Students and faculty mentors representing every School and dozens of majors have earned Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF) grants this summer. The teams are conducting their research on campus and throughout Charleston and the world – including several students who are traveling to Italy.
“Past SURF grant recipients say the experience has prepared them well for post-graduate pursuits, particularly admission to top graduate schools and access to competitive jobs after graduation,” says Trisha Folds-Bennett, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. “Plus, SURF grants provide faculty-student collaboration that is one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences on an undergraduate campus.”
SURF grant recipients are awarded up to $6,500 and the student is expected to work 40 hours a week for 10 weeks. The culmination of the research is participation in the college-wide poster session, which will be held this year on August 23rd. They are also required to submit a written project summary for public dissemination and are encouraged to submit results to regional, national and international publications.
Although the majority of projects are related to fields in science, there are opportunities for research in every discipline on campus. Some of the 2010 SURF grant projects include:
Junior Piano Performance majors Amy Tan and Chee-Hang See and violin student, Cheryl Sim will go with professors Enrique Graf and Lee-Chin Siow to Italy to perform in Music Fest Perugia hosted in Farrara, Perugia. Tan and See will perform with “Solisti di Perugia” which is one of the premier chamber orchestras in Italy. Cheryl Siew Chi Lim and professor Lee-Chin Siow will also participate in an intensive series of workshops and master classes during the annual Spoleto, Italy arts festival.
Athletic Training majors Gina Parisi and Carrie Ann Slye are working with professors Susan Rozzi and Anh-Dung Nguyen on a study to determine the influence of lower extremity hip strength on lower extremity joint motion during functional tasks. They will also explore the gender influences of injury during functional activity.
Marine biology major Krystal Miner is working with professor Steve Jaume to explore predictions of future earthquakes in the Charleston region and their effect on buildings within the City of Charleston and on the College of Charleston campus.
For more information about SURF and other undergraduate research grant opportunities.
