Undergraduate Research

The School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering has a strong commitment to experiential learning and encourages all majors to pursue a research project during their time at the College. Opportunities for funding are available through both the School and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (urca.cofc.edu.) Students can receive assistance with placement by attending our Research Mixer, a casual meet & greet meant to pair faculty mentors with undergraduate research students, held annually in November. Research students are then invited to participate in the School's annual Undergraduate Research Poster Session in April of each year. Summer research activities are showcased at the Celebration of Scholars, hosted by URCA, in August.

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS, & ENGINEERING SUMMER RESEARCH AWARDS

SSME majors are invited to apply for research stipends, provided by the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering. The intent of these merit awards is to afford students the opportunity to begin or continue a research project between academic years. Students will be offered stipends of $4000 for 10 weeks of research study. Up to $1000 may be requested for materials relevant to your research. You may NOT request funding for travel to a conference or meeting to present your research or publication page fees. Those funds may be requested through your home department at a later date.

This is a competitive award and not all applications will be funded. 

2023 applications are due by 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2023.

STUDENTS: Access the 2023 STUDENT application

FACULTY: Access the 2023 FACULTY application 

SSME Summer Research Funding Scoring Rubric

 

STUDENTS (SAMPLE - STUDENT APPLICATION)

  • Before you apply, you should identify and meet with a faculty member willing to be your mentor. Your faculty mentor will be required to submit an application to pair with yours.
  • You must complete the student application by the posted deadline.
  • If awarded, students will be required to:
    • Register for your department’s zero credit research course in Summer 1.
      • A nominal fee will be incurred for IT, library, and health services.
    • Successfully complete any research safety training required by the department in which you conduct your research.
    • Dedicate approximately 40 hours a week to your study.
    • Meet with your mentor regularly to chart progress.
    • Present a research poster at either the Celebration of Faculty in August, the INBRE Science Symposium, the SSME Annual Poster session the following spring, or at an internal departmental event.
    • Respond promptly to all follow-up surveys and assessment efforts from the College of Charleston.
    • Understand that failure to follow through on elements of your agreement will make you ineligible for future funding.

 

FACULTY

Stipends of $1500 per student are available for SSME faculty who agree to mentor a summer research student.

  • Mentors must complete the faculty application by the posted deadline.
  • If awarded, mentors must:
    • Ensure mentee(s) enroll in the department’s zero credit research course in Summer 1.
    • Provide safety training, as applicable.
    • Confirm you are the mentee(s) primary mentor and that the student is conducting research with you at CofC or with you at another site.
    • Have sufficient time to provide mentorship to the student(s) conducting full-time research in your lab. Other summer paid activities must be reported.
    • Confirm that student(s) is the prime beneficiary of the research being conducted.
    • Confirm mentee(s) will participate in poster sessions sponsored by URCA and/or SSME.
    • Will maintain contact with former research students and report on their career intentions and progress when requests are made.
    • Respond, in a timely fashion, to all surveys and assessment efforts from the College of Charleston.
    • Understand that failure to follow through on elements of your agreement will make you ineligible for future funding.

Questions can be directed to ssme@cofc.edu