Trinity University Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities (URAH) is currently accepting applications for the summer of 2025.
Instructions
- Please read the Requirements for URAH SURF teams (below) to confirm your eligibility for the fellowship and your ability to fulfill the requirements.
- The URAH SURF application process is through the Trinity University Common SURF app and has three parts: a student component, a faculty mentor component, and a letter of recommendation from a separate faculty member.
- To complete the application, the faculty mentor and student(s) should meet to discuss the project and how they will fill out the application. Below you will find information on the student and faculty components so you know what is on the application and can create drafts to questions that require longer answers prior to filling out the online form. The letter of recommendation will also be submitted through the faculty component of the application.
- The student(s) and mentor should each complete and submit their respective components of the application by the deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025.
- The application form will provide you a copy of your responses after submission. Please keep this for your records.
Requirements for URAH SURF Teams
Student Requirements
- Must have a graduation date of December 2025 or later.
- Must commit to work full-time on the project for the entire summer research period and not take other coursework or have other employment.
- Must participate in URAH events, such as any workshops or weekly lunches (during the summer).
- Must present your findings (to date) at the Trinity Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, which is held at the end of the summer research period.
- Must turn in a final copy of the presentation for the URAH archive.
Faculty Mentor Requirements
- Can only serve on one research team.
- Must agree to mentor the student for the entire summer research period.
- Must plan to be in the same location as the student for most (if not all) of the summer research period.
Application Components
Faculty Application Components
- Faculty name & email, student name & email, mentor or reference
- Skip to URAH section
- For mentors, compose letter that includes project title, faculty & student names, as well as the items below, and upload letter to form.
- Project Description (500 word limit): Describe the project, its significance and the relationship to your research agenda
- Student Tasks (300 word limit): A detailed account of tasks the student will complete and, if you will be in a different location than the student, the duration of that time and how you will communicate
- Project Outcomes (150 word limit): Describe the intended project outcomes, including any plans extend work beyond summer and any presenting or publishing goals
- Student Preparation and Qualifications (150 word limit): Be sure to address any potential shortcomings (e.g., student class year, low GPA, or lack of background coursework)
- Budget: Provide your budget details and justification for any supplies you will purchase and any travel. Faculty stipend amount is $1,000. Student stipend is $5,000. A $1,400 travel/supply budget is available for each student. Provide details of how this will be used. Unused balance can be used for students to present at a conference during the academic year. The total budget should not exceed $7,400.
- For mentors submitting a reference letter, answer the following questions and upload a separate letter (200 word limit) to form that provides examples or observations relevant to your ranked assessments.
- Indicate in what capacity do you know this student.
- Rate the student’s intellectual curiosity, technical preparation for research, communication skills, ability to creatively solve problems, ability to work with others toward a common goal, and ability to work independently to accomplish tasks.
Student Application Components
- Section 1: Student Name, email, and other basic information.
- Section 2: Information about faculty mentor and faculty member who will write your letter of recommendation.
- Section 3: Narrative responses
- Project Abstract (250 word limit): A description of the project. Please work with your faculty mentor to write your abstract, and feel free to read some examples of abstracts.
- Student Statement (250 word limit): Describe your motivation for participating in this summer project. Your statement should show that you have a good understanding of the project and should include your career goals, if applicable.
- Student Qualifications (200 word limit): Describe your qualifications for this specific project. Your answer should include any courses and other experiences that have prepared you to carry out the proposed research.
- Challenge Question (250 word limit): Describe an academic experience where you had to overcome some obstacle or challenge.
- Section 4: Unofficial Transcript.
Note:
- The student is responsible for finding a faculty member to write a short letter of recommendation.
- The letter should come from a Trinity faculty member who knows the student’s academic work well but does not have to be from the discipline of the proposed project.
- The letter of recommendation cannot be from the faculty mentor.
- Please make sure your letter writer is aware of the application deadline and have them submit their letter directly to the Office of Undergraduate Research by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2025.
Selection Criteria
The URAH Steering Committee will evaluate the proposals holistically; however, certain factors help make a proposal stand out. The best applications explain clearly how the project contributes directly to the faculty mentor's research, demonstrate that the students are familiar with the project and have adequate background to contribute to the research, and include clearly defined project outcomes that have demonstrable benefit for both the student and the faculty member.