PROGRAM ELEMENTS

• The Fellowship is an 8-month program, May-December.
• Students work 10 weeks over the summer, (May-July), at a minimum of 20 hours/wk. and a maximum of 40 hours/wk.
• Students must be compensated and it is based on the URI undergraduate student pay rate.
• Fellowship mentors with funding will receive priority placement. Consideration for supplemental funding support will be given to all faculty mentors; however, it is not guaranteed.
• Fellows and mentors create a Learning Contract together outlining the responsibilities and objectives of the fellowship.
• Fellows may continue with their research into the fall for 5-10 hours per week, earning up to 3 academic credits, as long as there is research availability.
• During the Fall semester fellows enroll in a 2-credit seminar course called EVS 366: Communicating Environmental Research and Outreach.  This course is designed to assist students in synthesizing and communicating their fellowship work, and includes instruction needed to produce a professional quality research poster.  Students are expected to work closely with their mentors to create a final product that accurately reflects the scope of the project.
• The Fellowship culminates in December with the Annual CELS Research and Extension Fellowship Symposium. The event is designed to encourage project synthesis, reflection, and communication among fellows, mentors, the University and professional community. 

WHAT MAKES A GOOD MENTOR ?

• Enthusiasm about the project and the work being done.
• Frequent meetings with fellows on a formal or informal basis throughout the fellowship.
• Clearly defining the fellow’s role in the project and what is expected of them.
• Giving students a sense of the big picture, while assigning smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Treating fellows as professional team members and holding them to high expectations.
• Showing appreciation for student work and valuing their contribution.
• Offer students information about career opportunities and exposing them to other professionals and network resources.

External Host Sites

External Agencies and Companies that have hosted CELS Summer Research Fellows:

For questions about the program, or becoming a mentor, please contact us at cels_summer_fellowships-group@uri.edu