The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience is an opportunity for students to be paired with a faculty member for one-on-one mentoring during the summer. S.U.R.E. participants will spend 10 to 12 on-campus hours per week with a mentor over five to 10 weeks learning how to conduct a research study. Students will attend several seminars with other participants to broaden their knowledge of various topics and will create and present a poster at the conclusion of S.U.R.E. and at a Showcase SFA event.
Program Guidelines & Stipends
Formal S.U.R.E. activities will be scheduled during the second summer term, but work on individual projects may start as early as the spring semester or first summer term.
Faculty members will lead discussions for at least one of the weekly meetings (if applicable) and will receive a maximum $1,300 stipend including departmental matches.
Students will receive a minimum $500 scholarship applied to the fall tuition bill with a possible match from the department, depending on available funds. Students must enroll in the fall semester following their S.U.R.E. project to receive the scholarship.
Up to $500 is available for supplies. Recipients are encouraged to request matching funds from their department.
Application Information
Summer 2023 Application:
The application is available to download online and is due by Feb. 10, 2023. Completed applications should be submitted to the College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Office, located inside the Cole STEM Building, Suite 406.
As part of the mentoring process, students should be involved in the development of the applications.
2023 Posters
Explore the presentations below from our 2023 S.U.R.E. participants. Click on a poster to read the abstract and watch the poster pitch.
Rebecca Beyer


Rebecca Beyer
A Walk Through Geologic Time: The SFA Rock Garden
Department of Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources
Student: Rebecca Beyer
Faculty mentor: Dr. Mindy Faulkner

Click to watch the poster pitch
Cade Breedlove


Cade Breedlove
Platform for Investigating Predator/Prey Chase Scenarios
Department of Computer Science
Student: Cade Breedlove
Faculty mentor: Dr. Nick Long

Click to watch the poster pitch
Allyssa Fisher


Allyssa Fisher
Analysis of Phytochemicals from Watercress Leaves
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Student: Allyssa Fisher
Faculty mentor: Dr. Bidisha Sengupta

Click to watch the poster pitch
Emerald Hernandez

Design of an SAE Baja Vehicle Drivetrain
Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy
Student: Emerald Hernandez
Faculty mentor: Dr. Dan Bruton

Click to watch the poster pitch
Michael Ironsmith

Madison McFarland


Madison McFarland
Spetroscopic Investigation of Pottery Sherds from Guatemala
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Student: Madison McFarland
Faculty mentor: Dr. Kefa Onchoke

Click to watch the poster pitch
Kris Moyers

John Mullins


John Mullins
Investigating the Potential Physical Interaction Between Albumin and Fetuin-A Plasma Proteins
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Student: John Mullins
Faculty mentor: Dr. Odutayo Odunuga

Click to watch the poster pitch
Erin Powell


Erin Powell
2-adic Valuation of Fibonacci-like Sequences
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Student: Erin Powell
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane Long

Click to watch the poster pitch