Program overview
Our Summer Research Program enables students to work for ten weeks in close collaboration with a faculty advisor of his/her choice, on a research project developed by the student. Students spend the summer (typically after their sophomore or junior year) gaining first-hand experience with genuine scientific research. Positions on the program are awarded by School-wide competition. Successful applicants receive a stipend of $3000 (new!), housing on campus, and a budget for supplies and expenses.
There are several special awards, made possible by generous donations in honor of friends of Saint Mary’s College, including:
- Mal and Sylvia Boyce Scholar Award
- Norma Geissberger Scholar Award for research in astronomy
- John Macken Scholar Award for research in physics
- Fawzia Saeed Award for research in biochemistry
- Scholar Award for research in psychology
The Summer Research Program includes a variety of activities during the summer, including barbecues, research meetings, field trips, and various social events. The work culminates with the submission of a formal written research report, and presentation of results at the Brousseau poster session held on campus each fall.
Students participating in the Brousseau poster session may be selected to present their work at various national and local conferences, including the annual meetings of Sigma Xi and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In addition to the Summer Research Program at SMC, many students participate in research during the academic year. Furthermore, Saint Mary's students have been accepted into summer research programs at various colleges and universities across the country, and have successfully pursued internships in industry. For more information, contact your advisor, other professors in the School of Science, or the Dean of the School of Science.
