2025 Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience & Engineering (SURGE) Scholar
Join us this summer for 8 weeks of fully funded & mentored research and graduate school preparation at Stanford University.
SURGE is a program for undergraduate students who are new to research and want to explore the field of sustainability in a community that celebrates inclusion. SURGE is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
We only accept applications from students outside of Stanford.
The program runs June 20 - August 16, 2025. Applications are due January 12th, 2025.
Eligibility
- Current sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors or second-year community college students enrolled in a U.S. institution
- Demonstrated interest in pursuing graduate study toward a master’s or PhD in the Earth sciences, oceans, environmental sciences, energy sciences, or engineering
- Not yet accepted to a graduate program
Overview
Each SURGE scholar is matched with a faculty member from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability to work on a research project during the 8-week summer period. Scholars join a cohort of summer researchers and participate in educational field trips, career panels, academic seminars, and workshops on science communication and graduate school applications. The program culminates with a research symposium on Stanford’s campus on August 15, 2025, where scholars present their summer projects to the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability community.
Undergraduates who are low-income or first-generation, underrepresented in the sciences, or interested in exploring sustainability research for the first time are encouraged to apply.
Research topic areas include
- Earth: ecology, evolution, agriculture, oceans, planetary science, biology
- Climate: hazards, extreme weather, energy, emissions, adaptation
- Society: engineering, cities, technology, sustainable development, environmental justice
Support
- $4,800 stipend
- Round-trip travel expenses from home to Stanford
- University housing and meal plan
- Access to Stanford University facilities
- Health insurance, if needed.
Professional Development and Training
- Mentored research training
- Coding bootcamp course
- Graduate school preparation
- Academic seminars
- Introduction to sustainability careers
- Networking
Social Connections
- Community building activities
- Field trips around the Bay Area
- Housing on the Stanford campus
- Diverse cohort from around the country