{"id":43220,"date":"2024-11-25T15:31:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T20:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/?p=43220"},"modified":"2026-02-20T11:25:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T16:25:11","slug":"call-for-projects-2025-rii-nest-summer-undergraduate-research-fellowships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/2024\/11\/25\/call-for-projects-2025-rii-nest-summer-undergraduate-research-fellowships\/","title":{"rendered":"Call for Projects: 2025 RI-NEST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-hero-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-hero   cl-has-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-hero-proper\"><div class=\"overlay\"><div class=\"block\"><h1>Call for Projects: 2025 RII-NEST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships<\/h1><p>Advancing Rhode Island\u2019s Blue Economy Through Inclusive Undergraduate Research<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"still\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/microplastic-collection-kate2.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls-container\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-icon\" title=\"Accessibility controls\">Accessibility controls<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-motion-control cl-accessibility-control-hidden\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Pause motion\">Pause motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">On<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Play motion\">Play motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Off<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-contrast-control\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Increase text contrast\">Increase text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Standard<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Reset text contrast\">Reset text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">High<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-system-setting\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle\" title=\"Apply my preferences site-wide\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle-label\">Apply site-wide<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"fullwidth\">\n<div class=\"type-intro\">\n<p>RI NSF EPSCoR&#8217;s <strong>Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology<\/strong> (RI-NEST) E-CORE project is excited to announce its inaugural Call for Projects for the Summer 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships program, with a focused theme on the Blue Economy. This program, part of a statewide NSF EPSCoR-funded initiative, aims to engage undergraduate students in impactful, hands-on research that supports and enhances Rhode Island\u2019s coastal, marine, and maritime resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Purpose<\/h2>\n<p>In alignment with RII-NEST\u2019s commitment to fostering a diverse and competitive science and technology (S&amp;T) workforce, this year\u2019s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships seeks to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Develop the Blue Economy Workforce: We invite projects that provide students with immersive research experiences in the Blue Economy fields, preparing them for careers in Rhode Island\u2019s expanding coastal and maritime sectors.<\/li>\n<li>Encourage Use-Inspired Blue Economy Research: Proposed projects should focus on practical applications that strengthen Rhode Island\u2019s Blue Economy, particularly through innovations in sustainability, resource management, marine technology, and other critical areas.<\/li>\n<li>Foster Inclusive Science Communication: Selected projects should contribute to a wider understanding of Blue Economy research, ensuring that scientific insights are accessible to diverse audiences, including Rhode Island\u2019s communities and the Narragansett Indian Tribe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>RII-NEST SURF Program<\/h2>\n<p>The RII-NEST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program provides undergraduate students with a 10-week immersive research experience focused on environmental, coastal, and marine sciences, aligning with the state&#8217;s &#8220;Blue Economy&#8221; and climate resilience priorities. Participants work under the mentorship of faculty from Rhode Island&#8217;s partner institutions, conducting hands-on research that includes fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and data analysis. In addition to the hands-on research, students are expected to attend the SURF professional development events, such as workshops on scientific communication and career preparation, as well as the culminating statewide conference where fellows present their findings.<\/p>\n<p>Competitive and fully funded, the SURF program equips students with valuable skills and experience for careers in science and research.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Program dates:<\/strong> Tuesday, May 27 \u2013 Friday, August 1, 2025<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support:<\/strong> Students in the SURF program will be awarded a $6,000 stipend plus $550 for project supplies. [or $3,000 and $275 for half-time \u201cSURF Flex\u201d positions]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>*Please note that there is no direct funding for PIs through the SURF program, though there may be opportunities through other RII-NEST programs.*<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Project Criteria<\/h2>\n<p>We seek projects that will advance RII-NEST\u2019s Blue Economy theme by meeting the following criteria:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Support Workforce Development in the Blue Economy:<\/strong> Proposals should prioritize engaging undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, including those from Tribal, minoritized, and other underserved communities. Projects that foster access and opportunity across Rhode Island\u2019s higher education institutions are especially encouraged.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Focus on Collaborative, Use-Inspired Research in the Blue Economy:<\/strong> Proposed projects should demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration and address Rhode Island\u2019s Blue Economy priorities, such as sustainable fisheries, coastal ecosystem resilience, ocean technology, and marine policy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Promote Inclusive Science Communication:<\/strong> Proposals should outline strategies to communicate Blue Economy research findings to a broad audience, helping to foster public understanding and engagement. Collaborations with local institutions and community organizations focused on data, environmental, and science communication are highly encouraged.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Submission Guidelines<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Eligibility:<\/strong> Faculty from all Rhode Island institutions of higher education are invited to submit proposals. Collaborations across institutions and partnerships with community, Tribal, or industry partners are strongly encouraged.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Project Duration:<\/strong> Projects should span the 10-week summer research period, providing a full-time research experience for students. Project that can also accommodate part-time experiences for \u201cSURF Flex\u201d students are particularly welcomed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mentorship and Student Development:<\/strong> Proposals must include a mentorship plan to support students\u2019 growth in research and professional skills, emphasizing mentorship opportunities for first-generation and underserved students.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Broader Impacts and Sustainability:<\/strong> Preference will be given to projects with potential for lasting impacts on Rhode Island\u2019s Blue Economy, including economic development, environmental sustainability, and responsiveness to the Narragansett Indian Tribe\u2019s expressed needs in marine and coastal resource management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Application Process<\/h2>\n<p>Please submit a proposal (2 pages maximum) including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Project title and abstract.<\/li>\n<li>Description of research objectives and their alignment within the Blue Economy goals of RII-NEST.<\/li>\n<li>Plan for student involvement, including mentoring strategy and training.<\/li>\n<li>List of collaborators, including any community or institutional partners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Titles and abstracts of accepted projects will be posted on the RII-NEST website. Students will apply to the program, ranking their desired projects. Students will be evaluated, selected and placed on projects by the SURF Selection Committee, made up of RII-NEST staff and partners, with consultation with project mentors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Deadline for Project Submission:<\/strong> <em>Friday, December 13, 2024<\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Student application window:<\/strong> <em>Wednesday, December 18, 2024 \u2013 Friday, February 7, 2025<\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Student award notification:<\/strong> <em>by the end of March 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Contact Information: Direct questions and submit proposals to <strong>Jim Lemire<\/strong>, RII-NEST Undergraduate Research Coordinator, at <a href=\"mailto:jlemire@rwu.edu\">jlemire@rwu.edu<\/a> or 401-254-5718.<\/p>\n<p><em>By focusing on the Blue Economy, RII-NEST seeks to leverage Rhode Island\u2019s unique coastal resources and talent to build a sustainable, inclusive future. We look forward to receiving proposals that will not only support the state\u2019s economic development but also inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders in the Blue Economy. Thank you for your dedication to Rhode Island\u2019s science and technology advancement!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RI NSF EPSCoR&#8217;s Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology (RI-NEST) E-CORE project is excited to announce its inaugural Call for Projects for the Summer 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships program, with a focused theme on the Blue Economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1994,"featured_media":43093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1994"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43220"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44341,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43220\/revisions\/44341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}