The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities.

Enhance your academic and research skills by working one-on-one with a faculty mentor from top-ranked research institutions. Gain experience as an undergraduate student to put you at an advantage as a graduate applicant:

• Weekly campus-based educational enrichment activities broaden your view of graduate education and research, along with strengthening your technical skills.
• Campus workshops inform you about graduate admission procedures, financial aid opportunities, test-taking skills, preparing a presentation, and expose you to a wide range of research fields. Informal social gatherings provide a relaxed setting for students and faculty to exchange ideas and share experiences.
• At the end of the summer, you present the results of your research project at a symposium or poster session held on your campus.

Students wishing to participate in SROP must meet all of the following criteria: 

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) 
• Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. 
• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program at a college or university in the United States, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territory 
• Have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate education by the time of the summer experience
• Have at least one semester of undergraduate education remaining after completing the summer research experience 
• Have a strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. 

Selected participants will be expected to complete 40 hours of research each week.  Participants must be willing to devote full-time to the program during the eight- to 10-week session.  Due to the intense research schedule, SROP participants are not allowed to work an additional job during the summer program.