SURF

Female student in lab safety gear holding a beaker

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.

Eligibility

  • 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 time of application
  • Support from faculty mentor

Campus Contact

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

Informational Sessions

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards holds informational sessions to discuss the SURF award and application process. If you are unable to attend these presentations please reference the informational video below.

Information Sessions for the 2024-2025 academic year will be:

 

Wednesday, September 4th at 4pm in the Graduate Education Auditorium
Tuesday, September 10th at 4pm in Giffels Auditorium

 

 

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.

*Registrations open the week of Labor Day 2024.

Application

Applications for 2024-2025 SURF funding will be submitted electronically through InfoReady.

*Applications open the week of Labor Day 2024.

Review

All students will have their application reviewed before it is sent to ADHE. There are two options for application review:

SURF Early Review
  • Students are encouraged to participate in an early review. Please schedule an appointment with Matthew Halbert here if you would like your application reviewed prior to October 16th, 2024.
SURF Collection
  • From October 16-18, 2024, any registrants who have not participated in an early review will have their application reviewed by a University of Arkansas faculty or staff member during a Microsoft Teams appointment. These appointments will be available to choose at the beginning of October.
Applications must be reviewed no later than October 18th. The last opportunity to have your SURF applications reviewed is during SURF Collection - October 16-18, 2024.

 

Office of Sponsored Programs

The Office of Sponsored Programs handles disbursement of awarded SURF funds, and has information about the program and the disbursement process on their website.