SUPER is an undergraduate research program at the University of Texas at Austin. The goal of SUPER is to prepare students for the rigors of graduate school by providing immersive, hands-on experience in active scientific labs.
The core components of SUPER include:
Scientific Research:
The program leverages the interdisciplinary structure of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs to provide research opportunities that span virtually all areas of modern Molecular Biology. SUPER Scholars will learn to conduct original scientific research via placements within ILS-member labs.
Building a Community of Science:
A central aim of SUPER is to foster inclusivity and nurture a sense of community among scholars. SUPER Scholars are paired with a formal mentor – typically a graduate student or post-doc – and supervised by a faculty PI or the duration of the program. Mentors provide day-to-day guidance in the lab and general support throughout the program.
Organized social activities provide opportunity for all participants to build new connections and friendships within and outside of their labs. Extracurricular events are also paired with regular check-ins, status meetings, and progress reports to ensure students are getting the support and supervision required for steady research progress.
Towards the end of the summer, each SUPER Scholar will prepare an outreach activity aimed at an audience from their home community – this can be their undergraduate institution, elementary-, middle-, high-school, or their family, church, or other local organization, etc.
Professional Development:
SUPER Scholars will meet regularly as a group to take part in workshops, seminars, and discussions on a wide variety of topics designed to enhance their professional development. Past workshop and discussion topics include: ethics in research, how to apply to graduate school, how to read/write scientific publications, presentation skills and techniques, and explorations of different life-science careers.
Scholars will further shape their professional skills through activities like a 2-Minute Elevator Pitch Competition, mock interviews, formal Lab-Swaps, and final oral and poster presentations. (These are examples of past activities, the specific 2021 schedule has yet to be announced.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Updated April 26, 2021
What will I study while in the SUPER program?
Students will have an opportunity to join a research lab that is working on real-world, cutting-edge scientific questions. A number of labs from across the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs have voluntered to host students.
When will the program begin and end?
The program will begin June 1 and end August 10, 2021.
Where will I stay during the program?
We are now able to provide housing through the University’s on-campus dormitories. The SUPER program will provide and pay for dormitory accommodations on campus, a value of approximately $2,750. Participants will also receive nonrefundable contributions for $650 Dine-In Dollars, and $350 in Bevo Bucks meal cards to access dining services on campus.
Will I be paid a stipend? If so, how much?
Scholars will receive a $6,000 living-wage. Participants may request reimbursement for up to $350 in round-trip travel expenses, as documented by itemized receipts submitted to SUPER program staff. The program will also provide a budget of up to $750 for lab supplies and equipment to support student research. Supplies must be purchased by the host lab following UT Procurement policies.
Health insurance is not provided by the SUPER program and participants are strongly encouraged to maintain their own insurance and/or consider purchasing health insurance for the duration of the program. SUPER Students may elect to purchase AcademicBlue, the UT Austin Student Health Insurance Plan for the summer term.
Please contact the SUPER Coordinator with any questions.
How do lab placements work?
Once admitted, you will receive a list of participating ILS-affiliated labs and will be asked to select your top three choices. The SUPER program oversight committee then matches students to available labs based on preference and availability. You will receive notification of your lab placement and be introduced to your mentor via email prior to the start of the program.
Will there be activities outside of the lab?
Yes! The program will hold academic and social events throughout the summer. You will have the opportunity to interact with faculty, current students, and program staff. We hope to hold some in-person events, but at the present time, virtual events and activities are much more likely. The format for SUPER programming will be based on the University’s public health guidelines.
Past professional development workshop topics have included: Grad School 101 & Funding for Grad School, Grad School Admissions Committee Round-table, Research Poster Design Workshop, BIG Data, Jobs Inside and Outside of Academia, and others. As part of the program, you will do a Lab Swap with other SUPER scholars allowing you to experience a lab outside your own and allowing you to show off your own lab to a peer.
Can international students participate in SUPER?
International students are no longer elibile to participate in SUPER due to residency restrictions.
How is SUPER funded?
SUPER is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a Research Experience for Undergraduates Site (REU) with additional contributions by the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs, the Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science (TIDES), the Department of Molecular Biosciences, and the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin.
COVID-19 Information
All SUPER participants must:
- Follow the prevailing campus COVID-19 policies and Research Restart policies in place at the time of their program. Sign a form approved by the Vice President for Legal Affairs consenting to follow these policies. COVID-19 policies for undergraduate researchers currently include:
- Consenting to proactive community testing (PCT) at least once every two weeks through the UT High Throughput Testing Core’s PCT program (PCT is offered at the UT Austin campus.)
- Following all masking, social distancing, laboratory personnel density, and hygiene policies for research and campus spaces
- Follow all COVID-19 policies established by University Housing and Dining (UHD) and the Dean of Students while residing in university housing. This includes coordinating with university staff to identify options to safely self-isolate outside of university housing if a student tests positive for COVID-19.
