SURE: Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience

Thank you to all who submitted a proposal for SURE 2012 - we had a record number of applicants this year which is fantastic!

The Faculty Funding Panels are currently assessing all applications. If we have not contacted you by 12th April please assume you have been unsuccessful.
 

What is SURE?

SURE offers funded research scholarships for The University of Sheffield's undergraduate students. It is an opportunity to become directly involved in the research activity of the University, take part in "real life" research projects in subject areas that are of special interest, and experience what it's like to work in partnership with academic staff or collaboratively in a research group.

This scheme is open to undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study - level 2 of a three year programme or level 3 of a four year programme. We cannot provide scholarships to first year or final year students. The scheme is administered by Learning and Teaching Services (LeTS).

What will I get out of doing a project through SURE?

The scheme enables students to gain valuable experience for their studies, and also for life and work beyond University. Successful applicants will be able to develop a deeper knowledge of a subject that they are passionate about, enhanced skills in research, transferable skills in areas such as project management (collaboration and communication) awareness of the academic research environment (including career options) and an enhanced CV and employability.

Staff will gain an opportunity to further develop an aspect of their own research interests and activity, through a student project that connects with these.

What activities will students be expected to undertake?

This will depend on the subject area, as the methods of research will be left to applicants to design. Although these are fairly short research projects there will be a range of activities needed to engage the material, so each week may be different. Students might conduct experiments, undertake archive work, conduct interviews or focus groups, carry out a survey, review existing literatures, visit precedent studies, or facilitate participatory research. All projects will require a period of writing up. A programme of work and appropriate outputs should be decided with the supervisor. Sometimes the outcomes will be an integral part of a larger ongoing research project; in other cases they may form a stand-alone piece of work.

What will students be expected to produce?

 A final report on the research project will be expected and all students will be expected to disseminate this to their peers within their departments and as part of a final SURE Showcase.  Approaches to this may include producing a poster about the research, giving a PowerPoint presentation, podcasting or writing an article for a professional journal. This will be decided with the supervisor, and will depend on the topic and methods.  Where appropriate, students will also be expected to disseminate their reports to others, e.g. academic researchers, professional audiences in the wider community.

Application Routes: Student or Academic Staff
 

There are two application routes:

Student An application form outlining a research proposal is put forward by a University of Sheffield undergraduate student in their penultimate year of study. The student will be expected to recruit, in advance of applying, an academic member of staff in their subject area to work with them in an advisory role on the project. See also Information for Student Applications

Staff An application form outlining a research proposal is put forward by a member of academic staff who will recruit a suitable undergraduate student in their discipline to work in partnership on the project. See also Information for Academic Supervisor Applications

What other support is on offer?

The SURE Network Coordinator will act as a link contact between the student projects and LeTS. See also Student Researcher Network.