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Program Purpose
The UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) offer upper division
undergraduate students with outstanding academic potential the opportunity to work closely
with faculty mentors on research projects. The programs are designed for students
who wish to learn more about the graduate school experience and possibly pursue an academic
career in teaching and research. Opportunities are
available in virtually all academic fields (e.g., arts, humanities, social sciences, life
sciences, health sciences, physical sciences, etc.).
Each student participant will be working with a faculty
mentor with special expertise and interests matched, as closely as possible, to the
student's research interests and career goals. Students will either assist the faculty
member in an ongoing research project or work collaboratively with the mentor in designing
a new project of mutual interest.
A directory of UCLA
faculty research interests is available online should you wish to suggest a
faculty member with whom to work. Note that this would only be a suggestion. Each program
makes the final decisions about the faculty mentor assignment.
The program features seminars on:
- writing and research skills
- strategies for enhancing success in applying to graduate school
- graduate school funding opportunities
- opportunities for informal discussion with UCLA graduate students
- academic career opportunities
- GRE test preparation
- cultural and educational activities
For further details about specific programs, please refer
to the UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate
and Graduate Research Booklet.
As a condition of acceptance into the program, program
participants will be asked after their departure to update information on their
educational and career activities. This tracking is done solely to evaluate the
effectiveness of the program. It is critical that we be able to conduct this long-term
evaluation in order to maintain continuing funding for the programs. The information
collected remains strictly confidential.
Program Dates
Most programs run eight weeks, Sunday, June 22, 2008 to
Saturday, August 16, 2008. Some programs in the sciences, technological, engineering and
mathematics fields run 10 weeks, Sunday, June 22, 2008 to Friday, August
29, 2008.
Participating Programs
Thirteen programs are associated with UCLA SPUR. Three focus on the social sciences, arts
and humanities; nine deal with the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) fields; and one is a partnership with the California State University Sally Casanova
Pre-doctoral Program. Below are brief summaries of each program. The summaries include the
specific program components, eligibility requirements and length of the summer program.
Please click on the links to learn about each program. You will be able to apply to
a maximum of two (first choice and second choice) in our online application.
- Amgen Scholars Program
Application Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2008
The Amgen Scholars Program is a national program to increase learning and networking
opportunities for students committed to pursuing a career in science or engineering.
Beginning in Summer 2008, UCLA will host 24 Amgen Scholars. 12 will be undergraduates
from UCLA and 12 will be from other 4-year colleges and universities. Students interested
in summer research in any area of biomedical science, chemistry, bioengineering or
chemical engineering are encouraged to apply. Students will be paired with a UCLA faculty
mentor if the student does not already have one. Program includes: stipend; housing; meals;
3-day Biotechnology Conference in Lake Tahoe, California; GRE test preparation; luncheons
with faculty; workshops; seminars and poster presentations.
- For undergraduates enrolled in four-year colleges and universities in
the U.S., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
- For Sophomores (with 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college experience),
Juniors and non-graduating Seniors (who are returning in the fall to
continue their undergraduate experience).
- Must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2 or above.
- Must be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.
- 10 weeks.
- Bunche Center Summer Humanities Institute (SHI)
Application Deadline: Thursday, February 7, 2008
This eight-week preparatory program is designed to enhance the competencies of
students who plan to pursue an MA or Ph.D. in the humanities or humanistic social
sciences (anthropology, art history, cultural/critical studies, ethnomusicology,
history, literature, political science, sociology). With the help of a faculty
mentor (selected by the Program), students take seminars and workshops, go on field
trips, write a research paper and present a conference paper. Program includes
seminars, skills workshops, research, immersion activities in Los Angeles
African-American culture, stipend, funds toward travel, meal allowance and on-campus housing.
- Students must apply separately to BOTH the SHI and SPUR programs. See
www.bunche.ucla.edu for more information and deadlines.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Primarily directed toward students from Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs) and toward other historically underrepresented
students.
