Solving real problems.
Research opportunities and are centered around close faculty mentorship and guidance. Selection for research programs is competitive and space is limited—but those who do participate find opportunities to co-author papers using their research, present results at national conferences, and establish network connections in their fields of study.
While Trinity offers multiple year-round opportunities for guided research experiences, many students opt to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. SURFs spend summers on campus, engaged in meaningful group or individual research, or advancing research projects guided by faculty advisers.
2021 Summer Research Calendar
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Monday, May 24th: Summer research move-in and start date
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Tuesday, May 25th: Summer research EXL Orientation/Summit (online)
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Wednesday, July 28th: Summer EXL Symposium (online)
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Thursday, July 29th: Summer research move-out and end date
2021 Summer Undergraduate Research forms are now available.
- Award Letters: Released on March 1, 2021
- Summer Housing Form and Fellowship Award Form: Please email exl@trinity.edu with any questions you have about summer award forms.
On-campus Research Opportunities
On-campus research is fully funded, with awards or stipends ranging from $1,000 to $4,500 or more.
Biology
Biology department fellowships (BSURF) are available for biology majors pursuing summer research with biology faculty.
Application: Apply through the common summer research application.
Due Date: February 12, 2021
Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium
Number available: 3+
Award: up to $4,000
More info: Contact the Department of Biology.
Chemistry
Chemistry department research opportunities are available to students who have completed CHEM 1318 and will complete CHEM 2319 by May 2021.
Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium
Number available: ~30
Stipend: $4,000
More info: Contact chemistry professor Adam Urbach.
Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science offers the HEP Student Summer research fellowship for computer science majors pursuing summer research with CS faculty.
Apply: By application or invitation
Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium
Number available: 1
Award: up to $4,000
More info: Contact computer science professor Yu Zhang.
Hixon Environmental Studies
Faculty-student teams from any academic department or program may participate in the Hixon Environmental Studies research program.
Application: Apply through the common summer research application.
Due Date: February 12, 2021
Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application. Students must be graduating in December 2021 or later.
Number available: 3
Stipend: up to $4,500
More info: Contact biology professor David Ribble.
Mach Research Fellowships
Mach fellowships provide funding to rising seniors for use in research or scholarly activity during their senior year.
Requirements: One Mach Fellow nomination is permitted per department. Mach fellowships do not have to be used during the summer.
Number available: 5+
Award: between $1,000 and $2,500 for supplies or travel
More info: Contact the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success.
McNair Scholars Program
Students already participating in the McNair Scholars Program may apply for summer research support.
Requirements: Participation in the McNair Scholars Program goes far beyond summer research. Scholars are expected to engage in research activities throughout the year.
More Info: Visit the McNair Program website.
Mellon Initiative Research Fellowships
Mellon Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) and Mellon Institutes (summer multidisciplinary research clusters) are available to faculty-student teams working on projects in the arts and humanities.
Due Date: February 12, 2021
Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application. Students must be graduating in December 2021 or later.
Number available: 15-20
Stipend: up to $4,200
Additional resources: $1,300 per student for travel and/or supplies. Faculty mentors will receive stipend of $2,000
More Info: Visit the Mellon Initiative program website or contact Lauren Turek.
Murchison Research Fellowships
Faculty-student teams from any academic department or program may participate in the Murchison Research program.
Application: Apply through the common summer research application.
Due Date: February 12, 2021
Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application (i.e., a student can only submit one application to Murchison); however, students are encouraged to submit applications to more than one program. Students must be graduating in December 2021 or later.
Number available: 20
Stipend: up to $4,000
Additional Resources: Total budget of $6,000, including student stipend (max $4,000), faculty stipend ($1,000), supplies, travel, etc.
More info: Contact Peggy Sundermeyer.
Other academic departments and programs may offer individual research or independent study opportunities. Visit your department’s or program’s “Student Experience” page to discover more.
Research Spotlights
Samsara Davalos Reyes ’19
Sociology
“This research is going to help me when I become a teacher, because I want to make sure I am integrating myself and getting to know a community as a whole.”
Grace Hanshaw ’22
Biology
“I'm getting first-hand experience with science and doing something that I'm interested in. It’s been really fulfilling."
To Be Honest
Communication, Religion, Sociology, Theatre
“We realized, almost as soon as we started reviewing our research together, that these words would be powerful if presented verbatim on stage.”