students who have been mentored by our faculty have been extraordinarily successful in publishing their research in peer reviewed journals and have made numerous presentations at local, regional, and national conferences. For additional information, please go to our webpage on our NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program.
