Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is a ten-week summer program during which Emory undergraduate research fellows conduct full-time independent research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. SURE research takes place within the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. SURE participation fulfills the Experience and Application (XA) General Education Requirement (GER).

SURE research fellows benefit from hands-on research, mentorship, networking opportunities, and graduate school preparation.

SURE research fellows receive an offer for free housing on the Clairmont campus and a stipend to support their full-time attention to research and professional development.

SURE Atlanta - Apply Here | October 29 - February 2, 2027 8pm

Eligibility and Application

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a current Emory University undergraduate student enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, Oxford College, the Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, or the Goizueta Business School.
Must be a first-time SURE participant. Former SURE fellows are not eligible to apply again.
Must have a faculty mentor on the Atlanta campus who will endorse your application and provide guidance over the summer.
Must return to Emory University the fall semester after SURE. In other words, students who are graduating in May or at the end of summer are not eligible to apply.

Partner programs such as INSPIRE, SUPERR, and LGS-SOAR may consider non-Emory participants under separate eligibility criteria.

Students from Oxford College are eligible to apply to SURE-Atlanta if they have secured a faculty mentor on the Atlanta campus. Oxford College students who have secured a faculty mentor on the Oxford campus should apply to the SURE-Oxford program.

Application:

All applicants must submit the application by the deadline.
Project proposal: We suggest including an introduction, background/purpose, hypothesis, methods, and implications. If applicable, you may include preliminary results obtained from earlier stages of research.
Mentor's endorsement: You are required to provide your mentor's name and contact information in the application. A letter of recommendation is not required. Instead, your mentor must submit a recommendation form by the application deadline. The form will be sent automatically to your mentor's inbox with the subject line "SURE Mentor Endorsement Request for [Student's Name]."
A copy of your resume
A personal statement

SURE participants will:

Conduct research full-time under the guidance of a research mentor.
Meet with their research mentor at least eight times during the 10-week program. Meetings can be virtual or in-person.
Attend and participate in weekly Responsible Conduct of Research and professional development seminars throughout the program period May 24–July 30, 2027.
Participate in research activities such as workshops and discussion groups.
Present their research project at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on July 29, 2027.

SURE is a full-time commitment. If awarded, students cannot enroll in summer or Maymester courses or participate in other experiences that overlap with the SURE program.

Students will be given time off on Monday, May 31st for Memorial Day and Monday, July 5th for Independence Day.

Benefits - Participants in the SURE Program receive a one-time monetary stipend via direct deposit. SURE also fulfills the Experience and Application (XA) General Education Requirement (GER).

Housing - Each SURE participant will be offered free campus housing (a room in the 4-BR suites on the Clairmont Campus).

Participants may choose to live off-campus. However, the SURE housing award is for the Clairmont Campus only. It is not transferable and cannot be applied to any other type of accommodation.

Faculty mentors will:

Review and endorse their student's research proposal to be included in the SURE application.
Support their student researcher throughout the summer research period (May 24–July 30, 2027).
Schedule at least eight meetings with the mentee over the 10-week program. Meetings can be a combination of in-person and remote.
Provide guidance and feedback on the student's presentation for the summer symposium.
Attend their mentee's presentation at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on July 29, 2027.

FAQ

Is the Summer Undergraduate Research Program open to all majors?

Yes, SURE is open to all majors within Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Oxford College, the Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and the Goizueta School of Business. However, SURE research projects do not have to coincide with your major. SURE provides students the opportunity to explore research in other disciplines.

Are graduating seniors eligible?

No. Students must return to Emory University in the fall to be eligible for this summer program. If you are graduating in May or at the end of the summer, you are not eligible to apply.

Can I take summer classes or register for Emory’s Maymester while participating in SURE?

Participation in SURE is a full-time commitment. SURE participants cannot enroll in Maymester or summer courses or commit to any internship or experience that overlaps with the SURE schedule.

When will applicants receive notification of acceptance?

Notifications will be sent via email in March. Accepted students must confirm participation within a week of receiving their offer.