Undergraduate Research

Updated March 14, 2022

The 2022 EREE program is no longer accepting Student Applications.

The Early Research Experience in E Term (EREE) program offers a first research experience to interested students who have not yet had an authentic research experience. We will provide current first and second-year students an initial immersive research experience with a WPI faculty mentor. The goal of this program is to create pathways to deep and meaningful research experiences in STEM fields for undergraduate students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM including underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, transfer students, and women.

EREE 2022 PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES
SUBMIT 2022 FACULTY PROJECT PROPOSAL

 

This research experience provides students with the following:

  • The opportunity to participate in summer research early in their academic career
  • A paid research experience ($4000 over 10 weeks)
  • Close mentoring with a faculty member and graduate mentor
  • Preparation for additional research opportunities at WPI and beyond
  • Information and advice about future graduate research and career opportunities
  • Weekly professional development workshops

Program details: 

  • The 2022 program will be held in-person in labs on the WPI campus
  • The program runs June through August 2022
  • Students paid to work 40-hours per week
  • Weekly professional development workshops for all cohort team members
  • Students will showcase their work in a presentation at the end of the summer

Who should apply?

  • Any student who is looking for their first research experience. 
  • All first or second-year students interested in their first research experience
  • Students from conventionally underrepresented groups in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply
    • Underrepresented minorities
    • First-generation college students (neither parent has a 4-year degree)
    • Transfer students
    • Women

EREE selection and matching process: 

  • Faculty submit a project of a size and scope that is suitable for a student's first research experience
  • Interested students browse the list of available projects – (list of projects coming soon!)
  • Students looking for a paid summer research experience submit an application and indicate three (3) projects of interest
  • EREE Steering Committee makes a faculty-student match

  • Faculty applications are due by January 17, 2022

Student application process

  • Application available the week of February 1, 2022
  • Application due March 13, 2022

  • Letters of Recommendation are due March 20, 2022

  • Students should prepare these things before starting the application process:
    • Choose three (3) projects of interest from the EREE 2022 Project Opportunities
    • Write a resume – Need help? Contact the CDC for a virtual resume-writing appointment!
    • An official or unofficial academic WPI transcript - Need help? Instructions here.
    • Ask for 2 professional or academic Letters of Recommendation. One must be from a WPI faculty or staff member, and the other may be from your personal life. You will need their names and email addresses for the application.
    • Agree to participate in the weekly professional development workshops
    • Answer this reflection question:
      • Each student brings a diverse set of skills and experiences (technical and non-technical) to a research group. Please describe three skills that you can bring to a new research group and three skills that you would like to learn or improve upon through a research experience. (Please limit your response to 300 words)
Student presenting a poster to a professor.
Overview of event.
Student presenting research to room of professors and students.
Nathaniel Rutkowski standing in front of project poster.

Faculty process

Faculty proposals which describe a project appropriate for a student who has no prior experience with scientific research will be most successful in this program. Faculty submissions are due January 17, 2022.

Faculty mentors will receive $400 toward their professional development fund.

Faculty Expectations Include:

  • Provide students with an authentic research experience
  • Mentor students in their academic and career goals
  • Support student’s participation in professional development workshops & programming
  • Coach students through the process of presenting academic research
  • Participate in the EREE program Faculty Mentor activities:
  • Attend mentor training
  • Attend end of summer undergraduate research showcase
  • Complete the faculty survey