Research Experiences
School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research (SOLUR) Program
- Overview |
- Apprentice |
- Researcher |
- Fellow
SOLUR Program Overview
The School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research (SOLUR) program is supported in part by a grant to ASU School of Life Sciences from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Undergraduate Science Education Program and funds from ASU to the School of Life Sciences (SOLS)
The School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research (SOLUR) program promotes and facilitates opportunities for undergraduates to participate in the exciting biological research being done on the ASU campus and elsewhere in the Valley of the Sun. Through participation in research, students in the SOLUR program have some of the most formative and engaging learning experiences that research universities such as ASU can offer. Our program endeavors to teach students about the process of scientific investigation in a way that encourages and includes students from all backgrounds and prepares them well for careers in the life sciences. What better way is there to do this than to get students actually involved in original and first rate research in the life sciences?
In SOLUR and our other undergraduate research programs students learn about and contribute to research by working closely with faculty and other mentors on on-going investigations. We support these experiences by providing (1) information on projects and mentors available to students, (2) funds for salary, supplies, and travel for research, (3) a seminar to learn about research enterprise and interact with other SOLUR participants, and (4) an annual poster symposium to gain experience in communicating the results of research. We encourage not only projects focused on biology but also those that span or make connections to the life sciences. SOLUR participants often engage in projects beyond the School of Life Sciences in disciplines such as Psychology, Biochemistry, Kinesiology, Bioengineering, and Philosophy.
Learning the skills necessary for full participation in research is a gradual process and so our program features three levels of student involvement - Apprentices, Researchers, and Fellows. The level at which a given student enters the program and participates depends on their background and previous experiences both at ASU and elsewhere.
Apprentice is our first or starting level for students who have no previous experience working on a research project in the field or lab. At this level, you will work for a semester or two on project largely developed, planned, and guided by your faculty mentor.
Researcher is our second or middle level of participation and the award is for one academic year (fall and spring semesters) with the option of starting in the summer before. This level is for students who after being an apprentice or with some equivalent experience find they are keenly interested in research and want to learn more. During the year as a Researcher, you will be paid an hourly wage and have access to funds for research supplies and travel to relevant scientific conferences.
Fellow is our highest level of appointment. These appointments start at the beginning of summer and run for one full year. During this time, students work on projects in which they have had a great deal of creative input into the conceptualization and design of the work and experiments. This level is for those students who have had at least one year of experience in research and who are committed to pursing careers in the life sciences, especially those involving research. Fellows are paid an hourly wage and have access to funds for research supplies and travel to relevant scientific conferences.
Please see the attached document for more detail.
No matter what the level of participation, students in the SOLUR program are excited about their projects and what they are learning. We encourage you to consider seriously these opportunities as one of the best ways to enrich and enhance your education at ASU.
For More Information, Contact the SOLUR Program Staff
School of Life Sciences Enrichment Program
Arizona State University
PO Box 874701
Tempe, Arizona 85287-4701
(480) 965-5369
SOLSEP@asu.edu
The School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research (SOLUR) Program Funding
Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Undergraduate Science Education Program
and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University