What is SURF?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) introduces exchange students to research under the guidance of seasoned research mentors at Caltech and NUS.

SURF was developed in order to enhance and broaden students’ undergraduate experiences by giving them the chance to live in another culture, conduct research in a different academic/research environment, and prepare for careers that will most certainly involve international cooperation and collaboration. Each summer more than 300 students from Caltech and from other colleges and universities participate in the programme.

SURF Programme

Duration: Mid June to mid August (10 weeks)

Formally begins Tue/June 16. To accommodate differing academic schedules between Caltech and NUS, students may begin work at other times, but not earlier than May 15 (with agreement of the mentor). Students must complete their projects before the fourth Friday in September.

SURF Programme is modeled on the grant-seeking process:

• Students collaborate with potential Caltech mentors to define and develop a project.
• Applicants write research proposals for their projects
• A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards
• At the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper and give an oral presentation at SURF Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a professional technical meeting. Students will also submit a written technical report due on the fourth Friday in September.

SURF Activities

Caltech-SURF office offers a wealth of enrichment activities, cultural and social events, fieldtrips, and seminars during the summer:

• Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty and JPL Technical Staff. The seminars are held from noon until 1:00 PM. Lunch is provided;
• A participatory discussion series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, and other topics of interest to future researchers;
• Social and cultural activities coordinated by the SURF Student Advisory Council (SURFSAC)
• Wednesday SURFSAC Suppers give small groups of students the chance to get together with two to four faculty members for informal conversation at local restaurants.

How to SURF?

Students interested in conducting summer research at Caltech should apply through their faculties (FoE/FoS) and NOT apply independently through the online SURF application process.

Application Period
Opens in January and closes in mid-February

Application Process

1. Eligible FoE and FoS students to receive email invitation for applications. Applicants must provide the following to NUS faculty coordinator:
• A completed Caltech-NUS Application
• A detailed personal statement -to include specific information about the student’s research interests. Do review Caltech faculty websites to discover work carried out at the Institute. Click on Academic Divisions from the website: http://www.caltech.edu
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
  (at least one of which must be from the faculty of the applicant's home institution in fields related to the applicant's major).
• An official transcript.
• Applicants will be interviewed and selections will be made on the basis of the strength of the application and the interview.
2. FoE/FoS Deans and faculty will nominate promising students to be matched with Caltech mentors.
3. Students to work with mentors to develop a project plan due May 15, 2009, or prior to beginning of the project, if earlier. See project plan guidelines at www.murf.caltech.edu/fellows/guidelines.html

Financial, Housing and Board Arrangements

Caltech will provide a stipend of US$6,000 to cover expenses over the 10-week research attachment, to be disbursed in two installments

Students may live in campus housing. Students will pay housing costs of approximately $800 per month (exact charges will be determined in April 2009). Non-Caltech students cannot move into Caltech housing before the first day of SURF and there is no board contract. For more information on Caltech housing, visit http://www.its.caltech.edu/~housing/

Students will provide their own meals and pay travel costs.

NUS students will be required to show proof of health insurance valid in the United States for the duration of the program.

NUS students are required to obtain a US visa after acceptance into the program. Caltech’s International Student Programs (ISP) Office will assist with this process

A copy of the 2009 SURF calendar is available at http://www.surf.caltech.edu/dates/index.html

Contacts

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Peck Gee Chua, Assistant Manager, International Relations Office
irocpg@nus.edu.sg

Please submit application materials by Mon/16 February deadline to:

1. Ms Dawn Chia Shu San (For FoE students only)
   Office of Undergraduate Programs, Faculty of Engineering
   Email: engchiad@nus.edu.sg



2. Ms Lui Xiang Yun (For FoS students only)
   Dean's Office, Faculty of Science
   Email: scilxy@nus.edu.sg

Estimated Cost of Living