Frequently Asked Questions
All Applicants
Accepted Participants
Q: I am not a student at a Texas college or university but would like to apply to the program. Am I still eligible?
A: Yes, but you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the United States, per National Science Foundation requirements.
Q: The program details say applicants should be juniors, but I am a freshman or sophomore. Should I still apply?
A: The program is targeted for students in the summer between their junior and senior year, although exceptions can be made in the case of other students who are well prepared by their coursework and/or other experience. All students must be in good standing with all the courses they were registered for during the Spring before the summer program begins (no incompletes that are not easily explainable/understandable/acceptable, etc.).
Q: Should I still apply if I am a senior?
A: We ideally seek students at this stage so that the experience can inform their decisions about Graduate school. You are welcome to apply but your status as a senior will be considered.
Q: I participated in the program last year, does this exclude me from applying again this year?
A: You can still apply to the program even if you have previously participated. However, new applicants will receive priority over returning applicants.
Q: What types of research projects are available through the program?
A: You can find out more by going to the linked websites of the faculty listed and explore their research projects. We align applicants by their interest area with appropriate participating faculty, who have slots available in their research groups. There is some flexibility in terms of what you wind up working on. The more explicit you can make your interests in your application, the better the alignment we can make.
Q: Is there any flexibility in the program start and end dates?
A: The program is 10 weeks long, and there are several seminars and other activities in the first 2 weeks that you would miss. These are an essential part of the program. Based on this, the review committee will likely not rank your application as high as an otherwise equivalent applicant.
Q: Is the program physically located in Austin, and if so, is public transportation readily available?
A: Yes, it is located on UT Austin’s campus. Public transportation is available.
Q: What are the work hours for this research project? Is there a certain work schedule I should expect?
A: You can expect to have to put in approximately 40 hours per week.
Q: Should I send you an e-mail attachment with an unofficial web transcript I am able to access or should I send an official transcript which I can send through the mail?
A: Either an unofficial or official transcript is fine.
Q: When will I be notified about whether or not I’m accepted into the program?
A: Notification will be sent out in early March.
Q: How can I find out when the seminars and field trips will be held? Will there be a schedule of events posted online?
A: Please note that a final schedule of seminars and trips is usually not available until the program begins.
Q: When will I receive my research stipend?
A: You will receive a portion of the salary soon after arrival provided you have filled out the necessary forms that the program coordinator will send you.
Q: Should I continue with my research after the summer program is completed?
A: While we design research projects that can be completed during the summer, all research leads to larger questions, and it’s strongly encouraged that students continue their research beyond the scope of the summer.