Program Description
PSURG is a full-time summer program that supports CWRU students specifically in the biological, chemistry and social sciences (especially psychological sciences). 2025 PSURG dates are May 27, 2025 to August 1, 2025. Students must be present and engaged in research during the entire 10-week period. Students unable to meet this requirement may apply for SOURCE-STEM or -AHSS funding. PSURG awardees are expected to attend 6 weekly Wednesday research seminars and 2 Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursdays research education sessions. Students will receive a research award of $4500. Students who apply to PSURG will be considered for SOURCE STEM or AHSS if they are not awarded a PSURG award. Please do not apply to SOURCE STEM or AHSS if you are applying to SOURCE PSURG.
Eligibility
All undergraduate students at Case Western Reserve University who are continuing as undergraduates in Fall 2025 are eligible to apply. Awardees must be registered for fall classes prior to beginning the summer project. Projects must be completed at CWRU, and/or be under the supervision of a CWRU faculty member. Most all applicants are working in labs of faculty (i.e. and not solitary, independent projects). Eligible faculty mentors include our affiliates at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the VA Hospital, University Circle museums and other affiliated institutions.
Students who are awarded full research awards ($4,500) cannot enroll in more than one summer class for a maximum of 4 credit hours. However, students may not enroll in physics 115, 116, 121, 122, 123 or 124 and participate in a full-time SOURCE funded summer research experience. (See the full course policy.) If students wish to take a physics course or enroll for more than one summer class must apply as a part-time SOURCE STEM or SOURCE AHSS applicant.
While students may apply for funding for different programs or projects, students may not accept funding for 2 different projects (that is, for example, students may not be part of the ENGAGE program and receive URO SOURCE funding for a separate project). If you are accepted into more than one program, you must choose in which program you want to participate. Faculty mentors may (and are encouraged to) supplement SOURCE funding with supplies and/or stipend support.
Application Procedure
Please note: Students cannot save and return to the online application. It is necessary that students complete all application materials and have them available prior to beginning the online application.
The online application consists of the following:
- Completion of all required application questions. You will need to know your project mentor's department and email.
- A 3-6 page proposal (double- or single- spaced) that is written in your own writing. Please do not copy and paste from your mentor's proposals. Include the following in your proposal:
- Page One: Title Page - Your name, major, project title, 3 research descriptive key words, mentor's name, and department only on this first page
- Following Pages (pages 2-5) - (a) Project background or overview, (b) significance/contribution of the research to the broader field, (c) objective or research question, (d) comprehensive methodology, (e) time commitment required for the project, and (f) connection with your educational and career goals.
- If your project involves human subjects that require IRB approval, you must include a section in your proposal about where you are in the IRB approval process.
- Last Page: References. Remember, this is a 6-page maximum proposal, including title page and references. There are strong applications that are 5 total pages and there are weak applications that are 6 pages.
- Resume - Please include student groups and leadership activities.
Your proposal and resume must be saved as .pdf.
Deadline
The deadline is February 15 at 11:59 PM. A complete application consists of submitted student application and the submitted Faculty Mentor Sponsor From.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed to confirm that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. Application reviewers will evaluate application files and identify recipients based on the strength and educational value of the proposal, the feasibility of the project, and the overall support of the faculty sponsor.
Funding Announcement
The Undergraduate Research Office will inform students about funding status on or by April 13, 2025.
Online Funding Application
The summer application link below will go live in early January. EVERYTHING you need to prepare your proposal is here now.
Summer Funding Application
Before beginning the application: log out of your internet applications and open the SOURCE summer application in incognito/private browsing mode. Log in with your CWRU network ID and password. This should eliminate many issues.
Difficulty accessing form? If you have problems opening the application or uploading documents please try another internet browser (specifically, Internet Explorer or Safari) or use incognito mode (private browsing) in your current browser. Plugins may interfere with parts of the form functionality. You also need to be logged into your CWRU email and log out of any other programs online.
Difficulty attaching your documents? Please note that your browser security setting or add-ons can prevent the form from loading or submitting correctly. If you run into any issues, follow the steps below:
- Copy the form link: https://docm-unity.case.edu/Uforms/PVSRCApplications_UForm.aspx
- Launch a new browser window with private browsing enabled:
- Google chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge: Ctrl + Shift + P
- Apple Safari: Shift + Command + N
- Paste the form link into the new browser window and complete your application.
Faculty Mentor Sponsor Form
Use the blue button below to access the faculty sponsor form.
Faculty Sponsor Form
Please note: faculty cannot submit their sponsor form until after students have submitted their application. Applicants cannot access this form. Please provide your faculty mentor with the link to this page along with your 7 digit student ID number and CWRU network ID. If your faculty mentor does not have CWRU network access, please email ugresearch@case.edu and provide your faculty mentor's email. The Undergraduate Research Office will email the form to your project mentor.
An application is considered complete when both the online application and the Faculty Mentor Sponsor Form are submitted.