Undergraduate Research

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.

2019 EREE Student Projects at: https://www.wpi.edu/sites/default/files/2020/01/08/EREE2019.pdf

 

This research experience provides students with the following:

  • The opportunity to participate in summer research early in their academic career
  • A paid research experience ($3840 over 8 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 (and lunch)

Program details: 

  • The 2020 program will be held virtually.
  • The program begins June 8, 2020, and ends the week of July 31, 2020
  • Students paid for full-time work
  • Weekly professional development workshop 
  • Culminating experience- to showcase your work

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 - submit faculty proposal
  • Interested students looking for a paid summer research experience submit an application and indicate three (3) projects of interest (from EREE 2020 Faculty Projects below)
  • EREE Steering Committee makes a faculty-student match 

              Steering Committee members: Debra Boucher, Ron Grimm, Aaron Sakulich, Suzanne Weekes, and Catherine Whittington

 

For any questions, please contact Debra Boucher, EREE Director at dlboucher@wpi.edu

EREE 2020 Faculty Projects (PDF) at: https://www.wpi.edu/sites/default/files/EREEFacultyProjectswdescriptionsupdated....

Student application process

  • Application available Feb 14, 2020
  • Application due Mar 9, 2020
  • Elements of the application
    • Students will identify three (3) projects of interest from the EREE 2020 Faculty Submissions (above)
    • Resume
    • Academic transcript
    • Contact information for 2 professional or academic references (at least one must be from WPI)
    • Agreement to participate in professional development workshops
    • Answer a reflection question (see below)

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 Jan 24, 2020. 

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