- Must have relevant undergraduate training.
- Submit two-page research proposal and six- to eight-page writing
sample in addition to other supplemental materials.
- One letter of recommendation from faculty member or administrator.
- SHI does not accept students who plan to go into law,
business, science, psychology or medicine.
- 8 weeks.
- California State University
(CSU) Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program
This program is restricted to undergraduate and master's-level students in the California
State University Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program. The Program is designed to increase
the pool of potential university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of CSU
students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages. Each of the selected
CSU Sally Casanova pre-doctoral scholars works closely during the academic year with a CSU
faculty sponsor to develop an overall plan leading ultimately to enrollment in a doctoral
program. Each of these plans is tailored to specific goals and educational objectives of the
student. The Program places special emphasis on increasing the number of CSU students who enter
doctoral programs at one of the University of California institutions. Summer Program includes:
stipend, on-campus housing or housing allowance, meal allowance, funds toward roundtrip
transportation cost, GRE test preparation, workshops and oral presentations.
- Open to all current CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars, both graduate and undergraduate.
- 8- to 10-weeks.
- CSU Scholars complete only the UCLA SPUR on-line application
after they have approval from the UCLA SPUR Coordinator; do not
submit supplemental materials.
- CARE Science, Engineering and Math (SEM) Summer Research Program
The Center for Academic & Research Excellence (CARE) SEM Summer Research
Program offer hands-on research experience working in the laboratory of
a distinguished UCLA faculty member. Each student is matched with a faculty
mentor and works as a member of the mentor’s research group. Program includes:
stipend, housing or housing allowance, meal allowance, GRE test preparation,
workshops, seminars and poster presentations.
- For UCLA students only who are interested in pursuing research careers in the
life sciences, health sciences, physical sciences or engineering.
- Students entering junior or senior year with a GPA > 2.8.
- Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- A goal of the CARE SEM Summer Research Program is to increase the number of
students from underrepresented groups in biomedical and behavioral research who
progress towards the attainment of a Ph.D. degree. African American, Hispanic
American, American Indian and Pacific Islander students are encouraged to apply.
- 10 weeks.
-
Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) Summer Program
Application Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2008
CENS, a National Science Foundation Science & Technology Center, is developing Embedded
Networked Sensing Systems and applying this revolutionary technology to critical
scientific and social applications. Like the Internet, these large-scale, distributed,
systems, composed of smart sensors and actuators embedded in the physical world, will
eventually infuse the entire world, but at a physical level instead of virtual. The
CENS summer program provides undergraduates the opportunity to gain hands-on research
experience in CENS labs; to work with CENS faculty, staff and graduate students; and
to participate in research, professional development and social activities with other
CENS undergraduate scholars. Program includes: stipend, housing, meal allowance, GRE
test preparation, workshops, seminars and poster presentations and networking activities.
- Eligible Fields: Engineering, Computer Science and Physical Sciences.
- Eligible Undergraduates: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- 8-10 weeks.
- To learn more about how to apply to this program, please contact
Wesley Uehara at wuehara@cens.ucla.edu.
- Center for Research, Education, Training, and Strategic Communication on
Minority Health Disparities (CRETSCMHD) Summer Program
This National Institutes of Health-funded program is designed for traditionally
underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students who plan to pursue advanced degrees
in health-related fields with a focus on research and a commitment to helping reduce
or eliminate health disparities in racial/ethnic minority populations in the United
States. Student participants should be prepared to participate full-time in a
research project under the supervision of Center faculty who are from the life
sciences (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular
Genetics; Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology; Physiological Science; and
Psychology), Public Health, Psychiatry, Urban Planning, Chicano Studies, Social
Welfare and Medicine. The program includes: stipend, on-campus housing, housing
allowance, meal allowance, GRE test preparation, workshops, seminars and poster
presentations.
- Applicants must be juniors during the 2007-2008 academic year.
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Previous research experience.
