Social-Personality Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Program
The Social-Personality Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Program runs from March to December with the mission to expand opportunities for research experience for students from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds. The SPUR program seeks to foster training and community engagement through virtual interconnections.
It is the mission of the SPUR program to expand opportunities for training and mentorship to those students whom our field has historically left behind.
SPUR trainees work together with mentors and their labs to complete an independent project during the March to December SPUR experience. SPUR trainees will complete a poster at the close of the program summarizing the project. In addition to this 1-on-1 research experience, trainees will virtually attend four professional development seminars to assist trainees in creating a strong skillset for promoting success in graduate school.
These training modules will include:
- Topical seminars from leading experts in social-personality psychology
- Research methods and statistics training through the statistical package R
- Application and general preparation for graduate school
- Basic academic skills training that includes survey design and literature search.
The expectation of the SPUR program is that trainees will develop skills and experiences during SPUR that they will convert into applications to PhD programs in social-personality psychology programs.
Eligible trainees will be from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds who are either currently enrolled in college or recent graduates (within 2 years of college graduation) and intending to apply to PhD programs in social-personality psychology.
Trainees in the program will receive a free SPSP membership, an SPSP convention registration award, and $1500 for their mentored research time for approximately 120 hours worked across the months of the SPUR program.
History
The program was originally conceived as an intensive summer internship in the methods of social and personality psychology for undergraduates from historically underrepresented racial groups. Participating students conducted research and research-related activities full-time for 8 weeks with a participating mentor and lab over the summer.
Mentors with active research labs at graduate or undergraduate institutions who are (1) amenable to working virtually with a SPUR trainee and (2) interested in supporting SPUR's mission to provide opportunities to students from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to be SPUR mentors.
SPUR mentors must:
- be personality or social psychology faculty (in any department)
- have an active research lab at undergraduate or graduate research institutions
- be SPSP members
- have the capacity to mentor SPUR trainees online through chat and video conferencing platforms
Mentor Awards
SPUR mentors will receive $400 for research expenses during the course of the SPUR program for each SPUR trainee they agree to sponsor.
Applications open on October 25, 2023, and close on November 29, 2023.
Eligible trainees will:
- be from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds
- be currently enrolled in college or recent graduates (within 2 years of college graduation) of a four-year college or university
- have a strong interest in applying to PhD programs in social-personality psychology
- be given priority if they do not have an active lab in their field of interest at their home institution
Trainee expectations during the program:
- Attend the 2024 SPUR virtual launch (in late February/March)
- Design and make regular progress on an independent research project with the help of a SPUR mentor (approximately 120 hours of work across the months of the program)
- Attend the four virtual workshops for skill development on the path to a social-personality PhD program
- Complete a poster summarizing the independent research project by the end of the SPUR program
- Engage in regular check-ins with SPUR trainees and SPUR mentors as appropriate
Stipend and Awards
Trainees in the program will receive a free SPSP membership, an SPSP Annual Convention registration award, and up to $1,500 for their mentored research time for approximately 120 hours worked across the months of the SPUR program.
Application Requirements
- A completed SPUR application
- An uploaded CV or resume
- An uploaded academic transcript
Applications open on October 25, 2023, and close on November 29, 2023.
How many students will be accepted to the program?
SPSP will select approximately ten students to participate in the program.
Are international students eligible for the program?
Yes, international students are eligible.
My school has an active lab, but it's not in my area of interest. Am I still eligible for the program?
As long as your university does not have an active research lab in your desired area of research you are eligible for the program.
When does the program take place?
The program runs from the SPUR kick-off in March 2024 to December 1, 2024.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted via our online portal.
How are students and mentors matched?
Students will be matched with mentors by research topic.
There is a mistake on my application. How can I fix it?
If you find an error on your application that you wish to correct, email [email protected]. Please note that changes will only be accepted up to the day the application is due.