Academics

Academic Resources

Research Opportunities

Vanderbilt’s arts and science students use advanced technologies that range from a state-of-the-art language laboratory to tissue culture facilities and mass spectrometers. Computer facilities include VUnet, the campuswide data network that connects all residence-hall rooms and provides access to the Internet. The Heard Library is among the nation’s top research facilities. Students have access to more than 3 million volumes, over 12,000 e-journals, hundreds of electronic databases, and a large collection of maps, sound recordings, CDs, and DVDs. An ever-increasing number of resources are available electronically.

Undergraduate Research

All undergraduates at Vanderbilt may pursue original research in a number of different formats, including:

Independent Study/ Reading, Directed Research, Directed/Independent Laboratory Research, and other 1:1 student-faculty tutorial arrangements

These curricular options are generally reserved for upperclass students. Interested students should consult the homepage of the department or program in which they wish to work for information on how to proceed.

Research Conference Funds

The College of Arts and Science has a fund to help support undergraduates who present their research at academic conferences. Eligible students may receive up to $400.00 each in reimbursement for travel to conferences at which they are presenting original research.

To be considered for an award, a student should provide a brief letter in which s/he describes the research project to be presented and the value of the conference. The student letter must be accompanied by a letter of support from a faculty member in the student's major department or program, as well as verification that the student is listed in the conference program (e.g., a link to the conference program). Requests must be made and approved prior to travel for a student to be eligible for support. Each student is eligible for one award per academic year, and the total number of awards is limited.

Students may deliver applications to Terry Tripp in 311 Kirkland, or e-mail PDFs to terry.tripp@vanderbilt.edu.

Departmental Honors

Students in every academic area may work toward departmental honors, programs designed to encourage independent study. Results are presented internally, and are also frequently published or presented at professional meetings. Students generally begin departmental honors work in the junior year, but outstanding seniors are also considered. Interested students should consult the homepage of the department or program for the name of the Director of the Honors Program in that area.

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program

The goal of the VUSRP is to enhance joint student-faculty research efforts. The major component of the program is the scholarly work done by a student in collaboration with a full-time faculty member. Eligible students compete for summer research stipends which will support them during the annual ten-week summer program. For information on how to apply, consult the homepage of the VUSRP at vusrp.vanderbilt.edu

 

Summer 2013 Internship Opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill

The Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a ten-week paid summer research internship for undergraduate students (rising juniors or rising seniors at the end of this academic year). The program will be held from May 26-August 1, 2013 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The MURAP program seeks to prepare talented and motivated students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, or those with a proven commitment to diversity, for graduate study and academic careers in fields in the humanities, social sciences and fine arts. The program provides students with a rigorous research experience under the guidance of a UNC faculty mentor. Each student participant will receive:

  • Stipend
  • Campus Housing
  • Meal Allowance
  • Weekly or biweekly writing, communication skills and professional development workshops
  • GRE prep course
  • Paid domestic travel expenses

The application deadline is February 8, 2013. For more details about the program please see the attached announcement. To access an application and for additional information about MURAP please visit our website at http://www.unc.edu/depts/murap/ or contact Marissa Garcia, Program Coordinator, murap@unc.edu .

 

Summer 2013 Research Experience For Undergraduates

Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh have an exciting opportunity summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) available for undergraduates. The application for this program can be found at

http://www.learnlab.org/opportunities/LearnLab_Summer_REU.php.

This REU program is sponsored by LearnLab, a Science of Learning Center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). We encourage applications from students who would like to conduct research in the fields of psychology, education, computer science, human-computer interfaces and language technologies. LearnLab's REU program allows talented undergraduates to spend 8 weeks during the summer in a research laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, or one of our research partners. The REU program supports LearnLab's commitment to training a diverse set of science, technology, education, and psychology leaders.

Applications are encouraged from students who wish to learn to conduct research in a modern academic research laboratory under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers and experiment in real classroom environments. The REU program will expose students to the excitement and opportunities of a research career. This experience will provide excellent preparation for students interested in subsequently pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. degree. Although students from other years may apply, this opportunity is most fitting for a student at the end of the junior year of undergraduate studies.

Each student will receive a fellowship stipend of $4000 for the eight-week REU program. Food, housing and travel will also be provided.
Students will conduct research in an area matched to the interests expressed in the student's application. Guidance and supervision of the research project will be provided by the faculty member as well as, in some cases, a postdoctoral fellow and/or advanced graduate student.

REU Program Dates: Students will begin their research experience on Sunday, June 2, 2013 with a welcoming reception and information session. The REU program will end on Friday July 26, 2013 with a poster session in the afternoon.
Submission of an application indicates that the applicant agrees to be present from June 2 to 4pm July 26, 2013 inclusive.

Application Deadline: Deadline for applications is February 15, 2013. Students will be informed of our decision by March 1, 2013.

Minimum Requirements: Students should have a minimum of 3.5 GPA out of 4.0 although we will consider students who show by other measures that they are exceptional and who have GPAs over 3.2. Class standing and grades in specific subjects that are close to the field of research will also be considered, as are recommendations.

Number of slots/ positions available: LearnLab can accommodate as many as 10 positions, although in any given year, we may decide to fund fewer than 10 applicants.