- Plan to attend graduate or medical school in a science/health-related
discipline with the intention of research being a significant part of one's career.
- 8-10 weeks.
- Center for Scalable and Integrated Nano-Manufacturing (SINAM)
Application Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2008
The Nano-Manufacturing Summer Academy provides undergraduates an opportunity to conduct
research in the area of Nano-manufacturing. This program provides an excellent
opportunity to be paired with a distinguished faculty mentor based on the student's
area of research interest. At the completion of the program, students will be better
prepared to attend graduate school and pursue research careers in the field of
engineering. Program includes: stipend, housing or housing allowance, meal allowance,
GRE test preparation, workshops, seminars and poster presentations.
- Students entering their junior or senior year and not graduating before March 2009.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Students with a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.80 or greater.
- This program seeks to address the need of a critical shortage existing
in the high tech work force. We strongly encourage students from
underrepresented groups to apply.
- 8 weeks.
- Developing an Interface for Science and Ethics (DISE)
Application Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2008
DISE aims to prepare the next generation of scientists and researchers by providing an
academic and hands-on experience in the fields of ethics and public policy to students
who are in pursuit of graduate level degrees and careers in research. The program is
designed for students who will be in their first year of a STEM doctoral program in
2008-2009. Open to both UCLA and non-UCLA incoming doctoral students.
- Graduate Division Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (GDSPUR)
The UCLA Graduate Division Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is designed
to target students who plan to pursue the PhD degree and enter academic or research careers.
It offers undergraduates opportunities to work closely with UCLA faculty on a research
project. Selection of participants will be based on academic merit and availability of
appropriate faculty mentors. Program includes: stipend, on-campus housing or housing
allowance, meal allowance, funds toward roundtrip transportation cost, GRE test preparation,
workshops and oral presentations. Continuation of this program in Summer 2008 is contingent
upon funding availability.
- For undergraduates who are interested in the arts, humanities, social
sciences and professional schools (except dentistry, law, and medicine).
- Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Must be juniors during the 2007-2008 academic year with a cumulative,
minimum GPA of 2.80.
- A long-term goal of this program is to help broaden and expand the pool
of academically talented young scholars committed to careers in university
teaching and research. Applicants from groups historically
underrepresented in higher education are encouraged to apply.
- 8 weeks.
- Institute for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration (CMISE)
Is not accepting applications for Summer 2008. Please select a different program.
CMISE is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with the goal of
training the next generation of scientists and engineers for space exploration. The program
offers hands-on research experience working in the lab of a distinguished UCLA professor to
develop new biology-nanosystems-informatics fusion technologies. The program includes: weekly
stipend, on-campus housing and meal allowance, GRE test preparation, workshops and seminars.
The CMISE summer program is an exciting and unique opportunity for scientists and engineers!
Please note this is not a medicine/health science oriented program.
- Students entering their junior or senior year as an undergraduate in science
or engineering with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- CMISE strives to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups
who wish to enter graduate school and obtain a PhD. African-American, Chicano(a)/Latino(a),
American Indian, and Pacific Islander students are encouraged to apply.
- 10 weeks.
- Interdisciplinary Relationship Science Program (IRSP)
Application Deadline: Friday, February 8, 2008
This program sponsors undergraduate students from other colleges and universities who would like
to work on a research program concerning social relationships with an IRSP faculty member at UCLA.
Summer Program includes: stipend, on-campus housing or housing allowance, meal allowance, funds
toward roundtrip transportation cost, GRE test preparation, workshops and oral presentations or
poster presentations.
- Students must apply separately to BOTH the IRSP and SPUR programs. See the
How to Apply for IRSP page for more information.
- For U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Students entering their junior or senior year during the 2008-2009 academic year.
- Cumulative minimum GPA of at least 3.0.
- Must have an
IRSP faculty member able to serve as a research mentor.
- 8 weeks.
