Program Overview

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Science (SPURS)

The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Science (SPURS) provides funding for UC San Diego undergraduate students majoring in the physical sciences to conduct a summer research project under the guidance of a UC San Diego faculty member. The program immerses students full time in a research topic for 10 weeks. Students are awarded a $7,500 stipend in support of their time and efforts conducting a summer research project.

2025 Program Dates

• Start: Monday, June 23th
• End: Monday, September 1st
• Poster Session: September 5

Eligibility

• The summer research program accepts applications from undergraduate students with majors in any of the departments of the School of Physical Sciences (Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics).
• Previous recipients of SPURS are eligible to apply; however, applicants who have not previously received an award will be prioritized.
• Applicants must be enrolled students at UC San Diego during the research term in July-August 2025.
  • "Enrolled at UC San Diego" means you were registered for Spring 25, are planning on enrolling in Fall 25, and/or are enrolled in Summer Session 2025.
  • If applicants will be graduating in Spring 2025 and are no longer enrolled at UC San Diego, they are not eligible to apply.

Financial Aid

• Students are awarded a $7,500 stipend to support their time and effort conducting a summer research project.
• Awards are intended to be allocated specifically during summer months for research and will not displace financial aid for the academic year unless the student is enrolled in Summer Session and receiving financial aid.
  • Please note that if you plan to enroll in Summer Session and receive Summer financial aid, you may not be eligible to receive the $7,500 award from the School of Physical Sciences.

Application Instructions

• Students applying to this program need to provide the name and a nonconfidential endorsement letter of a faculty member who commits to serve as a mentor and host for the summer research.
• Mentor faculty can be affiliated with any department or school at UC San Diego. They do not need to be affiliated with the School of Physical Sciences.
• For the mentor endorsement letter, it is sufficient to include a simple statement that the faculty agrees to host the student for research on the project over the summer.
• Start early to identify a mentor for your summer research. Faculty often have ideas about summer research projects. Before preparing an application, speak to the faculty and discuss possible research projects.
• Do not submit an application without approval by the mentor faculty mentioned in the application.

Review and Selection

• Applications are reviewed by a faculty committee with participation from previous years' awardee mentors.
• Review is done by one of three committees, depending on the subject area, consisting of School of Physical Sciences faculty from.
• Applications are evaluated in five categories:
  • The Personal Statement is evaluated for motivation and awareness of the importance of individual research experience.
  • The Research Plan is evaluated for 1) sufficient description of the broader background for the project, 2) a clear statement about the activities the student will perform, 3) description of the expected outcomes, and 4) whether the project goals are realistic for the summer research period.
• Each application is reviewed by at least two faculty.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need previous research experience?
   • No. SPURS is designed for students who are new to research and those with limited experience. The program aims to create equitable access to research opportunities, particularly for students who may not have had the chance to participate in a lab or scholarly project before.
2. Does SPURS provide housing or transportation?
   • No, SPURS does not provide housing or transportation. The stipend is disbursed directly to students, and it is up to you to arrange your own housing and commute.
3. What are the program dates?
   • The program runs for 10 weeks starting in late June and ending in early September.
4. Is the program in-person or remote?
   • That depends on your research mentor. Some labs may offer remote or hybrid options, but many projects will require in-person lab work.
5. What are the expectations of participants?
   • Participants are expected to:
     • Engage in research full-time (approx. 20-40 hours/week).
     • Stay in regular contact with their mentor or research team
     • Complete program surveys
     • Complete and present a research poster at the end-of-summer poster presentation event
6. Do I need to find my own faculty mentor?
   • Yes, students are responsible for identifying and securing their own faculty mentor for the SPURS program.
7. Can I take summer classes or work another job while in SPURS?
   • Participants are expected to prioritize their research. However, they are welcome to enroll in summer classes or work part-time as long as they have cleared it with their faculty mentors/lab members.
8. Can I work with a faculty member or research lab outside of the School of Physical Sciences?
   • Yes, you may work with a faculty member outside of the School of Physical Sciences as long as your research project is closely related to your major and aligns with the goals of the SPURS program.

Initially conceived and started with funding from UC San Diego alumnus, SPURS provides substantial stipends to enable students to conduct research under faculty mentorship during the summer. Launched in 2018, the program places students in the role of a private investigator, designing and pursuing new research, and learning not only from their successes but also from experiencing failure as an intrinsic element of the scientific process.

Non Discrimination Statement

In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.