Undergraduate Research Opportunities
FVSU offers multiple programs and partnerships that provide support for scholarships and undergraduate research internships for students, including the Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP), the McNair Scholars Program, the NSF S-STEM in biotechnology program, the Peach State LSAMP Program, the Rising Scholars Internships, and the Valley Scholars Program.
We encourage students to explore these programs and many other undergraduate research opportunities on and off campus.
FVSU Affiliated Opportunities:
Cooperative Development Energies Program
The Fort Valley State University Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) has one of the best track records in the nation for recruiting minorities and women in science and engineering disciplines. All students who are enrolled in one of CDEP’s engineering, geology, geophysics, or health physics dual degree programs are eligible to participate in summer internships with sponsoring companies and governmental agencies.
Contact Issac Crumbly, Ph.D., Director of CDEP, crumblyi@fvsu.edu.
The McNair Scholars Program aims to increase the number of graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented groups of society. The McNair Program specifically aims to identify and prepare sophomores, juniors and seniors from Fort Valley State University for post-graduate studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.
Contact Davida Curtis, Ph.D., Director of TRIO Services and McNair Scholars Program, curtisd@fvsu.edu.
NSF Scholarships in STEM in Plant Science Biotechnology
The National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM program helps to reduce the costs for Fort Valley State University students pursuing a plant science degree in biotechnology. This program offers scholarships to eligible incoming first-year and transfer students. In addition, student scholarship awardees will participate in undergraduate research on and off campus through multiple university partnerships.
Contact Sarwan Dhir, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Biotechnology, dhirs0@fvsu.edu.
Nutritional Biology Graduate Admissions Pathways
The Nutritional Biology Graduate Admissions Pathways (NUTGAP) program provides students from Fort Valley State University and Savannah State University with experience in nutritional biology research with UC Davis faculty, professional development, and long-term mentoring with a goal of increasing the number of scientists from historically marginalized groups who pursue research careers in nutritional biology.
Contact Celia Dodd, Ph.D., doddc@fvsu.edu or Tiffani Holmes, Ph.D. holmest@fvsu.edu.
Peach State Louis Stokes for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
Peach State LSAMP is a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored program with the mission to significantly increase the number of underrepresented minorities pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Applications to the program open at the beginning of each semester. PSLAMP scholars are provided with faculty mentorship and the opportunities for undergraduate research on campus and with partner institutions.
Contact Dwayne Daniels, Ph.D., Director of FVSU PSLAMP, Danield@fvsu.edu.
Rising Scholars Internship at University of Georgia
The Rising Scholars Internship is an opportunity for students from Fort Valley State University to conduct research with CAES scientists and reside on the UGA Campus in Athens. This nine-week program is intended for students interested in research and planning to attend graduate school in agriculture and related sciences. Interns will receive a monthly stipend and housing and meal allowance. This is an excellent opportunity for students to receive hands-on research experience to better prepare themselves for graduate studies. Fort Valley State University will issue the course credits (3hrs: PSCI-4862 Research Method and PSCI-4811 Seminar). The students must enroll for both courses at FVSU after completing the internship (2hrs) and presenting at a scientific meeting (1hr).
Contact Lakecia Pettway, Director of Diversity Affairs at UGA, risingscholars@uga.edu.
Valley Scholars Program (Link out to the Valley Scholars home page that needs to be created)
The Valley Scholars program provides funding for summer research at FVSU. During the summer internship, scholars complete a research project under the direction of an FVSU faculty mentor and receive a paid stipend for their training. The program also sponsors speakers and other training workshops throughout the year. At the end of the program, participants give a presentation about their research and can apply to be a paid Undergraduate Research Peer mentor during the next academic year.
Contact Celia Dodd, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Research, doddc@fvsu.edu.
List of Off Campus Opportunities:
Pathways to Science is a search engine for many STEM and social science internships listed by discipline.
National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates is a search engine for many NSF funded REUS listed by discipline.
Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Opportunities Program is a list of colleges and universities that offer summer research internships.
National Institutes of Health – Research and Training Opportunities (NIH) provides a list of research and training opportunities in biomedical sciences.
Internships for Undergraduate Chemistry Students (ACS) provides a list of research opportunities in chemistry.
Amgen Scholars is a summer undergraduate research program in science and biotechnology hosted at multiple universities across the country.
The following links take you to lists of internships at companies for the summer and academic year:
Please note we are working to provide a list of more opportunities. If you know of more to include, please contact Celia Dodd, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Research, doddc@fvsu.edu.