Becoming a SURI Mentor

The Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at Farmingdale State College is a summer long (usually 8-12 weeks), non-credit bearing, hands-on research experience designed for Farmingdale State College first and second years and High School Juniors and Seniors. SURI provides students with structured, faculty-guided research or applied learning experiences that strengthen academic skills, deepen professional identity, and expand students’ readiness for advanced study and the workforce.

Each summer, SURI matches Scholars with faculty-mentored research projects across nearly all disciplines at Farmingdale State College. Faculty mentors receive financial support and dedicated student research assistance, while students gain an unparalleled experiential learning opportunity with a stipend of up to $4,000.

Faculty mentors receive a stipend of up to $5,000 for leading a SURI research cluster. Clusters of mentees include: 2 Farmingdale Fellows and 2 High School Scholars for a total of 4 mentees. 

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Your Role

SURI Mentors guide undergraduate students through research skill-building, inquiry, analysis, and communication of scholarly work. Mentors also support students’ professional development, helping them build confidence, independence, and research identity.

Why Mentor a SURI Fellow? 

Engaging undergraduate students in mentored research is a high‐impact practice with multi‐layered benefits. Faculty who mentor undergraduates report:

• Enhanced research productivity and new perspectives on investigation.
• Stronger integration of teaching and research activities, and more meaningful professional relationships with students.
• Support of institutional goals such as student retention, especially for historically underserved students. 

By serving as a SURI mentor you:

• Advance your research agenda via dedicated undergraduate partners
• Enhance students’ experience by shaping their investigative growth and professional identity
• Receive a competitive stipend and formal recognition for mentorship

The SURI Experience: The Fellows & Expectations 

Drawing from national exemplars, our program offers scholars:

• A structured summer research immersion, typically 8–12 weeks depending on discipline.
• Bi-Weekly mentoring meetings, professional development programming, and a culminating symposium.
• Dedicated summer long fellows and research interns. 

For faculty mentors, expectations typically include:

• Weekly structured contact with your scholar(s)
• Oversight of the research project and student growth
• Submission of mid‐ and end‐term evaluations of student performance
• If applicable, facilitation of ethical review (IRB/IACUC) and clear project timelines
• Attending opening (June 2nd) and closing expos (August 18th)
• Bi-Weekly virtual mentor meetings
• Attend our Team Building Social Field Day.

What You Provide & What Scholars Gain

You Provide:

• A project with meaningful undergraduate participation
• Weekly interaction (face-to-face or hybrid)
• Guidance in the development of student research skills (e.g., formulating research questions, navigating ambiguity, communicating results)
• Evaluation of student performance mid- and end-term
• Commitment to maintain a safe, inclusive research environment

Scholars Gain:

• Hands-on research experience anchored by faculty mentorship
• Professional development and exposure to research culture
• Enhanced critical thinking, communication, and career clarity
• Opportunity to present work publicly (poster/oral)
  A supportive scaffold toward graduate study or workforce readiness 

Responsibilities

 

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Benefits to Faculty Mentors

Serving as a faculty mentor within the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) is not only an opportunity to support emerging scholars, it is a meaningful investment in your research, your teaching, your professional growth, and your departmental and institutional impact. Faculty across the country consistently report that mentoring undergraduate researchers is one of the most rewarding and generative components of their academic careers. Below is a comprehensive overview of the benefits:

Accelerate Your Research Agenda

Undergraduate researchers, when properly trained and guided, become productive members of research teams. Mentors report that students:

• Conduct literature reviews
• Contribute to data collection and analysis
• Build prototypes and test models
• Assist in coding, conceptualization, or creative analysis
• Help with drafting reports, posters, documentation, or manuscripts

Many SURI mentors find that having a dedicated student significantly increases research output, helping move multi-step or time-intensive projects forward.

Opportunities for Publications & Presentations
SURI student work often contributes to:

• Conference abstracts and poster presentations
• Publications (co-authored or faculty-led)
• Departmental or school-level research showcases
• External grant proposals

Strengthen Your Teaching, Advising & Mentorship Portfolio
Undergraduate research is identified by AAC&U as a high-impact educational practice (HIP). Mentoring for SURI:

• Deepens your reflective teaching practices
• Allows you to try new problem-based or inquiry-driven strategies
• Helps you develop new approaches for explaining complex ideas
• Improves your ability to scaffold learning
• Documentable Teaching Excellence

Because SURI is structured and evaluated, mentors gain formal evidence of teaching and mentorship effectiveness. This is valuable for reappointment, tenure, and promotion, as well annual evaluation narratives, and teaching and mentorship awards.
 

Build a Pipeline of Talented, Motivated Students
A SURI Fellow often becomes a long-term research assistant, a collaborator for future projects, and a student leader within the department. This creates sustainable continuity for multi-year research initiatives.

Expand Your Funding & Grant Competitiveness
Many federal and state agencies prioritize undergraduate research. Mentoring SURI Fellows provides you with:

• Evidence of prior mentoring success
• Experience running a structured student program
• Data and outcomes to support broader impacts or educational aims

NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA, and DoD reviewers consistently value faculty who integrate undergraduates meaningfully into their research plans.

Increase Your Professional Visibility & Network
SURI mentors are recognized as faculty who drive research innovation, champion high-impact practices, support student development, and promote institutional excellence.

We also ensure that mentors are properly recognized and elevated. This often includes; the SURI Expo, campus newsletters and spotlights, external academic partnerships, and undergraduate research showcases (IGNITE, SUNY SURC). This elevates your profile both on campus and within your disciplinary community.

Compensation for Your Time and Expertise
SURI Mentors receive a stipend of up to $5,000 for their commitment to supervising undergraduate researchers. Additionally, SURI Mentors will receive a formal record in AXIOM, documentation for extra-compensation requests, evidence for merit, promotion, and tenure. 
 
Make a Transformational Difference in a Student’s Life
Mentors play a central role in shaping Farmingdale students research skills, professional identity, graduate school readiness, confidence and leadership, and academic self-efficacy. The mentorship relationship is consistently named by students as one of the most impactful elements of their college experience.

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Applications Process & Timeline

Applications Close:

 

The Process: 

Step 1: Review program timeline and mentor expectations
Step 2: Submit your project proposal using the online application form (link below)
Step 3: Once approved, projects are posted to the SURI portal; students apply and are matched
Step 4: Meet with your scholar(s) to complete the Learning Agreement (student + mentor + RAM Research Director)
Step 5: Over the summer, supervise, meet weekly, submit evaluations, guide toward final presentation

Application Requirements:

• Project Title
• Project Description: aims, methods, student tasks
• Student Qualifications / Desired Background (Reminder; this experience is meant for first and second years of college and Junior and Seniors of High School - this is about exposure!)
• Mentorship Plan: schedule, milestones, meetings
• Timeline: start date, end date, hours/week
• Outcome(s): expected product, presentation, or deliverable
• IRB/IACUC Status (if applicable)

Apply Here

                                                      Applications Close on Monday, January 12th at 11:59pm! 

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