The Scholarly Undergraduate Research Focus (SURF) Suite

The Living / Learning SURF suite is a quiet, academically-focused environment geared toward educational achievement and academic success. It brings together students who are focused on their academic careers and provides a supportive environment for those who aspire to earn a graduate degree and remain on a college campus to teach or conduct research. More information is available on the General Information page.

Upcoming Events

Guest Speaker
Harvey Amani Whitfield, PhD, from the UVM History Department
"Blacks on the Border: The Black Refugees in British North America, 1815 - 1860"
Monday, February 22, 2010
6:15 PM, Living / Learning Fireplace Lounge
Light Refreshments

SURF UVM joins with graduate and medical students for the third annual

The 2010 Student Research Conference features 150+ students at the Davis Student Center for oral and poster presentations. This is the third annual event combining undergraduate, graduate and medical students in one venue. All UVM students performing research or creative projects under the mentorship of a UVM faculty member are encouraged to participate. Though the graduate students and MD/PhD students had a long-standing conference activity, the first event of this type to include all undergraduates was a pilot event held on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at the Billings Student Center. The intent was to formally recognize and celebrate the scholarly research conducted by undergraduates and acknowledge the invaluable role research and faculty mentorship plays in early academic development.

Tuesday, February 16 is the deadline to apply to present and submit your abstract.

At the request of Provost John M. Hughes, SURF UVM was planned, conducted and hosted by the UVM McNair Scholars as a community service project. The involvement and support of the entire UVM community made this inaugural event a success. The first-ever, campus wide research venue for undergraduates invited students from all colleges and majors. The first 35 students who successfully completed the registration process were invited to present a poster to the community. Despite a very tight schedule during the inaugural year, 32 students completed a poster for display. Faculty members volunteered their expertise as adjudicators and posters from three categories were selected as outstanding: Health & Life Sciences; Earth, Engineering and the Environment; and Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.

For undergraduate student presenters, the benefits of involvement include:

• The opportunity to receive the recognition they deserve
• An opportunity to acknowledge the mentoring / advising relationship with UVM faculty
• Enhanced credentials on graduate school applications
• Workshops on how to:
  • Write an abstract
  • Develop and improve public speaking skills
  • Present academic research
  • Create a professional research poster
  The inaugural SURF UVM! pilot event lead the way to the first Student Research Conference in 2008. The SRC presented the UVM community with a comprehensive event that did justice to the high quality of research conducted by all its students: undergraduates, graduates and medical. No doubt, that quality will continue on in 2010. Be there!

  Tuesday, February 16 is the deadline to apply to present and submit your abstract.

  Last modified February 22 2010 04:13 PM