- Master the Doctorate (MTD)
Application Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2008
The UCLA Master The Doctorate (MTD) program offers master's students with outstanding academic
potential the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects. The
program is designed for master's students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree and an academic
career in teaching and research. Open to both UCLA and non-UCLA students.
- Nanosystems Chemistry and Engineering Research (NanoCER) Program
Application Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2008
The Nanosystems Chemistry and Engineering Research (NanoCER) program is a Research Experience
for Undergraduates (REU) site sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Undergraduates
interested in chemistry and engineering will learn how to be scientists and engineers by
participating in teams that develop new materials, devices and applications of nanotechnology.
The 10-week summer program includes: weekly stipend, on-campus housing, workshops and seminars.
Participants will have access to and be trained in the use of sophisticated instrumentation and
fabrication facilities. To apply, participants must:
- Students must apply separately to BOTH the REU-NanoCER and SPUR programs. See
the How to Apply for NanoCER
page for more information
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Have completed their junior year.
- Clearly articulate an interest in nanotechnology in their personal statement.
- NanoCER strives to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups
who continue on to doctoral study in science and engineering. Women, African-American,
Chicano(a)/Latino(a), American Indian, and Pacific Islander students are encouraged to
apply.
- 10 weeks.
- Summer Nursing Program: School of Nursing
This program offers nursing undergraduates in their junior year with outstanding
academic potential the opportunity to work on research projects with School of
Nursing faculty mentors. It is designed for students who plan to pursue the PhD
degree and enter academic careers in nursing. Program includes stipend, on-campus
housing, meal allowance, funds toward roundtrip transportation cost, GRE test
preparation, formal and informal discussion on career options and other activities.
Each student participant will be assigned to a faculty mentor matched as closely
as possible to the student's research interests and career goals. Participants will
either assist the faculty member in an ongoing research project or, with approval
of faculty, work collaboratively with the mentor in designing a new project of
mutual interest.
- Research areas: Biobehavioral Sciences, Biologic Sciences,
Health Disparities/Vulnerable Populations and Health Services Research.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- For qualified nursing students currently holding undergraduate junior status.
- Preference given to first-generation college students.
- Cumulative, minimum GPA of 2.80.
- 8 weeks.
- UCLA NSF Alliance for Graduate Education and the
Professoriate (AGEP) Summer Research Scholars
AGEP Summer Research Scholars (SRS), funded by a National Science Foundation AGEP
grant, sponsors underrepresented undergraduates to participate in hands-on research
with leading UCLA faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
fields. Program includes: stipend, travel reimbursement, on-campus housing, meal
allowance, GRE test preparation, workshops, seminars and poster presentations.
- For undergraduates currently in their junior year.
- Must be interested in pursuing a science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM) doctoral degree.
- Must be from backgrounds that are underrepresented in STEM
doctoral fields and in accordance with the NSF (African Americans, Hispanics,
American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders).
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Priority will be given to applicants who are attending Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), Minority
Serving Institutions (MSI), Tribal Colleges and Universities Programs (TCUP) or
California State Universities (CSU).
- To learn more about how to apply to this program, please contact Dr. Heather Tarleton
at tarleton@gdnet.ucla.edu or (310) 825-3829.
- 8-10 weeks
UC LEADS scholars should not submit an application.
Contact your UC LEADS coordinator to find out how to be considered for the UCLA Summer
Programs for Undergraduate Research.
Deadline
All application materials and supporting documents must be received by January
18, 2008 unless otherwise stated in the program description. Preference will be
given to applications that are completed by the program’s deadline. Notification of decisions
will be made by the end of May 2008.
For Further Information Contact
Please contact Ms. Gloria Dial at gdial@gdnet.ucla.edu
or (310) 825-3521. Also, please read the
UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate and Graduate Research Booklet.
How To Apply
You must submit an Online Application & Support Materials. Please make sure
you submit a complete application by sending all
pertinent supporting materials via mail or private carrier.
Additional Opportunities
Other Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research at UCLA.
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