SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (SURF)
PI-CASC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program provides promising undergraduates the opportunity to gain valuable research experience, improve their skills in climate science, and expand their knowledge of environmental issues in Hawaiʻi and Guam, working with a faculty mentor on a climate-related research project that aligns with PI-CASC University Consortium objectives. PI-CASC is committed to providing the best science available on climate change and other landscape-scale stressors that are impacting natural and cultural resources across the Pacific Basin.
Research project topics that PI-CASC has funded stretch from the mountains to the sea, from forests to fishponds, from rainfall to streamflow, from shorelines to sea levels. In addition to research, PI-CASC supports building capacity for the future, creating opportunities for students from all ethnic and academic backgrounds to gain important tools for conducting science and knowledge co-production for future research, management, and/or policymaking.
Depending on their location, students who are accepted will be paired with a faculty researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa, UH Hilo, or the University of Guam (UOG) whose field of expertise and ongoing research in climate science and/or adaptation complements the expressed interests of the student.
In all its programs, PI-CASC endorses a diverse workforce in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific and embraces individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, job classifications, veteran status types, and income and socioeconomic status types and intersectionalities.
Student Eligibility for Surf
This fellowship is open to any undergraduate currently enrolled at any of the UH system campuses or UOG, or currently enrolled at another accredited four-year institution but attended a high school in Hawaiʻi or Guam. All are encouraged to apply.
Program Details and Expectations for Students
- The SURF Program runs for 10 weeks through the summer months (June to August).
- Fellows must commit to working full-time (40 hours per week) for the entire program.
- Fellows must attend a half-day orientation, and 1-2 professional development workshops.
- Fellows are required to write a short report detailing their summer accomplishments and any planned future applications of the work (further projects, publications, etc.).
- Fellows are required to present their research at a final SURF Symposium in August.
- A generous stipend will be provided in support of 10 weeks of summer research training.
Application Process for Students
Applications for 2022 have already been accepted, but for future reference, here is what we request:
- Cover sheet with
- name, email, address (campus, summer, or permanent), phone number
- 3 general areas of interest in climate science, as related to natural or cultural resources (e.g. sea-level rise, changes in precipitation/drought, changing forests and watersheds, threats to native species, coastal hazards adaptation, vegetation adaptation, coastal ecosystems, biocultural adaptation, indigenous agroforestry and aquaculture, island hydrology, ridge-to-reef ecosystems, water quality, ecosystem services, coral reef health, ocean acidification, biodiversity, climatology, microbiology, etc.)
- Current resume
- Unofficial college transcript (If freshman, please supply an unofficial high school transcript.)
- 500-word essay on the following topic: What inspired your interest in climate science and adaptation? How would this research fellowship contribute to your current major or planned field of study?
- Letter of recommendation from a faculty member or mentor familiar with your abilities (This can be sent separately and directly to Dr. Lentz from the recommender.)
Virtual Information Session
SURF organizers hosted a virtual information session at to reiterate details of the program and answer questions from prospective students and mentors. Watch a video of the presentation below.
Contact & Notification
For any questions about the SURF program, please contact Dr. Rachel Lentz at rlentz@hawaii.edu. Notification of acceptance and student/mentor pairing will be emailed in April.