Summer Undergraduate Fellowships Awarded

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Posted on July 17, 2019

Marketing and Communications

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For ten weeks this summer, more than 60 University of South Alabama undergraduates are working on research fellowships. They are busy delving into topics such as “Cultural Anthropology and Oral History in Blakeley Bluff,” “Fear and Sympathy and Attitudes Toward Immigrants,” and “Investigating the Effects of Waves and Current on Bridge Superstructure Loading.”

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program, run by the Office of Undergraduate Research, awards $2,000 stipends, plus up to $300 in supplies, for student-designed research projects. Students get a unique opportunity for authentic learning, where they can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on experiences.

The diverse group of students participating this summer come from seven colleges at the University, in disciplines ranging from the arts and humanities to engineering, biomedical sciences and business administration. To apply, students must be in their final two years of undergraduate study and in addition to proposing the project and work plan, must work with a mentor throughout the summer and participate in regular meetings with other student fellows. They are required to put in an average of 20 hours per week on the projects, and to present the results of their work at a symposium in the fall.

“Undergraduate research offers an avenue to enrich learning and engage students not only in STEM disciplines such as my own, but also in the arts, humanities, social sciences and professional programs,” said Dr. Christy Wheeler West, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “I hope to build collaborations that will enhance opportunities for undergraduate and faculty scholarship across all University programs.”

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