LSAMP Research Experiences for Undergraduates

• Louis Stokes & LSAMP

  The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program is named after former Cleveland, Ohio US Representative Louis Stokes who served as a leading figure in Unites States Congress in matters concerning civil rights, equality, and social and economic justice. The LSAMP program is managed by the Division of Human Resource Development (HRD), which is part of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Learn more about Rep. Stokes ↗.

  LSAMP was established by Congressional mandate in 1991 to significantly increase the quality and quantity of minorities who successfully complete baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and who continue on to graduate studies in these fields. The program supports increasing the participation and advancement of under-represented minorities.

  To meet the challenges presented by the nation’s increasing needs in STEM, LSAMP is committed to the development of highly competitive STEM students from historically underrepresented populations  from pre-college through post-baccalaureate levels at our nation’s colleges and universities.

• Upstate LSAMP

  Cornell University is part of the Upstate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ULSAMP), a partnership between: Clarkson University, Cornell University, Monroe Community College, SUNY Onondaga Community College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Syracuse University. The mission of ULSAMP is to develop the next generation of innovators and grow a workforce highly qualified for a knowledge-based economy that is representative of our nation’s demographics. ULSAMP is a part of the National LSAMP program and is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation HRD-2308698.

Application Information

• Application Form ↗

• Personal statement (maximum of three pages) addressing the following:

  • Describe your research interests, advanced degree plan and explanation of how this research opportunity relates to your career goals and academic plan; and
  • Discuss one of your lived experiences and how it will contribute to LSAMP’s diverse and inclusive scholarly community.

  Some topics to consider:

  • Having overcome educational, socio-cultural, economic, personal, and/or identity-related barriers situations or conditions that impacted your advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field;
  • Having demonstrated a commitment to addressing the barriers that prevent participation of historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs;
  • Having demonstrated leadership potential to address equity or inclusion issues of domestic minorities in STEM fields.

• Transcript(s)

  (unofficial or official)

• Resume or curriculum vitae

• Contact info for your recommender

  They will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation by the deadline via a form that will be provided to them.

Eligibility

• Experienced educational, socio-cultural, economic, personal, and/or identity-related barriers to your advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field, including but not limited to:

  • Being a first-generation college student
  • Managing a disability or chronic health condition
  • Experiencing housing, food, economic, and/or other forms of significant insecurity

   

• Demonstrated commitment to address the barriers that prevent participation of students

• Demonstrated commitment to address the barriers that prevent participation of students from historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs.

• Demonstrated leadership potential to address the issues of underrepresentation of domestic minorities in STEM fields.

• Attending a minority-serving institution (e.g., HBCU, HSI, or Tribal College)

• How will I know when my application is complete?

  When all supporting materials have arrived, we will notify applicants that the application is complete. Applications will not be considered until all supporting documentation is received.

• What should I address in my personal statement?

  • Discuss your research interests.
  • Describe your plans for earning an advanced degree.
  • Explain how this research opportunity relates to your career goals and plans.
  • Discuss one of your lived experiences and how it will contribute to LSAMP’s diverse scholarly community. Some topics to consider:
    • Having experiences situations or conditions that impacted your advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field;
    • Having demonstrated a commitment to addressing the barriers that prevent participation of historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs;
    • Having demonstrated leadership potential to address issues of domestic minorities in STEM fields.

• Are there specific research projects or faculty for the LSAMP REU?

  Yes and no, we invite applications from eligible students in a variety of STEM majors and research interests.

  LSAMP REU partners with CROPPS ↗. If you’re interested in working with these faculty, visit their website and see past projects.

  Applicants should review faculty research information in their areas of interest by visiting department sites.

• Who should write a recommendation for me? What should it include?

  The letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member or other individual who can evaluate the applicant’s academic potential. If an applicant has previously been involved in research, we suggest soliciting a recommendation from the professor who supervised that research.

  Letters from a work reference, university administrator, or advisor who knows the applicant’s academic, work ethic and experience, or character qualifications is also acceptable.

  We recommend contacting professors well in advance of the deadline and asking if they feel able to provide a strong recommendation.

  • A well-prepared recommendation should evaluate the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses as well as potential as a researcher, communicate information about any relevant laboratory or research skills, and address general character.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the recommendation is submitted by the deadline.

• Are students required to reach out to faculty prior to applying?

  No, students do not need to reach out to faculty of interest.

• When will decisions be available?

  Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by mid-April.

• What is the program acceptance rate?

  We expect to admit up to eight participants for the Summer CU LSAMP REU. The total number of participants depends on funding availability.

• Are international students eligible to apply for CU LSAMP REU?

  Unfortunately, our funding sources allow us to offer participation only to US Citizens and Permanent Residents. However, we recommend visiting the following sites to learn more about other summer research opportunities which may not have this funding restriction:

  • • Pathways to Science ↗ – National Opportunities for Research, Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Summer Research and Professional Development Programs for Undocumented College Students in STEM Fields  ↗ – includes programs for DACA status students
    • Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) ↗
    • Cornell University Summer REUs  ↗
    • Institute of International Education ↗

• What happens if I am selected to participate in LSAMP REU?

  After accepting our offer of participation in LSAMP REU, participants will be sent an acceptance package. This package will contain detailed onboarding information for registering at Cornell through the School of Continuing Education, logistics pertinent to travel, housing, stipend, schedule, and more.

• What will I do during the research program?

