The Undergraduate Research Support Office will offer a summer research program for rising-Sophomore Duke students in biological and brain sciences. In this program, students engage with faculty mentors and program directors to conduct disciplinary-specific research and learn effective communication skills with both professional and lay audiences. Students will receive a stipend and housing on Duke’s campus as part of the fellowship. Because engagement in the SURF program is meant to be full-time, students are not permitted to take classes or hold other jobs while participating.
Students who have never engaged in research but have a true passion in learning about the research process and working with a mentor on a project are especially encouraged to apply.
Biological and Brain Sciences:
In this arm of the SURF program, students conduct research alongside the members of a research lab in an area of biological or brain science during the summer as a training opportunity. Students will be asked to indicate their topic areas of interest in the application and once accepted, program directors will work with the students to match them to a lab group that fits their interest. These lab groups are in departments in the College of Arts & Sciences or in basic science labs in the School of Medicine and focus on broad areas in biology or brain sciences.
In addition, students in this program will participate in professional development workshops as a cohort several times a week. Topics will range from learning how to find and read scientific papers, responsible conduct of research, building effective mentoring relationships, communicating about research, and building self-efficacy. Students will also get to attend faculty seminars and tour various research spaces. SURF Fellows participating in biological or brain scientific research will present their work in a campus-wide research showcase at the end of the summer. Many Fellows will continue to work in their research group in subsequent years, culminating in Graduation with Distinction.
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Chemistry
The Chemistry Undergraduate Summer Research Fellows (Chem-SURF) Program is summer program designed to support students who are entering chemistry research for the first time. All undergraduate researchers who are on campus during the summer are welcome to participate in program activities, including weekly professional development workshops, community-building events, and an undergraduate research poster symposium.
A limited number of fellowships (paid research internships) are available to Duke undergraduate students who complete the application before the deadline and meet the fellowship requirements. Financial support for this program and its fellowships are provided by a collaboration between Trinity Research Enhancement Fund and the Duke Chemistry Department. For more information, visit https://sites.duke.edu/chemsurf/.
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Social Sciences and Humanities:
Unfortunately, the Social Science and Humanities arm of the SURF program will not run in the Summer 2025.
Summer Programming
Students will work full-time on their research projects throughout the summer. Some of the SURF professional development programming will be conducted in larger groups, while some may be divided into the BB or SS/Hum arms of the program. Because engagement in the SURF program is meant to be full-time, students are asked to not to take classes or hold other jobs while participating. While some may think research is all work and no play, there will be community bonding activities as well.
Stipend and Housing
The Fellowship includes a $4,000 stipend plus housing on Duke's Campus. Participants will be housed together at double occupancy. Travel and parking assistance is also available for students on need-based financial aid. Note that stipends are reportable income by IRS rules. See: http://finance.duke.edu/payroll/noncomp
Application Requirements
- SURF - Biological & Brain Sciences Application
- Letter of Support from a Duke professor or instructor who can speak to your work ethic, curiosity, interests, motivations, and/or academic maturity. Letters from graduate teaching assistants are acceptable.
- SURF-Acknowledgement of Commitment to Participate
- Duke Experiences General Questionnaire
- Please note that the 'Duke Experiences' application portal requests two references. However, the Undergraduate Research Support (URS) office only requires one Letter of Support from a Duke professor or instructor. The additional reference is simply a backup in case follow-up is needed. You may list the same person who is providing your Letter of Support and identify one additional individual. Rest assured, no emails will be sent to these references—this is just for backup purposes.
Timeline for Offers and Decisions:
- February 1, 2025: The application and letter of recommendation must be submitted.
- March 7, 2025: Students will be notified of acceptance, wait list, or rejection status.
- March 17, 2025: Students must notify the URS Office if they accept or pass on the offer. If needed, we’ll move on to the wait list.
