Early Research Experience in E-Term

This research experience provides students with the following:

• The opportunity to participate in summer research early in their academic career
• A paid research experience ($4,500 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: 

• Undergraduate students do a full-time educational research position
• The 2024 Summer program will be held in-person in labs on the WPI campus
• The program runs during E1 and E2 terms
• Students attend weekly professional development workshops
• Students will showcase their work in a presentation at the end of the summer in early August 2024 at the Summer Research Showcase
• It is strongly recommended that students do not enroll in IQP, MQP, or other classes at the same time as EREE research, or hold a second day-job or summer-day-job

Housing

• Undergraduate students are expected to secure their own housing during the summer
• However, we have very limited funds to provide a housing subsidy for need based students.
• Recipients of Pell Grants or other WPI need based scholarships are eligible for the housing subsidy.
• Requesting a housing subsidy will not affect a student’s chances of being selected for the program.

Who should apply?

• Any undergraduate 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 15, 2024

• Application available the week of February 1, 2024
• Application due March 1, 2024 by 11:59pm ET.
• Students should prepare these things before starting the application process:
  • Choose three (3) projects of interest from the listing of Project Opportunities. Pay close attention to the project numbers, as you will need these numbers for your application!
  • 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.
  • You will need to agree to participate in the weekly professional development workshops, the Summer Professional Development Series for Undergraduates (SPuDS)
  • 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)

The most successful faculty proposals describe a project appropriate for a student who has no prior experience with scientific research. Faculty submissions are due January 15, 2024.

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

Faculty Expectations Include:

• Provide students with an in-person authentic research experience during the E1 and E2 terms
• 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 prior to program start
  • Attend the Summer Undergraduate Research Showcase in early August 2024
  • Complete the faculty survey

Contact the EREE Program Director, Professor Jessica Rosewitz at: jarosewitz@wpi.edu