Summer Research Program for Fort Lewis College Students

The Summer Research Program for Fort Lewis College students, is a partnership designed to engage undergraduate students from Fort Lewis College in academic research alongside a faculty mentor at the University of California, Merced. Being engaged in mentored research at an early stage helps promote a better appreciation for academic studies and has been proven to be a high impact practice for undergraduate success.

Participants will develop critical research skills as well as improve their communication skills through the presentation of their research results in both written and oral forms. The training students receive through this program will prepare them to succeed in graduate school and jumpstart their careers in research, leadership, and public service.

We want to expose Fort Lewis College students to the research and culture at UC Merced, with the hopes that they will ultimately enroll in a doctoral program of study at UC Merced.

APPLY NOW ==>  Deadline to Apply is April 19, 2024, 11:59PM PST

Program Benefits:

The summer program provides research enrichment activities that prepare undergraduate students for successful entry into graduate programs. In addition, participants attend weekly graduate preparation and research development workshops, as well as participate in academic-related field trips.

Students will receive a $6,000 stipend for their successfull participation in the program. In addition, they will also receive room and board for the duration of the program and roundtrip travel from Durango to Merced.

At the end of the 9-week summer program, students present their oral and poster presentations at UC Merced’s Annual Summer Research Symposium.

Eligibility & Application Requirements:

All majors/academic disciplines are eligible; STEM majors/disciplines are strongly encouranged. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Fort Lewis College. Applicants must be 18 years or older to participate. 

Application requirements include:

1. Completed online application form - forms.office.com/r/LPAVSUyH4M
2. Email your supporting documents to Jesús Cisneros, jcisneros@ucmerced.edu by April 19, 2024:

• Copy of unofficial academic transcript(s)
• Personal Statement (1-page, single spaced) - In your essay, describe your interests in the UC Merced Summer Research Program for Fort Lewis College students. How will it help you further your academic and/or career interests? Also describe any research skills or work experience that might be helpful in participating in the summer research program. If you have specific research interests or goals for this summer program, please describe them here.
• One letter of recommendation (1-2 pages, single spaced) - Recommenders should address the applicant’s potential to conduct independent research as an undergraduate participant in a summer research program. This may include an assessment of particular strengths and weaknesses, ways in which the student will benefit from participation, scientific/research skills, work ethic, ability to contribute within a research group and/or additional context they may wish to provide, along with an indication of how well you know the applicant.

Research Areas:

Student participants will be paired with a faculty mentor in one of the following research areas.

PHYSICS TRACK:  Astrophysics theory; Biophysics / soft condensed matter experiment and theory; Condensed matter and solar energy experiment and theory; Atomic, molecular, and optical physics

MATH TRACK: Energy and the Environment; Sensing and Imaging; Mathematical Biology; Scientific Computing

BIOLOGY TRACK: Microbiology, Organismal Responses to Climate Change, Ecology, Bio-Diversity

INTERDISCIPLINARY TRACK: Biophysics, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Biomaterials, Biotechnology, Mathematics in Biology

Program Schedule:

The dates for the Summer Research Program will be Monday, June 3rd through Friday, August 2. This includes orientation day(s) and optional bootcamp workshops throughout the first week and will end with the summer symposium.

In addition to conducting research, students will participate in a variety of social and professional development activities as part of the FLC Summer Research Program, that are organized by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC). These include boot camps on research skills, training on effectively presenting research results, panels on the graduate school admissions process, and a variety of additional activities. Below is a sample schedule of topics/themes that are covered throughout the summer program.