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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

McNair Summer Research Experience

The McNair Summer Research Experience is a vital component of the UNL McNair Scholars Program. During the Summer Research Experience, you'll develop critical research skills as well as the ability to communicate your research results both in written and oral forms. You'll learn how to prepare a proposal, conduct a literature review, design a research project, gather and analyze data, draw conclusions based on empirical evidence, and report results in a publication and presentation.

During the fall semester, McNair staff will work with you to identify a research mentor. You will need to visit with the faculty in your department to determine who is doing research in your field of interest. Once you have identified a faculty mentor, inform the McNair Program staff so we can personally contact the mentor and meet with him or her to describe the program and requirements.


Schedule

During the McNair Summer Research Experience, you'll conduct an original research project under the direction of a McNair research mentor. Research projects will vary based on your research interests. Work schedules and space will be determined by your research mentor.

In addition, scholars will gather every week for seminars and continued training. At the end of the McNair Summer Research Experience, scholars will present their research at a culminating research symposium. In preparation for this event, each scholar will be given specific guidelines and assistance in 1) developing a presentation that describes his/her research project; 2) writing a research paper based on his/her research project; and 3) preparing an abstract of the research paper. Practice presentation sessions will be scheduled to provide scholars with feedback on their presentations.


Research Supplies

In addition to the summer research stipend, up to $250 will be available to each scholar as needed to pay for research related materials (e.g., data collection, analyses, poster design).


Preparing for the McNair Summer Research Experience

Your summer research is conducted under the guidance/direction of a designated faculty member or researcher. The research may be an expansion of current research (for example, UCARE) or a new project, but must be a mutually agreed upon research project with your faculty mentor. Scholars must:

  • Identify a faculty mentor and pre-arrange to meet (at least twice) during the fall and/or spring semester.
  • Complete the Research Mentor/McNair Scholar Agreement Form. Scholars must read, sign, and return the original form to the McNair Program Office.
  • Finalize the agreement with the McNair director.
  • Provide a one-page proposal of your intended research project signed by both the faculty/research mentor and the Scholar.
  • Provide a research summary update.
  • Provide a final 15-20 page single spaced paper (including citations, tables and graphs, etc.).

Faculty Research Mentor Responsibilities

The faculty or research mentor helps you select and design an appropriate project that can be completed in two academic semesters and supervises all research-related activities. Your mentor should direct you to the appropriate background literature and provide training and assistance to help you learn required techniques or procedures. In addition, your research mentor will be asked to review and critique a rough draft of the proposal, presentation abstract and final paper. Your research mentor should be available to offer support and advice for graduate school opportunities.