Benefits
Financial Benefits
Competitive Stipend
Stipends are paid on a weekly basis and deposited directly into your bank account. For more information about the stipend amount, visit the research programs page and access the program summary for your area of interest.
Room and Board
Room and board for the duration of the summer research program is covered at no expense to summer program scholars. Accommodations include a double-occupancy residence hall room and 20-meal per week plan. Scholars will be matched with a roommate from within the summer program.
Selleck residence hall is centrally located on campus and sheets, pillow, pillowcase, bedspread/blanket, and daily towel exchange are included. Selleck dining center is a market-place style eatery with stone-baked pizza and pasta, made-to-order deli and soup bar, ethnic cuisine, omelet bar, traditional fare, American grill, extensive salad bar and bakery case filled with desserts. Nebraska is a dry campus, and alcohol is not allowed in the residence halls or anywhere on campus.
Travel and Transportation
Roundtrip airfare to Lincoln, NE or mileage up to the cost of roundtrip airfare is covered at no expense to summer program scholars. The cost of checking two under-weight bags is covered for scholars who travel by air. Campus parking passes are available for students who drive. Bus passes for StarTran, the local bus system, are also available upon request.
Health Center
Access to the University Health Center including general care, pharmacy, and several specialists in counseling, dentistry, optometry, gynecology, dermatology and physical therapy is provided to summer scholars. There is no charge for primary care and the fees for the pharmacy and specialists are discounted.
Summer scholars should maintain their own health insurance throughout the summer. Access to the University Health Center is not the same as insurance coverage, but provides convenient and comprehensive care for students while attending the Nebraska Summer Research Program. They are happy to file insurance claims for summer scholars.
Recreation Center
Full access to the Campus Recreation Center is available at no cost to summer scholars. (Group fitness courses are available for a small fee.)
Their facilities include:
- Strength training and conditioning room
- Indoor and outdoor tracks
- Swimming pool
- Climbing wall
- Super circuit
- Indoor and outdoor football field
- Basketball, volleyball, badminton, and racquetball courts and equipment
- Outdoor soccer fields and tennis courts
Wireless Internet and Computer Access
Access to the campus wireless Internet is provided for the duration of the program at no cost to summer scholars. Most campus buildings are wireless. Summer scholars also have access to computer labs located throughout campus, including Selleck residence hall.
Academic Benefits
Mentoring and Research
Because faculty mentors select summer research scholars for their research projects, students can expect a highly engaging mentoring experience. Most students will have a faculty and graduate student mentor throughout the summer.
Research projects are described in detail by each program and mentor, but all are designed with the goal of having a completed, high-quality, presentable project by the end of the summer experience. Past participants have presented summer research projects in poster and presentation sessions at national conferences, and a few were published in peer-reviewed journals. Review research programs to access a list of this year's mentors and projects.
Community of Scholars
The summer is a short time to undertake a research project, but a long time to be away from family and friends. A unique feature of the Nebraska Summer Research Program is that we facilitate interaction among all of our visiting summer research students (57 in 2009!). This allows scholars to get to know students conducting research in other science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines and provides more opportunities for you to develop friendships with students from across the country.
Seminars and Workshops
In addition to discipline-specific symposia and seminars offered by the individual research programs, scholars have the opportunity to attend general academic and professional development workshops.
Workshop topics include:
- Applying to graduate school
- Funding graduate education
- Taking the GRE
- Networking skills
- Research ethics
A concluding research symposium gives scholars the opportunity to showcase their research and prepare for professional conference presentations.
Social Events
It's important to have fun too! Several group activities are offered to summer scholars at no cost or a very minimal cost. Annual activities include:
- Summer Research Welcome Picnic
- Day trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Taste of Omaha festival
- Overnight canoe and camping trip along the Niobrara National Scenic River
- Swimming and fireworks at Branched Oak Lake
Individual research programs also plan social activities, such as bowling league, ice cream socials, Salt Dogs baseball games, and more.
Library
Access to the campus libraries is provided at no cost to summer scholars and most resources are accessible online. Access to interlibrary loan services and discipline-specific libraries such as the Math Library and Engineering Library are also provided.
