SURF Program

 

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at Boston University is designed to promote access to graduate education for talented undergraduate students, especially those from minority groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences: African-American, Hispanic, Native American/Native Alaskan, and Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian/Polynesian. The SURF Program is supported by funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF-REU; NE-AGEP), the Department of Defense (ASSURE), and Boston University.

The SURF Program is open to non-BU students who are rising juniors or rising seniors, and wish to conduct research in the sciences, technology, or engineering. The program consists of ten weeks of full-time research in a Boston University lab, mentored by a BU faculty member. Most SURF research projects are in areas related to Biology and Neuroscience. On-campus housing, a stipend, weekly enrichment activities, social events, and an October weekend trip to present findings at the Boston University Undergraduate Research Symposium are also included. To apply for the SURF program, click here.

The application deadline for the summer 2012 SURF program is February 15, 2012, and the 2012 SURF program dates will be 6/4/12 to 8/10/12. Please read the application instructions carefully before applying to the SURF program: you will need to fill out an application, provide a transcript, and ask two professors to submit letters of recommendation. Feel free to contact the UROP office if you would like more information (urop@bu.edu; 617-353-2020).

 

Other Summer Research Programs at Boston University

During the summer of 2012, the SURF program will partner with two other undergraduate research programs: the NSF-funded CELEST program and a program sponsored by BU Medical Sciences. Members of groups underrepresented in science are encouraged to apply for both of these programs as well. A student may apply to SURF and the other two programs, as all application evaluations are conducted separately.

1. The Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST) will host a summer program for undergraduate students that involves research internships with a core CELEST faculty member who utilizes experimental and/or computational approaches to the neuroscience of learning. For more information and to apply to the CELEST summer research program, click here.

2. The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences at the Boston University School of Medicine will sponsor a 10-week summer research program to rising sophomores and juniors considering careers in biomedical research. The program includes research in a basic science lab, weekly seminars, and enrichment activities. For more information and to apply to the Graduate Medical Sciences research program, click here.