The Summer Research Initiative (SRI) was created in 1999 by the Office of the Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the College. The program is designed to encourage and enhance the diversity of scholars working in the social and behavioral science fields.
In that spirit, we are interested in receiving applications to the program from a broad spectrum of students, including African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, American Indian/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, as well as students with research interests related to diverse communities.
The goals of the SRI are to:
- Increase the knowledge of, and interest in, doctoral-level training in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences;
- Provide rising juniors and seniors an opportunity to learn about graduate studies and the range of research and scholarship in the social, behavioral and economic sciences at the University of Maryland;
- Provide a laboratory experience that enhances basic research knowledge and skills;
- Provide lectures, workshops, didactic exchanges and other programming to enhance students' knowledge of the graduate application process, negotiating the academic rigors and professional and personal challenges encountered in graduate school, and developing career paths in social, behavioral and economic sciences; and
- Provide mentoring and networking opportunities for students to advance their training in the social, behavioral and economic sciences.
The SRI is part of the College's longstanding commitment to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who pursue graduate degrees in the social, behavioral and economic sciences. According to data from the National Science Foundation, the university ranks 8th in the country in the number of doctoral degrees awarded and 13th in the number of Bachelor of Arts degrees awarded to underrepresented minority students in those fields. The Summer Research Initiative is an integral part of our efforts.
Eligibility
All students who will be rising juniors or seniors in Fall 2014 are eligible for the Summer Research Initiative. The University of Maryland has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity. In that spirit, we are very interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of individuals, specifically African American, Hispanic, and American Indian students. Applicants must also meet ALL of the following requirements:
- Be citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
- Be enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year higher education institution and obtain junior or senior status in the Fall 2014 academic year;
- Demonstrate an interest in pursuing graduate study in one of the behavioral or social sciences;
- Will have taken a basic statistics or research methodology course; and
- Possess an excellent academic record including a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA and 3.2 or better GPA in their major field.
SRI Expectations for Participants
The Summer Research Initiative is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week commitment; therefore, students should not register for any summer classes or hold employment during the program period. Participants are required to attend all seminar series and program events (on and off-campus), meet with mentors regularly, and complete all scheduled assignments. They will be expected to prepare a poster presentation of their research topic at the end of the program session.
Financial Support
Students will be provided round-trip air fare, room and board in University on-campus housing, and a stipend of $2,700 (before taxes).
Our application cycle runs from December 2, 2013 - February 14, 2014. Applications will be reviewed February – March, 2014 and selection announcements will be made in April, 2014. The actual program runs 8 weeks, from June 2, 2014 – July 25, 2014. Those selected will be expected to arrive to campus for the weekend program orientation on Saturday, May 31, 2014.
For more information and application please visit: http://ter.ps/BSOSSRI
