FAQ

SoHE Summer Scholars is an undergraduate research program at the University of Texas at Austin. The goal of the Summer Scholars program is to prepare students for the rigors of graduate school by providing immersive, hands-on experience in active scientific labs. All undergraduate students are welcome to apply, and students from marginalized or underresourced communities are especially encouraged to apply

The core components of the Summer Scholars program include:

Scientific Research:

Summer Scholars will learn to conduct original scientific research via placements within the member labs of the Department of Nutrtional Sciences and the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences.

Building a Community of Science:

A central aim of the Summer Scholars program is to foster inclusivity and nurture a sense of community among scholars. Summer Scholars are paired with a formal mentor – typically a graduate student or post-doc – and supervised by a faculty PI or the duration of the program. Mentors provide day-to-day guidance in the lab and general support throughout the program.

Organized social activities provide opportunity for all participants to build new connections and friendships within and outside of their labs. Extracurricular events are also paired with regular check-ins, status meetings, and progress reports to ensure students are getting the support and supervision required for steady research progress.

Professional Development:

Summer Scholars will meet regularly as a group to take part in workshops, seminars, and discussions on a wide variety of topics designed to enhance their professional development. Past workshop and discussion topics include: ethics in research, how to apply to graduate school, how to read/write scientific publications, presentation skills and techniques, and explorations of different life-science careers.

Summer Scholars will further shape their professional skills through activities like a 2-Minute Elevator Pitch Competition, mock interviews, formal Lab-Swaps, and final oral and poster presentations. (These are examples of past activities, the specific 2022 schedule has yet to be announced.)

View Program Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What will I study while in the SoHE Summer Scholars program?

Students will have an opportunity to join a research lab that is working on real-world, cutting-edge scientific questions. A number of labs from across the School of Human Ecology have agreed to host students.

When will the program begin and end?

The program will begin on June 6th, and end on August 12th.

Will I be paid a stipend? If so, how much?

Scholars will receive a $3500 stipend for the summer.

At this time, we do not provide housing.

Health insurance is not provided by the Summer Scholars program and participants are strongly encouraged to maintain their own insurance and/or consider purchasing health insurance for the duration of the program. SoHE Summer Students may elect to purchase AcademicBlue, the UT Austin Student Health Insurance Plan for the summer term.

How do lab placements work?

Admitted students will work in concert with the admissions commitee and program staff to find a perfect lab fit. You will receive notification of your lab placement and be introduced to your mentor via email prior to the start of the program.

Will there be activities outside of the lab?

Yes! The program will hold academic and social events throughout the summer. Students will have the opportunity to interact with faculty, current students, and program staff.

The format for programming will be based on the University’s public health guidelines, and may include a mix of in-peron and virtual activities.

Past professional development workshop topics have included: Grad School 101 & Funding for Grad School, Grad School Admissions Committee Round-table, Research Poster Design Workshop, BIG Data, Jobs Inside and Outside of Academia, and others.

Can international students participate in SoHE Summer Scholars?

Yes!

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, will we be working in person?

We are cautiously optimistc that we will be able to host the Summer Scholars program in person in 2022.This is subject to change.

All SoHE Summer Scholar participants must:

Follow the prevailing campus COVID-19 policies and Research Restart policies in place at the time of their program.