  Experiences differ from participant to participant, but the main point is to provide a scientific research experience akin to what graduate study would entail in each participant’s field of interest. A participant might learn to use specialized equipment, reduce and analyze observational data, write software, design or build an instrument, construct a theoretical model, or create a prototype. Participants will present their work in a talk or poster at the end of the summer, and many participants continue on to give posters at conferences or publish papers on their summer research. In the fall semester after the LSAMP REU program, participants may be interested in continuing the research project at their home institution or continuing to work with their Cornell faculty research mentors on writing up and publishing the results.

  In addition to performing research work, participants attend a series of workshops and brown bag lunches designed to provide them with information about research, graduate school preparation, career preparation and options, and scientific ethics. Weekly specialty discussions provide opportunities for students to engage in discussion with peers and faculty members. A presentation on writing abstracts and designing posters is held in preparation for the research symposium. Students also may participate in field trips to science facilities. A mandatory orientation session, team building activities and a faculty-mentor dinner acquaint the students with each other and their mentors.

• Will I have any free time?

  Yes, participants will be working and living closely with other undergrads from around the country, and the LSAMP REU will offer planned organized activities (and sometimes travel) for participants. Aside from that, participants usually have evenings and weekends free depending upon the type of research one is performing. Students also may participate in field trips to science facilities. Opportunities may arise for participants to also participate in day trips to locations such as New York City and Niagara Falls. Social activities also provide opportunities for participants to get to know each other and other members of the Cornell science community.

• Should I bring a car?

  The option of bringing a car is up to the participant. CU LSAMP REU provides participants with either a parking pass or bus pass for the local TCAT system.

• Who will my faculty research mentor and/or what research projects are available?

  Applicants should review the research areas of potential Cornell Engineering faculty mentors by visiting their websites. We suggest identifying up to three Cornell Engineering faculty members in the online application and personal statement whose research areas align with your interests. Although we strive to pair applicants with faculty identified in the application, this cannot be guaranteed.

  LSAMP is partnering  ↗ with the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS). We highly encourage students to learn more about CROPPS faculty and potential research projects.

• Can I take a course during the summer session?

  No. Participants are expected to work about 40 hours per week on their research project. This experience should be viewed similarly to a work experience. Thus, in order to get the maximum benefit out of this research program, participants are not allowed to take courses.

• Am I allowed to depart early from the program?

  Participants must commit to be present at Cornell University for the full term of the research program period. Participants should arrange all personal and academic obligations to adjust to this schedule.

• What type of housing is available?

  Participants are provided with on-campus housing in a double room on campus for the duration of the program. Participants are not required to live in University housing for the summer, but will not receive a subsidy for non-Cornell housing. We do not have housing available for married undergraduates or any other couples arrangements. To learn more about Cornell’s housing visit: Campus Life Housing. ↗

• Is my stipend taxable?

  The remuneration you receive for your research experience is considered a “Stipend.” As such, Cornell will not report it to the Internal Revenue Service. Cornell may provide you with a summary statement of the stipend payments. This does not constitute tax advice. You will not receive a W-2 or 1099 form from Cornell University. You should consult with your tax advisors, parents and/or IRS form 520 at tax time to determine the extent to which your stipend is taxable. You will be responsible for determining how your stipend should be reported on your tax return.

• Will I have health coverage or access to a student health center during CU LSAMP REU?

  Cornell LSAMP REU students are registered for summer through the School of Continuing Education and charged a Cornell Health Fee ($145 in 2024). This fee will be refunded by LSAMP.

  As registered students, you will be able to use Cornell Health for episodic care. Review information on summer health services and cost. ↗

  We encourage students to bring any health insurance documentation.

• I don’t see the answer to my question! What should I do?

  We’re happy to respond to any questions about the program that are not addressed here. Please email us or call to speak with a staff member. Office: (607) 254-5202 email: inclusive_excellence@engineering.cornell.edu.

• Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) ↗

  The Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) unites plant scientists, engineers, computer scientists, and social scientists to develop technologies that will enable seamless, bidirectional communication between humans and plants. The relevant technologies fuse synthetic biology, nanotechnology, optics, and computing to gain access to the internal biological processes of plants and their associated organisms such as, for example, soil microbes. The Center aims for these technologies to give new access to the biological processes that connect genes to traits, to guide the process of plant selection, engineering, and editing for improved crops, and to enable sophisticated management of crops in the field for improved sustainability and productivity.

  Summer undergraduates in this program will be hosted and mentored by interdisciplinary teams that include expertise in both plant science and technology development. The host sites are as follows:

  • Cornell University, Ithaca NY (LSAMP Summer REU)
  • Boyce Thompson Institute & Cornell University, Ithaca NY (BTI Summer REU)
  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL (CDA Summer REU) Apply via NSF ETAP ↗  by February 2, 2025

• Cornell Geopaths Geoscience Learning Ecosystem (CorGGLE) ↗

  CorGGLE is a nine-week summer program that allows students from non-geoscience fields to explore opportunities for geoscience graduate study, specifically giving them exposure to myriad socially relevant careers in the geosciences. Students will conduct a research project with distinguished faculty and staff, present their work, learn about geoscience careers from practitioners, receive training in professional skills and network with others in their field of interest through weekly luncheons.

  Apply to CorGGLE  by February 15, 2025.

• Future Leaders in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (FLAME)

  The Cornell FLAME Summer Program provides students a unique opportunity to launch into a Ph.D. program through enhanced summer research experience and through a subsequent fast-tracked/prioritized admission into the Cornell MAE Ph.D. program with tailored programmatic and financial support. It is designed for students interested in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Biomechanics, Bioengineering, Energy and Sustainability, Robotics and Autonomy, and Space Science and Engineering.

  Apply to FLAME by February 10, 2025; applications will be considered on a rolling basis after.