BLACKSBURG, Va., Sept. 8, 2009 – Virginia Tech's Office of Distance Learning and University Summer Sessions will host a research symposium on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. to culminate the scholarship experience of the 2009 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program.
The event will be held in the Fralin Life Science Institute and is open to all members of the university community and to the general public.
Student research fellows will present overviews of their research experience conducted during the recent summer session in the company of their faculty mentors and the university community at-large.
“The SURF program provided an excellent avenue for undergraduate students to build their research and analytical skills,” says Michael Herndon, director of university summer sessions. “The experience has sparked students' exploration for graduate school.”
The SURF program was launched as a pilot program in coordination with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Natural Resources, and the College of Science. The program was designed to afford undergraduate students the opportunity to be exposed and engaged in the research process, while enrolled in the 2009 Virginia Tech summer sessions program. The three participating colleges identified research fellowship opportunities within their respective colleges, pairing the student to work under the guidance of a sponsoring faculty mentor.
Eight fellowships were awarded to students through a competitive application process, providing them a stipend for 30 hours of research engagement each week.
The 2009 SURF research fellows and accompanying faculty mentors include
Free parking is available in Wallace, Hillcrest, and Litton Reaves Lots which can be accessed from Washington Street or Duck Pond Road. Parking is also available in the Engel lot, located off of West Campus Drive, after 5:30 p.m. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.