An Overview of the Summer Research Initiative
The Summer Research Initiative (SRI) was created in 1999 by the Office of the Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the College. The program is designed to encourage and enhance the diversity of scholars working in the social and behavioral science fields.
In that spirit, we are interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of students, including African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, American Indian/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, as well as students with research interests related to diverse communities
The goals of the initiative are to:
- Increase the knowledge of, and interest in, doctoral-level training in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences;
- Provide rising juniors and seniors an opportunity to learn about graduate studies and the range of research and scholarship in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences at the University of Maryland;
- Provide a laboratory experience that enhances basic research knowledge and skills;
- Provide lectures, workshops, didactic exchanges, etc., to enhance students' knowledge of the graduate application process, negotiating the academic rigors and professional and personal challenges encountered in graduate school, and developing career paths in social, behavioral, and economic science; and
- Provide mentoring and networking opportunities for students to advance their training in the social, behavior, and economic sciences.
The SRI is part of the college's longstanding commitment to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who pursue graduate degrees in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. According to data from the National Science Foundation, the university ranks 8th in the country in the number of doctoral degrees awarded and 13th in the number of Bachelor of Arts degrees awarded to underrepresented minority students in those fields. The Summer Research Initiative is an integral part of our efforts.
Summer Research Initiative: Past Participants
In 2012 the program brought 12 outstanding students to the University of Maryland College Park campus for an eight-week program. Events and activities showcase five main programmatic themes including lab and research experiences, didactic science lectures, professional development, mentoring and networking. Participants worked side-by-side with faculty mentors on a guided research project, attended weekly seminars and visited premier research institutions in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. The 2012 SRI Scholars presented their work at a poster session at the conclusion of the program.
The University of Maryland’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) is proud to congratulate the 2012 Summer Research Initiative Scholars, who pursued research and scholarly projects alongside faculty mentors from the summer of 2012.
Learn more about the 2012 SRI Scholars & Mentors HERE
Summer Research Initiative 2013
Thank you for your interest in the University of Maryland’s 2013 Summer Research Initiative (SRI). Our application cycle ran from December 1, 2012 – February 15, 2013 and is now closed. Applications will be reviewed through March 2013 and selection announcements will be made in April 2013. The actual program runs 8 weeks, from June 3, 2013 – July 26, 2013. Those selected will be expected to arrive to campus for the weekend program orientation on Saturday, June 1, 2013.
BSOS Departments
*Attention applicants requesting mentors from the Hearing and Speech Sciences Department (HESP): The SRI program in HESP gives highest priority to summer applicants who intend to pursue a research doctorate in addition to/rather than the clinical Master of Arts or doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) programs in graduate school. Please indicate the relevance of research to your eventual career goals in your personal statement.
Programs and Centers
Further Inquiries
For additional information, please contact:
BSOSsri@umd.edu
301.405.1097
