Intensive Research Experience

According to the , intensive research experiences over the summer are a  for students.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is proud of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, which helps support students in full-time research endeavors during the months of June and July.

Selected students will conduct research under the guidance of a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member (Primary Investigator [PI]) at Kennesaw State University. Faculty and students will be paid a stipend in order to work collaboratively on a research project in June and July. 

Scrappy at Student Symposium with student

This is a competitive process with specific application requirements and post-award procedures. Two mechanisms of funding are described below for internally funded and externally funded student scholars. Terms of this funding opportunity are subject to change at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Research. Please contact our@kennesaw.edu for questions.

Program Guidelines & Information

Student Requirements: Primary Investigator (PI) Requirements:
  • Full time student, pursuing a degree at Kennesaw State University
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Undergraduate student who will not graduate until at least one semester after the program ends
  • Has not participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) previously
  • Available to work 40 hours per week in the 8-week summer session  in June and July
  • Available to present at the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars
  • Available to attend bi-weekly professional development workshops in-person (not virtually)
  • Will work supervised by a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member

The Office of Undergraduate Research will serve as the sole employer for students accepted into this program.

Summer scholars cannot enroll in any course during June and July (within KSU or other institutions) because the workload for summer courses is intended to be high, and we do not want to incentivize students to overwork themselves.

For an explanation of credit hours and time spent on the class, please click here. 
  • Full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member at Kennesaw State University
  • Available to mentor the student for the entire 8-week session in June and July (in other words, not on personal or professional leave or travel during that 8-week summer session)
  • Has identified a student with whom to work on research in the summer
  • Has a well-defined project or multiple projects on which the student will work in the summer
  • Faculty who are not eligible for the full stipend amount are not eligible for SURP funding
Post Award Instructions and Requirements for Students and Primary Investigators (PIs)
  • Upon notification of awards, student/faculty pairs will have five (5) business days to sign the SURP MOU as acknowledgment & acceptance of the position.
    • Failure to do so (or to notify the Office of Undergraduate Research of any delays) will be considered a forfeiture.
  • Student abstract submission and presentation participation in the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars.
  • Students must abide by the KSU Codes of Conduct at all times, including proper usage of institutional resources and funding.

 

  • Students will earn a stipend of $4,000.
    • The stipend will be awarded in three (3) payments
      • Payment one: June 2025
      • Payment two: July 2025
      • Payment three: November 2025
        • The Symposium requirement must be fulfilled to receive the final payment
  • The Office of Undergraduate Research cannot cover the cost of living expenses, including but not limited to:
    • Housing (dorm or off-campus)
    • Transportation/Parking
  • PIs will earn a stipend of $4,000
  • Accepted projects can apply for additional summer funding needed to conduct the research (e.g., supplies, travel funds).
    • The available amount varies based on funding, but more details will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
  • A supplies order form will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
    • Due to the end of fiscal year requirements, there may be a tight deadline for ordering, so please be prepared to submit your requests in a timely manner

How to Apply:

  • A limited number of internally funded summer research scholars by the Office of Undergraduate Research will be selected by a review panel that will be assembled by the Director of Undergraduate Research to evaluate applications from student/faculty pairs.  

    • The application will open on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 and must be completed by the student applicant
      • Student applications must be submitted by Wednesday, March 12, 2025
      • Primary Investigator (PI) sections are due by Wednesday, March 19, 2025

    Application to Seek Internally Funded Positions:

    • Student Application
      1. Abstract: 100 words maximum
        • Please note that applications with abstracts exceeding the maximum word count will be disqualified and not reviewed
      2. Full Project Description: 750 words maximum (or 4600 characters, not counting the list of references). Required sections:
        • Significance/Introduction with citations from previous research
        • Methods
        • Expected Results and Timeline
      3. References/Works Cited/Bibliography (these are the sources used in the project description)
    • Primary Investigator Application sections (will be auto-routed once student application section is completed)
      1. Recommendation letter: Maximum one (1) page single-spaced on letterhead and signed (12-point font, 1-inch margins).
        • In the letter, the PI should address the following at minimum:
          1. How long and in what capacity you've known the student.
          2. Previous work together and any outcomes from the work (for example, grant applications, presentations, publications, student awards, scholarships).
          3. Ability of the student to complete this work in the time frame.
        • Please note, if the PI letter of recommendation is not submitted by the deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and the student applicant will no longer be eligible for consideration.
      2. Please list any additional summer obligations (i.e. travel, teaching hours, etc.)
      3. Student's Weekly Schedule
        • Over the 8-wk session, please indicate, week by week, what tasks the student will be required to complete
      4. Has this project been granted IRB approval (if applicable)?
        • Yes (provide IRB number)
        • No (provide timeline of approval)
      5. Anticipated long-term deliverables

    Please note that submitting any additional materials that were not requested, may lead to application disqualification.

  • The Office of Undergraduate Research would like to strongly encourage students in seeking external funding to conduct research over the summer while remaining at Kennesaw State University under the guidance of a full-time tenure-track faculty. This mechanism is to encourage our student scholars to compete on a national or an international level to bring pride to Kennesaw State University. The application must be initiated by the student or student/faculty pair. This mechanism also encourages faculty to mentor and discover students who are competitive in external awards.

    For students receiving external funds for performing research on campus during the summer, OUR will provide a matching stipend for Primary Investigators (PIs) at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Research. Student scholars who receive external fellowship/scholarships for work performed under the guidance of a full-time KSU faculty member will be featured in news stories from the Office of Research, similar to this one: /news/stories/2019/mcgrath-biology-fellowship.php  

    Limited funds for supplies will also be provided. Work must be performed under the supervision of full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty at Kennesaw State University. Students are allowed to apply for internal funded positions while pursuing external ones. For faculty to receive summer stipends, proof of acceptance for externally funded students must be provided to OUR by Monday, May 12, 2025. Please email this documentation to our@kennesaw.edu. 

Accepted Student Professional Development Activities

Students in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program will participate in in-person meetings with the other students in the program and staff from the Office of Undergraduate Research. The PIs should attend the first (orientation) and last (wrap-up) meetings.

The schedule for 2025 is still TBD:

Date Time Location(s) Topic
June 2025 TBD ALC 5500 Orientation (Students & PIs)
June 2025     Elevator Speeches
June 2025     TBD
July 2025    

Resumes and Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) 
July 2025     Practice Symposium Presentations
July 2025    

Wrap-Up Pizza Party (Students and PIs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • The student portion must be submitted by Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 11:59pm

    The PI sections must be submitted by Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 11:59pm

  • The following criteria are used to evaluate the applications submitted:

    • Extent of prior working relationship between the student and the PI
    • Extent to which the project advances work in that field and represents a quality undergraduate research project
    • Degree to which the timeline is feasible for an 8-week summer session working 40 hours per week
    • Quality of writing
    • Word counts on application form not exceeded
    • Application guidelines were met, and no unrequested "extra" documents were submitted
  • We will accept 15 students into this program.  
  • The 8-week session dates for 2025 are Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - Thursday, July 24, 2025

  • The Office of Undergraduate Research cannot help with door access, however there are two ways PIs can mitigate this challenge:

    Before the end of the spring semester create an "Access Group" through Door Access for the required space(s) and add the student to that group.

    OR

    The PI's department must register the student as a "visitor" through KSU's Human Resources Department