Solving real problems.

Research opportunities and are centered around close faculty mentorship 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.

Student looking at rock through a microscope
Icon:icon-arrow-right Trinity icon set
Icon:icon-arrow-right Trinity icon set
2026 Summer Research Timeline
  • December 5, 2025: Research Fair: explore research opportunities, 3:30-4:30PM, CSI Cube
  • January 14, 2026: SURF Common application opens
  • January 16: Tentative and subject to change - SURF Application Writing Support by the Writing Center, 3PM-4PM in CSI #205
  • January 28: Tentative and subject to change - SURF Application Writing Support by the Writing Center, 4PM-5PM in CSI #205
  • February 9: SURF application deadline
  • Mid-March: Notification of SURF application results
  • March 31: Deadline for completed SURF award commitment forms and housing applications
  • May 18: Student move-in to dorms (afternoon)
  • May 19: SURF kick-off/required orientation (morning session only)
  • July 23-24: Summer Research and Internship Symposium
  • July 26: Deadline to move out of dorms
SURF Program Timeline

Fall Semester - Reflect   
Reflect on your interests and talk to a faculty member with whom you'd like to work.

January - Attend & Connect    
Attend the Summer Research Opportunity Fair. Connect with a faculty member to discuss your ideas for a research project. 

February - Submit    
Submit your application(s) to your research program(s) of interest. Note that programs have different application procedures and eligibility criteria, so follow instructions carefully.

March - Complete    
If awarded a research fellowship, complete the Fellowship Award Form with your faculty mentor. Complete a campus housing application at the same time.

Late May - Begin    
Move into your summer residence hall. Attend the Summer EXL Orientation. Begin SURF experience!

June - Enhance   
Enhance your summer research experience by attending workshops, social events, and more.

Late July - Present    
Present your research at the Experiential Learning Symposium, the concluding event. Move-out of your residence hall.

Fall Semester - Celebrate   
Celebrate your accomplishment, and look forward to opportunities to present at a regional or national conference.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

On-campus research is fully funded, with awards of up to $5,000 for full-time research during the summer, the option of free on-campus housing, and one course credit for summer research.

Biology

Biology department fellowships (BSURF) are available for biology majors only pursuing summer research with biology faculty.

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2025

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: 5-9

Award: $5,000

More info: Contact Dr. Frank Healy, Chair of Biology.

Chemistry

Chemistry department research opportunities are available to students who have completed CHEM 1312 by May of each year.

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: 36-45

Stipend: $5,000

More info: Contact Dr. Corina Maeder, Chair of Chemistry.

Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science offers the HEP (Howland-Eggen-Pitts) Student Summer research fellowship for computer science majors only pursuing summer research with CS faculty.

Apply: By application or invitation through the CS department

Requirements: 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium

Number available: 2-3

Award: $5,000

More info: Contact Yu Zhang, Chair of Computer Science.

Earth and Environmental Geosciences

Earth and Environmental Geosciences department research opportunities are available for Earth and Environmental Geosciences majors and intended majors.

Application: Application will be available on the GEOS Students Canvas page beginning the third week of January each year

Due Date: February 10, 2025

Requirements: 4-10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposium and/or a regional or national Geosciences conference.

Number available: 8-12

Stipend: $500/week, up to $5,000

More info: Contact Dr. Benjamin Surpless, Chair of Earth and Environmental Geosciences. 

Hixon Environmental Studies

Faculty-student teams from any academic major may participate in this fellowship but the project must focus on Environmental Studies research.

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2025

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 2025 or later.

Number available: 3-4

Stipend: $5,000

More info: Contact Greg Hazleton, Environmental Studies Program Director.

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 academic department or interdisciplinary major. The department chair or ID director nominates the student on behalf of the academic department. Mach fellowships are used during the academic year.

Number available: 12-20

Award: up to $3,000 for supplies or travel

More info: Contact Armando Saliba

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 10, 2025

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 of the award year or later.

Number available: 25-32

Stipend: $5,000

Additional Resources: Total budget of $7,000, including student stipend ($5,000), faculty stipend ($1,000), supplies, travel, etc. ($1,000)​

More info: Contact Armando Saliba

Semmes Research Fellowships

Faculty-student teams from any STEM discipline may participate. Both faculty and students must be in a STEM department. 

