The goal of the program is to provide meaningful faculty-mentored research experiences for juniors. This is a two-term program.
The program is intended to prepare students for honors thesis research.
- Student eligibility: Sophomores who fall within the top 40 percent of the class are eligible to apply.
- GPA cut-off for class of 2026: 3.78 (based on grades at the end of fall 2023).
- Faculty eligibility: Mentors for this program must have an appointment that is tenure-line, research track or lecturer/senior lecturer.
- Project guidelines: Students are not expected to generate their own projects, and the research must contribute to the student's academic development.
- Selection criteria: Factors considered in selection.
- Alignment of the project with the student's academic trajectory.
- Intention of the student to pursue honors thesis research in senior year.
- Prior research or academic experience related to the proposed project.
Students apply for the program in the spring of sophomore year.
- Eligible students are notified in winter of sophomore year, and the application deadline is in spring of sophomore year.
- Students contact faculty about research opportunities. Faculty may also approach students with whom they would be interested in working.
- Once the student and faculty mentor agree on a project, students submit an online application. Faculty mentors then confirm the proposed collaboration via an online form.
Students accepted to the program engage in part-time research.
- Students who apply to the program commit to engaging in the research for two academic terms while they are also enrolled in classes.
- Both terms must be completed during junior year (the first term can be as early as sophomore summer).
- It is expected that students devote the equivalent time/effort to what they would for an academic class.
- That is estimated to be an average of 10 hours a week during a 10 week term (approximate total of 100 hours during the academic term).
- This must be completed by the end of the academic term. Extensions beyond that point will not be granted.
- A stipend will be issued at the end of each term, contingent on confirmation by both the student and faculty research mentor.
- Timesheets are not required since payment is via stipend rather than hourly wages, but students should maintain a document tracking the time spent on the research and the tasks accomplished.