SURPASs
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs)
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs) is a paid, mentored summer research / creative scholarship experience for undergraduate students across all academic disciplines. Scholars work closely with a faculty mentor, who agrees to support them prior to applying, on a project of their choice during a summer intensive. In addition, scholars form a cohort with 8 to 15 peers, meeting weekly to share project updates and learn from one another.
The 2021 SURPASs intensive will run from May 23 – June 30, 2021. SURPASs scholars will receive a $1,500 stipend and a supplemented budget of $500 for materials and supplies. SURPASs faculty mentors will receive a $1,000 stipend.
Please note: Given the unpredictability of our current circumstances, we will only consider projects that can be adapted to a remote/virtual, off-campus environment. Projects that require travel will not be considered.
SURPASs is made possible by generous gifts from many alumni, including Trustee Regina Pisa and Trustee Pamela Toulopoulos '73, as well as support from the Office of the Provost.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2021 SURPASs program are due by 8:00 AM on Monday, March 8. A complete submission includes:
- Brief Project Summary (250 words max) + Title
- Proposal Narrative
- Budget
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation from Faculty Mentor
- Scholar and Faculty’s Mentoring Plan
The faculty-student mentor relationship is a significant component of the SURPASs program. Interested students are encouraged to get in touch with prospective faculty mentors early in the process (between December - January) to begin planning and preparing their proposal.
Submit your application materials through the online submission portal. For more information, email [email protected].
2020 SURPASs Scholars
- Taylor Adams, Tracking of Massachusetts Invasive Aquatic Plant Species: Environmental DNA vs. Traditional Observation Methods. Mentors: Anna Aguilera, Jane Lopilato
- Isabella Amparan, To Create Something that Hates You: An Exploration of Personhood and Gender Within Science Fiction. Mentor: Briana Martino
- Pearl Bechard, Quantitative Evaluation of 10-years of Flipped Classrooms in Teaching Organic Chemistry Courses for Undergraduates at Simmons University. Mentor: Ahmed Radwan
- Chiara Beauvais, Relationship between Neuronal Activity and the Multimerization State of Alpha-Synuclein in C. elegans. Mentor: Eric Luth
- Mira Blumen, Risk and Resilience Factors for Mental Health Among Young Women with Turner Syndrome. Mentor: Elaine Augustine
- Seana Brady, Analyzing the potential harmful effects of health and wellness apps and online communities. Mentor: Elise Brenner
- Sarah Carlon, Ní Saoirse go Saoirse na mBan: Women in the Militant Republican Movement. Mentor: Sarah Leonard
- Brianna Desharnais, Measuring Levels and Assessing Safety of Glyphosate in Genetically Modified Food Products. Mentor: Cherie Ramirez
- Taylor Forest, Transducer simulation for theoretical use as an alternative root canal treatment using ultrasound. Mentor: P. Jason White
- Maria Kolovkskaya, Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Nano-probes for the Early Detection of Molecular Retinal Biomarkers of Diabetic Retinopathy. Mentor: Ahmed Radwan
- Saloni Kumar, Exploring Indian-American Attitudes Towards Race Through Voting Patterns. Mentor: Diane Grossman
- Ngan Luu, Increasing Fruit Shelf Life with Seaweed Coating (Algimate) + Essentials Oils. Mentor: Shreya Bhattacharyya
- Najat Mannoun, Gold Nanorods as Contrast Agents in Optical Coherence Tomography for Early Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Mentor: Ahmed Radwan
- Jeanine Sempler, Perceptions of the Links Between Racism and Sexism. Mentor: Megan McCarty
- Zarnaab Shafiq, Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation of Poly Lactic-co-glycolic Acid (PLGA) Biodegradable Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) for Bone Regeneration. Mentor: Ahmed Radwan