New Programs Support Early Undergraduate Research

Buffalo State now has two opportunities to introduce first-year and sophomore students to research, scholarly, and creative activities: the Early Undergraduate Research Opportunity (EURO) Program and the Second-Year Undergraduate Research (SYUR) Program. Both programs are administered by the Undergraduate Research Office.

The EURO program provides promising undergraduates with the chance to serve as assistants to faculty or advanced student-researchers. The SYUR allows second-year students to learn about the research process and conduct course-based inquiry. Both programs are open to first- and second-year students that meet the eligibility requirements. Faculty from all academic programs are encouraged to apply. The deadline for proposals is January 12 for the EURO program and January 20 for the SYUR program.

"Providing students with early-undergraduate research experiences has been demonstrated as an effective strategy in helping students confirm their interest in a major and improving student retention to graduation,” said Jill Singer, director of undergraduate research.

The Undergraduate Research Office already runs a variety of programs that primarily attract upper-class students. Singer collaborated with Mark Severson, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, and Scott Johnson, dean of University College, to develop EURO and SYUR to engage students early in their academic careers and contribute to improve student success. 

“Undergraduate research is a powerful pedagogy and aligns well with Buffalo State's mission to provide all students with high-quality learning opportunities within and beyond the classroom,” said Singer, who received the 2016 Council on Undergraduate Research Fellow award for lifetime achievement in undergraduate research and is the lead on a National Science Foundation award to expand Buffalo State's model for evaluating learning gains from undergraduate research to a national level.

Buffalo State promotes, supports, and funds undergraduate research in all academic areas—from the sciences to the arts. More than 400 students present their research through posters and performances each year at the Student Research and Creativity Celebration. They also compete for Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships, travel programs, and small grants. With the introduction of EURO and SYUR, Buffalo State continues to promote undergraduate research and provide opportunities for all students, not just those majoring in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

“The EURO and SYUR programs will expand Buffalo State's ability to expose a greater number of students to excellent mentoring as they work alongside faculty and other students conducting research, scholarly, and creative activities," said Singer.