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2025

Requirements: ​​Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams in STEM. Individuals may not appear in more than one application (i.e., a student can only submit one application to Semmes); Students must be graduating in December of the award year or later.

Number available: TBD

Stipend: $5,000

Additional Resources: Total budget of $7,000, including student stipend ($5,000), faculty stipend ($1,000), supplies, travel, etc. ($1,000)

More info: Contact professor David Ribble, Semmes School of Science Dean.

​​​​​​​​Undergraduate Research in the Arts and Humanities Research Fellowships

This fellowship is open to students in any major who are working on a research project with a focus on the arts or the humanities. 

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2025

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 of the award year or later.

Number available: 8-10

Stipend: $5,000

Additional resources: $1,000 per student for travel and/or supplies. Faculty mentors will receive a stipend of $1,000

More Info: Contact Dr. Ruben Dupertuis, Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities Dean.

​​​​​​​​CBL Undergraduate STEM Research Award/Trinity Summer Scholars

The Clair Booth Luce/Trinity Summer Scholars STEM research awards include funds for research supplies, conference travel, and professional development. 

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2025

Requirements: Accepting applications for CBL Scholars from students who have completed at least their first year and are in good standing to declare a major in physics, engineering, or computer science as rising sophomores, or have already declared the major as rising juniors or seniors.

Number available: 8

Stipend: $5,000

Additional resources: 10-week summer program with a Trinity faculty member. Participants will receive room and board. 

More Info: Contact Dr. Emma Treadway, Asst. Professor of Engineering, Dr. Jennifer Steele, Chair of Physics and Astronomy, or Yu Zhang Chair of Computer Science

​​​​​​​​Ronald McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It offers preparation for success in doctoral studies to qualified undergraduate students through involvement in research, other scholarly activities, and graduate school preparation. 

Application: Apply through the McNair Scholars Program at Trinity by completing the Eligibility Assessment.

Due Date: November 20, 2024

Requirements: Recipients must qualify as McNair Scholars.

Number available: Varies

Summer Research Stipend + Board: $5,000 + free housing

Additional resources: 10-week summer research program with a Trinity faculty member, plus support for conferences, and graduate school visits, and cultural events.

More Info: Contact Dr. Kelly Lyons, Professor of Biology and Program Director or  Teresa Morrison, Associate Program Director

​​​​​​​​Startup Research in the Trinity Incubator

Student teams from any academic major may participate in this program but the project must focus on the launch of a new venture/business. 

Application: Apply through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship application on Qualtrics.

Due Date: February 9, 2026

Requirements: Applications will only be accepted from student teams. Individuals may not appear in more than one application. Students must be graduating in December 2026 or later.

Number available: 10 Teams

Stipend: $5,000

More Info: Contact @email, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

​​​​​​​​Becky Goforth Fellowship

The Department of Mathematics offers a Becky Goforth Fellowship for students pursuing a summer research project in Mathematics. 

Application: Apply through the common summer research application.

Due Date: February 10, 2026

Requirements:  Applications will only be accepted from faculty-student teams. Students must complete the 10 weeks of full-time participation and presentation of results at the summer symposiums.

Number available: 1-2

Stipend: $5,000

Additional resources: Total budget of $7,000, including student stipend ($5,000), faculty stipend ($1,000), supplies, travel, etc. ($1,000)

More Info: Contact Dr. Cabral Balreira, @email, Chair of Mathematics.

 

 

Publish Your Social Sciences and Humanities Research


The Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Affairs (UJCA) is a student-run academic journal publishing undergraduate work in the social sciences and humanities based out of Trinity University. The journal seeks to shed light on contemporary global issues and give undergraduate students a platform to voice their perspectives. UJCA publishes two editions per year, and we will soon begin to accept submissions for consideration in our Spring 2026 publication.

Submissions

Research Spotlights

McNair Scholars

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.”

BSURF

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."
 

Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities Initiative

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.”

Click here to view past summer research and summer internship student presentations from the Summer Experiential Learning Symposium