Summer Research Experience
Funding for this program has ended. We will update this site if/when future funding becomes available.
Middle and high school STEM content teachers, high school students and SVSU undergraduate students participated in scientific research during the summer with SVSU faculty. SVSU faculty directed projects in the areas of biochemistry, biology, chemistry, engineering and geography; however, each project was closely aligned with the Saginaw Bay Environmental Science Institute (SBESI). Funding was available for internship positions for up to 6 weeks (20-30 hours/week).
The summer internship occurred during SVSU's summer term, end of June to the beginning of August.
Past Projects
Check out our past research projects here.
Past Application Information
HS Students DSSEC Application 2021 (204KB)
Teacher DSSEC Application 2021 (205KB)
Undergrad DSSEC Application 2021 (206KB)
What is the time commitment?
The program runs Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday from June 28 – August 5, 2021. Typical hours are approximately 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, although actual hours may vary slightly depending on each day’s activities. You should plan to be available for every day of the program unless there are extenuating circumstances. Please Note: Independence Day will be observed by SVSU on July 5th. Therefore, research groups will work that Thursday – Friday, July 6 – 9th.
What is an internship?
The DSSEC internship is a real summer job! You will have set hours and a lunch break each day, and you will be paid. As such, you are expected to behave responsibly and comply with DSSEC policies regarding safety, cell phones, etc. Furthermore, you are asked to communicate with your faculty mentor if you will be absent.
What will I do?
You will be a research assistant assigned to a faculty mentor. Your day to day activities may vary somewhat depending on the project, but you can anticipate a combination of collecting water and/or plant samples or other field work, processing and analyzing data, computer work, and communicating your results with others. Some projects involve a lot of outdoor work, while others take place mainly in a laboratory, so it is important that you include your preference in your application so that we can attempt to place you in the group best suited for your interests.
Who will I work with?
Approximately 40 people will be involved with the program. The participants are broken up into groups that each contain an SVSU faculty member, 2 local middle- and high-school STEM teachers, 2 SVSU undergraduate students, and 4 high school students. It is possible but unlikely that the teachers or other students in your group will be from your school. You will spend the majority of the time in your group described above, but there are also activities that bring all groups and participants together (dependent on Covid-19 protocols and regulations).
Do I need to provide my own transportation?
Yes, you must have reliable transportation to and from SVSU each day. However, if your project involves field work during the day, transportation to and from the field site will be provided.
What is the time commitment?
The program runs Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday from June 28 – August 5, 2021. Typical hours are approximately 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, although actual hours may vary slightly depending on each day’s activities. You are strongly encouraged to avoid being absent during the program. Please Note: Independence Day will be observed by SVSU on July 5th. Therefore, research groups will work that Thursday – Friday, July 6 – 9th.
Who will I work with?
Approximately 40 people will be involved with the program. The participants are broken up into groups that each contain an SVSU faculty member, 2 local middle- and high-school STEM teachers, 2 SVSU undergraduate students, and 4 high school students. It is possible but unlikely that the other teacher or students in your group will be from your school. You will spend the majority of the time in your group described above, but there are also activities that bring all groups and participants together (dependent on Covid-19 protocols and regulations).
What is the time commitment?
The program runs Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday from June 28 – August 5. Typical hours are approximately 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, although actual hours may vary slightly depending on each day’s activities. You are strongly encouraged to avoid being absent during the program. Please Note: Independence Day will be observed by SVSU on July 5th. Therefore, research groups will work that Thursday – Friday, July 6 – 9th.
Additionally, you may have the opportunity to do some prep work for your faculty mentor during the last two weeks of June preceding the start of the internship. Working with your faculty mentor to arrange availability, you may be scheduled to work up to 15 hours per week from June 14 – June 25.
Do I need to provide my own transportation?
Yes, you must have reliable transportation to and from SVSU each day. However, if your project involves field work during the day, transportation to and from the field site will be provided (dependent on Covid-19 protocols and regulations).
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