• The summer research program accepts applications from undergraduate students with majors in any of the departments of the School of Physical Sciences (Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics).
• Previous recipients of SPURS are eligible to apply; however, applicants who have not previously received an award will be prioritized. 
• Applicants must be enrolled students atUC San Diego during the research term in July-August 2025.
  • "Enrolled at UC San Diego" means you were registered for Spring 25, are planning on enrolling in Fall 25, and/or are enrolled in Summer Session 2025.  
  • If applicants will be graduating in Spring 2025 and are no longer enrolled at UC San Diego, they are not eligible to apply. 

Financial Aid Disclaimer

• Students are awarded a $7,500 stipend to support their time and effort conducting a summer research project.  
• Awards are intended to be allocated specifically during summer months for research and will not displace financial aid for the academic year unless the student is enrolled in Summer Session and receiving financial aid.
  • Please note that if you plan to enroll in Summer Session and receive Summer financial aid, you may not be eligible to receive the $7,500 award from the School of Physical Sciences. Per federal regulations, each student is subject to a limited amount of aid (which includes this summer research award). Students should discuss potential impacts on their financial aid with a counselor at finaid@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-4480.

• Students applying to this program need to provide the name and a nonconfidential endorsement letter of a faculty member who commits to serve as a mentor and host for the summer research.
• Mentor faculty can be affiliated with any department or school at UC San Diego. They do not need to be affiliated with the School of Physical Sciences.
• For the mentor endorsement letter, it is sufficient to include a simple statement that the faculty agrees to host the student for research on the project over the summer. The faculty letter is not confidential and does not need to contain an evaluation of the student. Statements from the faculty letter will not be considered for award review and selection.
• Start early to identify a mentor for your summer research. Faculty often have ideas about summer research projects. Before preparing an application, speak to the faculty and discuss possible research projects.
• Do not submit an application without approval by the mentor faculty mentioned in the application.

• Applications are reviewed by a faculty committee with participation from previous years’ awardee mentors.
• Review is done by one of three committees, depending on the subject area, consisting of School of Physical Sciences faculty from.
• Applications are evaluated in five categories:
  • The Personal Statement is evaluated for motivation and awareness of the importance of individual research experience.
  • The Research Plan is evaluated for 1) sufficient description of the broader background for the project, 2) a clear statement about the activities the student will perform, 3) description of the expected outcomes, and 4) whether the project goals are realistic for the summer research period.
• Each application is reviewed by at least two faculty.

1. Do I need previous research experience? 

No. SPURS is designed for students who are new to research and those with limited experience. The program aims to create equitable access to research opportunities, particularly for students who may not have had the chance to participate in a lab or scholarly project before. Whether it’s your first time working in a research setting or you’re looking to deepen your experience, SPURS provides the structure, mentorship and support to help you succeed.

2. Does SPURS provide housing or transportation? 

No, SPURS does not provide housing or transportation. The stipend is disbursed directly to students, and it is up to you to arrange your own housing and commute. Think of the stipend as a paycheck.

3. What are the program dates?

The program runs for 10 weeks starting in late June and ending in early September. Specific dates are confirmed each year and shared in the acceptance email.

4. Is the program in-person or remote?

That depends on your research mentor. Some labs may offer remote or hybrid options, but many projects will require in-person lab work. You should coordinate directly with your faculty mentor to clarify expectations.

5. What are the expectations of participants?

Participants are expected to:

• Engage in research full-time (approx. 20–40 hours/week). 
• Stay in regular contact with their mentor or research team
• Complete program surveys
• Complete and present a research poster at the end-of-summer poster presentation event

6. Do I need to find my own faculty mentor?

Yes, students are responsible for identifying and securing their own faculty mentor for the SPURS program.

We strongly recommend that you begin exploring research opportunities as early as possible. A good starting point is your department’s research webpage, where you can learn more about the type of research each faculty member conducts. Once you’ve identified faculty whose work interests you, you can reach out via email to express your interest, ask to learn more, and potentially set up a meeting to discuss joining their lab for the summer.

7. Can I take summer classes or work another job while in SPURS?

Participants are expected to prioritize their research.  However, they are welcome to enroll in summer classes or work part-time as long as they have cleared it with their faculty mentors/lab members. 

8. Can I work with a faculty member or research lab outside of the School of Physical Sciences?

Yes, you may work with a faculty member outside of the School of Physical Sciences as long as your research project is closely related to your major and aligns with the goals of the SPURS program.