SURF Overview and Eligibility
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 $3,250 for the student, plus $750 for the mentor, with lesser amounts awarded depending on the grant period. If you are graduating in May, then your funding must end in May at graduation.
| SURF | UA Match | Sub-Total | Bonus* | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Stipend | $625 | $625 | $1,250 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Summer Stipend (Spring-Summer only) | $625 | $625 | $1,250 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Fall Stipend | $625 | $625 | $1,250 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Mentor Funds | $750 | - | - | $750 | $1,500 |
| Travel Funds | $750 | - | - | - | $750 |
| Term | Stipend | Mentor Funds | Travel Funds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Only | $2,000 | $750 + $750 | $750 | $4,250 |
| Spring-Summer | $4,000 | $750 + $750 | $750 | $6,250 |
| Spring-Fall | $4,000 | $750 + $750 | $750 | $6,250 |
| Spring-Summer-Fall | $4,000 | $750 + $750 | $750 | $6,250 |
To apply, you must have a faculty mentor and a well-developed proposal. Other requirements include:
- U.S. citizen, resident alien, or national
- Minimum of 30 hours of college credit at time of funding
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher at the time of application
- Support from faculty member
You may not have an active Honors College Research Grant at the same time that you have an active SURF.
Important Notice
You are not eligible for SURF funding, but you may apply for an Honors College Research
Grant in the fall. Assemble the same materials and meet the same deadline as SURF
applicants. Your application will automatically be considered for an Honors College
Research Grant
- The SURF Grant application is typically submitted in the second week of October.
- Winning proposals are typically announced in December, with work expected to begin in January at the earliest, depending on the grant period requested in your application.
- Seniors with SURF grants must complete their SURF-funded research work prior to graduation.
Didn't get the SURF Grant? No worries! If you are a member of the Honors College, your application will automatically be considered for an Honors College Research Grant.
The SURF application requires students to submit a project proposal as part of the process. The following documents are sample 5-page proposals from past successful SURF applicants. If you would like assistance with your SURF proposal, please contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu to set up an appointment.
Below are examples of past proposals that received the grant.
It's always helpful to see examples. You can read more examples of past proposals here.
Are you ready to apply for SURF?
Explore the steps for applying for SURF and discover how it compares to the Honors College Research Grant and the Office of Undergraduate Research.
University of Arkansas SURF Campus Contact
Matthew Halbert
Assistant Director
Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
mh171@uark.edu | 479-575-3652
September, 04
Wednesday, 4:00PM
September, 10
Tuesday, 4:00PM
October, 16-18