RISE Summer Program
Application deadline: March 22, 2024
RISE Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2024
Gain valuable research skills and grow your network of resources so you feel both inspired and prepared to pursue graduate-level research.
The EmPOWERment Research In Sustainable Energy (RISE) summer program is a 10-week intensive experience that provides talented Ohio State undergraduate students the opportunity to work on a research project related to sustainable energy in a supportive environment designed to develop and enhance their research skills.
Students conduct research in the lab of an Ohio State faculty member with the support of an academic mentor and peer mentor. Students also participate in communication and research-skill building activities and enjoy community-building activities with a broader network of summer research program scholars across Ohio State through The Consortium. Students have the opportunity to present their research results at a campus-wide symposium held at the program conclusion.
RISE is supported by The Ohio State University Graduate School and Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Eligibility
We accept applications from any current undergraduate student at Ohio State, including current seniors and international students. RISE is designed to help historically underrepresented students explore graduate level research and academic careers. RISE students come from many different academic fields and all share a strong interest in sustainable energy.
RISE students participate on a full-time basis (40-hours per week). Therefore, concurrent enrollment in summer courses is not allowed.
Benefits
Students will receive a stipend of $5000 to support their participation over the 10 weeks.
Application Instructions
To apply, please complete the online form. Please be sure to read through and prepare the list of required materials outlined below prior to beginning your application.
Required materials for all applicants are listed below:
Personal statement (max 1500 characters) describing your reasons for pursuing this research experience and how it relates to your personal and academic goals. How will this research experience help you advance towards your goals? Why do you want to pursue research in the sustainable energy field? Please also include any relevant extra-curricular activities or recognition of your achievements.
Research statement (max 1500 characters) describing the research areas related to sustainable energy that interest you. Why is this area of research important to you? If you have prior research experience, describe the project and your role. How have your past experiences shaped your interest in research?
Current Ohio State students should also submit the following materials during the application process:
Current CV/Resume uploaded to the online application form in pdf format (max. of 16MB).
Current Ohio State Transcript uploaded to the online application form in pdf format (max. of 16MB).
Two letters of recommendation submitted by people familiar with your academic program, scholastic ability, or professional performance. It is recommended that at least one individual is a faculty member. We will ask you to provide names and contact information for two references on the online application. Within a few moments of submitting your application, an invitation will be emailed to each reference with a link to our online submission form from noreply@osu.edu. No additional reminder emails will be sent. It is your responsibility to ensure your letters are submitted by your recommenders no later than Friday, March 29, 2024 at 11:59pm. You will receive an email confirmation after each letter is submitted through the online form.
Additional Questions?
Please contact Katie Zimmerman at zimmerman.865@osu.edu.
Additional Program Information
Activities
Over the course of 10 weeks, students will partake in a research project relevant to their area of study. Projects are solicited and competitively selected from Ohio State faculty working in fields related to sustainable energy. After the merits of the project have been confirmed through careful evaluation, students will be matched with projects based on their areas of interest and academic abilities whenever possible. Additionally, we ask students to provide any Ohio State faculty they are interested in working with on their application and do our best to try to match students with faculty of interest when appropriate and possible.
As part of the research component, students may need to complete any required research trainings (e.g. responsible conduct of research CITI training, laboratory safety, etc.). Students may also be provided with additional training opportunities relevant to conducting research throughout the summer (e.g. training in scientific writing and communication, etc.).
At the onset of the research experience, RISE students will participate in an orientation day. The orientation will introduce students to the expectations of the research experience, provide a workshop related to sustainable energy, and provide time for RISE students to get to know one another.
Weekly Gatherings – RISE participants will enjoy informal weekly social gatherings with other members of their cohort and current EmPOWERment trainees. Students can use the time to discuss their research projects, elicit feedback, or simply mingle with one another. Additional programmatic activities such as professional-skill-building workshops, graduate school informational sessions, icebreaker activities, and games will also be planned for this gathering time.
Summer Calendar – Students will be provided with a summer calendar of activities that will offer them additional opportunities to engage with one another outside of the research experience. The calendar will include special events on campus and activities throughout the Columbus area that students will be encouraged to attend together.
Consortium Activities – RISE participants will have a chance to interact and take part in activities with other summer research program participants through the Consortium of Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences at Ohio State, which currently includes 9 other summer research programs on campus.
Academic/Research Mentor - Students will be paired with a faculty member or postdoctoral researcher from the laboratory that they are assigned to for their research project. This person will be available to help them navigate the research process, oversee their contributions, provide them with insights into navigating graduate studies, and offer general guidance related to career and research paths.
Peer Mentoring – Students will also be matched with a current EmPOWERment trainee or graduate student from their research project lab for informal peer mentoring. This peer mentor will be an additional resource to the student throughout the duration of the program.
At the conclusion of the 10-week experience students will take part in a reflection day event designed to offer them an opportunity to reflect on what they’ve learned, areas of growth, and areas for future development. Students will have time to socialize, present on their research projects, and celebrate their accomplishments with other RISE participants and mentors. When scheduling allows, this event may be combined with the Consortium’s annual research symposium which offers students in all of the summer programs on campus an opportunity to present their research to each other in a poster session-style format.