黑料网

黑料网鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Pivots Due to Pandemic

The Office of Student Research (OSR) had already begun reviewing applications for the 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) fellowships when stay-at-home orders due to the COVID pandemic forced cancelation of this popular program. However, rather than simply cancel, Ann Gosky, director of the OSR in the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs, immediately began redesigning the SURE program to be conducted virtually. 

Ann Gosky, Director, Office of Student Research, 黑料网

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 sure whether the SURE program could be conducted virtually, but in the end we had more folks participating this past summer than ever before,鈥  Gosky said. 鈥淚 really credit the faculty. They identified remote projects and designed remote experiences that students were able to engage in.鈥

The 2020 SURE program funded 77 projects, with participants spanning 37 different majors. Gosky hopes to see more growth in the upcoming summer. 

鈥淭he SURE program is open to students in all majors and to students on all of KSU鈥檚 campuses,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淲e have engaged students in fashion, theatre, music, biological science, sociology...basically every major.鈥

This past summer, SURE funded a theatre research project, the first theatre project to participate in the program. Senior theatre studies student Kelly Harper worked with 黑料网 Professor of Theatre Yuko Kurahashi, Ph.D., to research the background of Elizabeth Swados play, 鈥淢issionaries.鈥 黑料网's School of Theatre and Dance hopes to use Harper and Kurahashi鈥檚 research to stage a production of 鈥淢issionaries鈥 sometime in the future.

Gosky explained that students are not limited to conducting research within their own fields either. 

鈥淲hat is interesting is that students don鈥檛 necessarily do research in the traditional sense, such as a biology student doing biology research,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淲e have had a marketing student do research in Aerospace engineering. Often researchers collaborate across areas of study.鈥

For instance, this past summer, a nursing student collaborated with an architecture student to study architectural designs on a medical floor and how they impacted the movement and efficiency of medical staff and the quality of care to patients.

Students are given the opportunity to either assist faculty in their research or explore independent research under the mentorship of a faculty member.

鈥淔or the most part, the students are assisting the faculty member with their research, but many times faculty members are also willing to help the students with independent projects,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淚f a student approaches them, and it鈥檚 a good fit, the faculty member usually says 鈥榶es.鈥欌

In addition, 2020 was the first year in which a part-time SURE option was offered. Rather than the usual 40 hours per week, the part-time option offers a 20 hours per week schedule, allowing funding to be spread among more students. 

鈥淲e had a number of faculty use the 20 hour part-time program last year, and as a result we could engage more students. In 2021 I am hopeful that we are able to fund as many if not more projects than we did last year.鈥 

Gosky said the faculty mentoring aspect is one of the greatest strengths of the program.

鈥淔aculty members are the reason we have the program,鈥 said Gosky. 鈥淭hey have always been tremendously supportive. It鈥檚 an incredible experience for faculty because it provides support for their research and makes them more productive. In addition, students are exposed to an exceptional learning experience.鈥 

While in the program, students and their faculty mentors meet at least once a week. Undergraduate students also work closely with graduate students.

鈥淎t a minimum, students and faculty meet once a week, some students see their faculty mentor almost every day,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淯ndergrad students also collaborate with the graduate students who are involved in mentoring as well, you often work with a full team in the lab.鈥

Gosky emphasized the importance of undergraduate research regardless of a student's major.

鈥淩egardless of what a student is going to do after graduation, whether it鈥檚 graduate school or medical school or finding employment, research trains them to be problem solvers,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淚t trains them to objectively look at the facts and analyze situations.鈥

Research shows that students engaged in undergraduate research programs persist through college at a greater rate and present higher GPAs. 

鈥淪tudents who participate in undergraduate research tell us that their college experience is better, it鈥檚 a higher quality experience,鈥 Gosky said. 鈥淚 think that has a lot to do with the one-on-one relationship that they build with faculty.鈥

Looking forward to next summer, Gosky said 鈥淲e are being maximally flexible in planning for SURE 2021. At this point we are looking at in-person, virtual and hybrid models of conducting the program.鈥  

SURE dates for 2021 are June 7-July 21. Submissions for the 2021 SURE program are being accepted now and applications will be accepted until February 19, 2021. 

Learn more about the SURE program and find the application

POSTED: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 02:33 PM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 01:35 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Colleen Carroll