Summer Undergraduate Research Intensive

Summer Undergraduate Research Intensive (SURI): Participate in hands-on research, build your resume, and earn a stipend this summer.

Two Opportunities for TTU Undergraduates

This summer, we are offering two distinct SURI projects: (1) an in-person experience in Lubbock, Texas, and (2) a fully virtual experience without a requirement to be physically in Lubbock over the summer. These programs pair motivated undergraduate students with faculty mentors for an immersive research experience. Participants will present their findings and gain practical academic experience. Please note: Interested students are invited to request a place on one of the project teams. You may only participate in one project.

Stipend Details

Both projects come with a $1,000 stipend for June (paid out approximately on July 10) and a $1,000 stipend for July (paid out approximately on August 10). Students must fully engage with the project to qualify for the stipend. This means it is important for each SURI partiicpant to confirm project expectations before beginning. If the project faculty mentor does not confirm that the student authentically participated in the experience for a given month, then the stipend will not be released.

Project 1 (In-Person in Lubbock): College of Education - STEM VR & Teacher PD Research

Join Dr. Rebecca Hite to support two educational research projects. First, you will conduct observational research by taking field notes as elementary students engage in STEM-based play activities using zSpace Virtual Reality (VR) devices. Second, you will assist STEM faculty with a Professional Development module for teachers focusing on West Texas water issues.

Schedule & Locations:

• Phase 1 (Elementary School Observations): Students must commit to one of the following two locations. Both take place from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM:
  • Bean Elementary School: May 26, June 2, June 9, June 10, and June 23.
  • Brown Elementary School: May 27, June 1, June 3, June 8, and June 22.
• Phase 2 (Reese Technology Center): 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on July 8, July 9, and July 10.

Program Highlights:

• Focus: STEM Education, Virtual Reality, Observational Research
• Stipend: $1,000 for June and $1,000 for July (see Stipend Details above)

Eligibility:

Open to all academic majors! Students must have their own reliable transportation, carry a government-issued ID (required to access Reese Technology Center), and successfully complete a Lubbock ISD Volunteer Background check.

Interested in Project 1? Please contact Dr. Hite by email at rebecca.hite@ttu.edu using the subject line "TrUE SURI Project Interest."

Project 2 (Virtual): Academic Innovation & Student Success - Researching High Impact Practices (HIPs)

Join Dr. Teresa Lansford, Senior Data Specialist at the University of Virginia, with support from Dr. Levi Johnson, Senior Director of the Texas Tech Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, to research the history, current status, and future of High Impact Practices (HIPs) in higher education. As a student researcher, you will conduct scholarly literature reviews, perform web scraping on university websites to track institutional HIP offerings, and analyze your findings to identify educational trends. A major highlight of this project is the goal to include undergraduate authors on a forthcoming research journal submission. This project is exciting because it both supports ongoing efforts to enhance undergraduate education and research opportunities at Texas Tech and leverages undergraduate student voices in academic discourse around High-Impact Educational Practices.

Program Highlights:

• Focus: Educational Research, Literature Reviews, Data Collection, Web Scraping
• Stipend: $1,000 for June and $1,000 for July (see Stipend Details above)
• Schedule: Flexible, independent research on your own schedule, with expected participation in Zoom research group meetings on Fridays (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) throughout June and July.

Eligibility:

This is a fully virtual research experience, meaning you do not have to be located in Lubbock! However, you must have consistent access to a computer, reliable internet, a webcam, and a microphone. Students must also be available to participate in the mandatory Friday Zoom meetings.

View the Project Preview Document

Interested in Project 2? Apply to join the HIPs research group