Stanford's Summer Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering Program
Opportunity Description:
SURGE provides undergraduates from a U.S. institution the opportunity to gain mentored research experience at Stanford University in the Earth and environmental sciences, as well as in energy resource engineering, during the eight-week period of June 20, 2022 to August 12, 2022. We especially encourage students who are seeking a formal research experience for the first time to participate.
The underlying philosophy of SURGE is to train students by creating a supportive and rigorous work environment. The program sets high expectations for our scholars: To prepare them for a potential career in the field of geoscience and engineering, while ensuring that they get the most from their stay at Stanford. SURGE is committed to advancing a culture of inclusion, respect, accessibility, and empowerment for all the program participants.
Each SURGE scholar is matched with a faculty member from the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences and has the opportunity to work in a research group or laboratory. The scholar is assigned an interesting and challenging project from a broad range of Earth science and engineering topics that are accessible within the eight-week summer period.
SURGE also includes workshops on applying to graduate school and understanding geoscience and engineering careers. The program culminates with a research symposium at Stanford, where scholars present results from their summer projects to faculty, mentors, and colleagues. Please check out the SURGE brochure for a snapshot of the program. SURGE is a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site funded by the National Science Foundation and Stanford Earth.
Program details:
- Receive $4,800 Stipend during the summer.
- Paid round trip travel expenses from home to Stanford.
- Paid Stanford University housing and Stanford meal plan for eight weeks, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Paid health insurance for students without health insurance.
- Paid Stanford Summer session enrollment and access to Stanford facilities.
- Paid workshops and cohort activities.
- Two paid SURGE field trips to Bay Area spots.
Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements:
This is a great opportunity for those applicants who are seeking a formalized research experience for the first time. Please review the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an undergraduate at a U.S. university or college who, by reason of their culture, class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, personal background, and life experiences, would be a leader on equity and inclusion efforts in our Stanford Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences research community. We especially encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups in geosciences and engineering, including African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, and first-generation college students.
- This program has been designed as an undergraduate research experience. We have limited funding for recently graduated students. Recent graduates are required to notify SURGE staff if he or she has been accepted into graduate school during the application process.
- SURGE focuses on recruiting prospective graduate students, and therefore favors rising juniors and seniors--and perhaps a few exceptional sophomores--from other universities.
- For community college students, we suggest those in their last year, who have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education by the start of the summer program.
- Attend an accredited public or private college or university in the U.S. or its territories, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Have demonstrated interest and potential to pursue graduate study toward a Master's or PhD degree in the Earth sciences, environmental sciences, or energy resource engineering. We also consider students who are majors in chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, and computer science who are specifically open to exploring the Earth and environmental sciences.
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident student enrolled in a U.S. undergraduate institution. We have limited funding for DACA or undocumented students.
Application Process:
The following materials will need to be submitted with your application:
- Two letters of recommendation (Students are strongly encouraged to ask for letters at least one month prior to the application deadline, Feb 3rd, 2022)
- CV or Resume
- Transcript (from current academic institution)
- Application form (via Slideroom)
- Top three research project preferences (the Potential Projects for 2022 page will be updated beginning December)
- Write four short independent essays in the SURGE application. Questions will be provided. (10,000 characters total)
- Interviews (for finalists only)
Applications will close on February 4, 2022.