SURF

SURF Collection will occur October 15–18, 2025

All SURF applications must be reviewed by a faculty/staff member, and SURF Collection will be your final opportunity. Please have all materials submitted into InfoReady prior to your SURF Collection appointment.

What is SURF?

The Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is designed to allow sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study. Each student must have a faculty mentor, along with a well-developed proposal.

All types of undergraduate research are eligible for support, and all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. In addition to science, engineering, and mathematics projects, this program will support, for example, an art major who wants to sculpt a major project. Funds are provided for students to travel to conferences and present their accomplishments.

Funding will not begin until January and may be up to $2,500 in stipend funding and $750 for travel funding for the student, plus $1,000 in student supply funding for the mentor, with lesser stipend amounts awarded depending on the grant period. If you are graduating in May, then your funding must end in May at graduation.

Eligibility

  • U.S. citizen, resident alien, or national
  • Minimum of 30 hours of on-campus college credit at time of funding
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher at time of application
  • Support from faculty mentor

Informational Sessions

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards holds informational sessions to discuss the SURF award and application process.

2025 SURF Informational Sessions

  • Thursday, September 4 at 4:00 PM in Silas Hunt Hall Room 223
  • Wednesday, September 10 at 4:00 PM in Silas Hunt Hall Room 223
  • Monday, September 15 at 2:30 PM (Online)

SURF Registration

Applicants must complete and submit an online registration form prior to completing the SURF application. Upon registering, the student will receive a link to the SURF application packet, which includes the application form and detailed instructions.

SURF Registration will open September 04, 2025

SURF Application

Applications for SURF funding will be submitted electronically through InfoReady.

Please consider attending an information session prior to beginning your application. If you cannot attend, please contact Dr. Halbert at mh171@uark.edu for more information.

SURF Application will open September 04, 2025

Application Materials and Instructions

SURF Collection

SURF Collection is a review of your application by a faculty/staff member. Please have all materials submitted into InfoReady prior to your SURF Collection appointment. All students will have their application collected before it is sent to ADHE. There are two options for SURF Collection:

SURF Early Collection - prior to October 15, 2025

  • Students are encouraged to participate in an early collection. Please schedule an appointment with Matthew Halbert using this scheduling link if you would like your application reviewed and collected prior to the deadline.

SURF Collection – October 15–18, 2025

  • Any registrants who have not participated in an early collection will have their application reviewed and collected by a University of Arkansas faculty or staff member during a Microsoft Teams appointment.
  • These appointments will be available to choose on October 1. If you have registered for SURF, you will receive an email with the opportunity to sign up for a collection appointment at that time.

Campus Contact

Dr. Matthew Halbert
mh171@uark.edu
(479) 575-3652

Office of Sponsored Programs

The Office of Sponsored Programs handles disbursement of awarded SURF funds.