Questions or concerns? Contact the URS Office Inbox at ursoffice@duke.edu
Application Status: OPEN
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Students accepted into the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program are expected to commit full-time to their research and program activities over the course of the 8-week program. This includes:
- Students must dedicate this 8-week period exclusively to SURF and should not take classes or hold other jobs during the program.
- Participation in all SURF’s programming is required. Sessions will include large group workshops as well as discipline-specific activities tailored to the Biological and Brain Sciences or Chem-SURF tracks. These professional development sessions are integrated into the schedule to support students’ growth and learning.
- If a student encounters a conflict or unforeseen circumstances, open communication with program directors is expected to ensure transparency and accountability.
By adhering to these guidelines, SURF participants contribute to a supportive and enriching research community while maximizing the benefits of the program.
Will the program be in-person for 2024?
Yes, this program takes place in person on Duke’s campus with housing provided. There will be in person workshops and events that will be required for participants.
Can non-Duke undergraduates apply?
No, Duke’s SURF Program is for rising Sophomores who will be enrolled at Duke in the fall semester.
Are non-citizens eligible for this program?
Yes. All first- year students are eligible to apply and participate, regardless of citizenship status. But keep reading into the next question, because the tax burden for international students can be significant.
What kind of tax impact does the award have? Could it affect my financial aid?
DSRF award funds are taxable and reported to the IRS. Your tax liability will depend on your total income and many other things, but all applicants should consider it when budgeting.
For international students, the tax burden is likely to be especially large—from 10% to 40% depending on your country of origin. Read here for more information and support.
If you are concerned about how your funding at Duke will work in relationship this award or other summer programs/opportunities, contact your financial aid counselor for further information and advice.
I have never done any research – will this hurt my chances?
Not in the least. SURF seeks to support motivated students with limited experience.
If I have done research, and I am accepted into the program, may I continue my research with the same faculty mentor?
This is usually possible, but not guaranteed. We will take a student’s request into consideration when making placements for the summer.
If I participate in this program, may I enroll in a summer course or work another job?
No, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship requires a full-time commitment during the period of the fellowship. Because of the timing of the program, enrollment in a Duke Summer Session course is not possible.
If I participate in this program, may I also receive Bass funding or additional financial support from my lab?
No. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship requires a full-time commitment during the period of the fellowship. However, you may receive funding from other sources to do research either before or after the SURF period.
How many people apply for this program and how hard is it to get in?
In each of the past several years, approximately 100 students have applied for approximately 20 spaces. This is a competitive program.
When will I be notified and Is there a waitlist?
Students are notified of decisions before the beginning of spring break. There will be a short, unranked waitlist.
Do you wait to accept students after receiving all applications, or is there a rolling admissions process?
The Committee reviews all completed applications after the deadline. There are no rolling admissions.
May I check whether my application materials have or have not been received?
No. The URS Office will notify students if a reference letter or transcript has not been received. Please do not contact the office and request an update on your materials.
How important is academic performance in the selection process?
Grades are reviewed during the selection process but are not the major criterion. Applicants have completed only one semester of course, so grades receive less weight than written answers to the application questions and recommendations.
How long should the answers be to the application questions?
Responses should be no more than 200 words each.
When are reference letters due?
Reference letters are due by the application deadline and must be solicited from someone (i.e., faculty at any level, researchers, and staff) affiliated with Duke University. NOTE: reference letters from undergraduates will not be accepted.
I took a very large general lecture course with a professor this past semester, but my lab section was smaller and the graduate TA knows me better. What would be preferable for the recommendation?
We prefer to receive the recommendation from an individual who can comment on your work habits, performance, and potential as a researcher. In some cases, the TA is the most appropriate recommender, but this is not always the case. If so, please make sure that your TA is a graduate student rather than an undergraduate teaching assistant.
My seminar instructor knows me very well, but she is not a researcher. Will it be ok for her to be my faculty reference?
Yes, of course. We understand that students engage faculty in all kids of formats and trust our Duke faculty to speak appropriately to our students abilities and motivations.