Smith Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

The application for Fall 2024 is open now through March 31.

APPLY TO SURE

The Smith Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) presents undergraduate students in any field at the University of Maryland College Park with individualized research experience. Applications and interviews occur each Fall semester.

In 2015, Amanda (Mandy) Yard, a graduating Maryland-Smith senior and QUEST alum, was the first intern at the Ed Snider Center and the one thing she wished she had been able to experience at Maryland was designing and executing a truly independent research project. Mandy knew that other students also desired an opportunity to experience research, not as a team or analyzing a small part of a faculty project; rather, these students were looking for a challenging and messy experience forcing them to dive deep into a well-scoped-out question and come up with an answer grounded in data. SURE is now administered by the Undergraduate Programs Office with Student Directors (many former SURE Fellows themselves) at the helm.

The Program

The Smith Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) provides undergraduate Smith students at the University of Maryland, College Park with an individualized research experience. A business major or business minor is required to participate in SURE. Little experience is needed; however, determination, time management, and open-mindedness are qualities that distinguish an outstanding SURE fellow.

The SURE experience includes a 3-credit course co-taught by Gilad Chen, Associate Dean of Research, and Rachel DiDonna, Assistant Director for the Smith Undergraduate Experience, and culminates with the opportunity to present your research at the University of Maryland's Annual Undergraduate Research Day.

The program promises not only to expose students to hands-on research methodologies but also to offer undergraduates an opportunity to contribute to the collective knowledge pool. A business major or business minor is required to participate in SURE. Previous cohorts have welcomed fellows from computer science, business, public policy, behavioral and social sciences. Little experience is needed; however, determination, time management, and open-mindedness are qualities that distinguish an outstanding SURE fellow. Please note that SURE cannot offer any lab space for research. If your topic involves lab research, you are responsible for securing a working area or the necessary resources before your interview.

Past research topics have included:

  • Impacts of Data Analysis Pitfalls on Decision-Making
  • Saudi Aramco’s $2 trillion IPO in a period of crude oil turmoil
  • Effects of decriminalizing drug use in Portugal
  • Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
  • Coastal Erosion in Louisiana

Have questions? Email Assistant Director Rachel DiDonna and reference SURE in the subject line at sure@umd.edu.

Research Journals

We are proud to be rebranding the former Snider Undergraduate Research Experience as the Smith Undergraduate Research Experience. Listed below are the past Snider Undergraduate Research Journals that have been published by the University of Maryland, College Park.

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