The Summer Research Program

The cornerstone activity of the McNair Scholars Program is the summer research component.* During this 12-week experience, you will conduct a faculty-mentored independent research project and develop the ability and confidence to present the results orally. You will learn how to prepare a proposal, gather and analyze data, write a research manuscript, and develop a 15-minute research presentation. Additional education and training will prepare you for and help you through the GRE and the graduate application process.

The McNair staff will work with you to identify a research mentor prior to the start of the summer. This person must have a Ph.D. and be in your desired field of study. For more information about mentors, look here.

It is expected that you will treat the program like a full-time job. Not only will you be devoting 15-20 hours a week to the research itself, you will be involved in several other activities:

•    GRE prep classes,               
•    Toastmasters meetings (to develop public speaking skills),
•    a special Writing 305 course which will prepare you for the graduate school application process, and   
•    wellness seminars.

You will also need to meet separately with both your faculty mentor and the associate director once a week. Here is a typical summer schedule:



To support you, scholars receive a $200/week stipend during the 12-week experience. You will also be granted a $500 research stipend, and may, depending on your situation, have on-campus housing paid for.

At the end of the program, you will have the opportunity to attend the McNair Summer Research Conference and Graduate School Fair at Penn State. At this conference, you will meet other McNair Scholars from all over the United States, hear other students’ research presentations, give your 15-minute research presentation, and meet recruiters from graduate schools across the nation.

If you’re interested and meet the eligibility guidelines, please set up a meeting with us to discuss your interest in the program. The application deadline for the 2010 cohort is October 23, 2009.

To download the Progress Report form for 2009, click here.

To download the 2009 Summer Weekly Schedule and important dates form, click here.

To download the 2009 Summer Research day-to-day Calendar of Events, click here.

To download the Mentor to Student Feedback form, click here

To download the Student to Mentor Feedback form, click here

* Effective October 23, 2008, the GVSU Human Research Review Committee has stopped accepting paper documents and files and has converted to a secure, online document management program called IRBNet. McNair Scholars who conduct research on live human subjects must use this new system.