Undergraduate Research
Intensive Research Experience
According to the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), intensive research experiences over the summer are a best practice 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.
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: |
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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. |
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| Post Award Instructions and Requirements for Students and Primary Investigators (PIs) |
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- 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 stipend will be awarded in three (3) payments
- The Office of Undergraduate Research cannot cover the cost of living expenses, including
but not limited to:
- Housing (dorm or off-campus)
- Transportation/Parking
- Accepted SURP students qualify for the summer "student worker permit," which can be purchased through KSU Parking & Transportation
- 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:
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Students Seeking Internally Funded Positions
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
- Abstract: 100 words maximum
- Please note that applications with abstracts exceeding the maximum word count will be disqualified and not reviewed
- 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
- References/Works Cited/Bibliography (these are the sources used in the project description)
- Abstract: 100 words maximum
- Primary Investigator Application sections (will be auto-routed once student application section is completed)
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- 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:
- How long and in what capacity you've known the student.
- Previous work together and any outcomes from the work (for example, grant applications, presentations, publications, student awards, scholarships).
- 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.
- In the letter, the PI should address the following at minimum:
- Please list any additional summer obligations (i.e. travel, teaching hours, etc.)
- Student's Weekly Schedule
- Over the 8-wk session, please indicate, week by week, what tasks the student will be required to complete
- Has this project been granted IRB approval (if applicable)?
- Yes (provide IRB number)
- No (provide timeline of approval)
- Anticipated long-term deliverables
- Recommendation letter: Maximum one (1) page single-spaced on letterhead and signed
(12-point font, 1-inch margins).
Please note that submitting any additional materials that were not requested, may lead to application disqualification.
- The application will open on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 and must be completed by the student applicant
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Students with External Funding
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: https://www.kennesaw.edu/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.
