STAR Scholars

Yes. We make a concerted effort to include students from many or all disciplines from across the university. We include students from across the university in proportion to the number of applications we receive from each discipline; as a result, there is often stiffer competition among students from particular disciplines than others. 

No. The STAR Scholars Program, like all programs offered by Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs, is not restricted to students in the Honors Program. 

Yes. We have many international students who participate in STAR each year. Since STAR is considered on-campus employment, it will not affect your CPT/OPT. 

The total number of STAR Scholars varies from year to year, but is generally between 100 and 120 students. The program began with a funded cohort of 30 students during the summer of 2003. 

STAR Scholars are not matched to faculty mentors; rather, they choose their own faculty mentor. We advise STAR Scholars on which faculty mentors are conducting research in the areas in which they have expressed an interest, and we encourage STAR Scholars to take the initiative in finding their own faculty mentor by networking with their current professors, “researching their research” by looking up faculty research projects online, and perusing the ForagerOne platform to see the types of research positions that are already posted. 

The STAR Scholars Program maps directly onto the full academic summer term.

STAR Scholars are expected to devote approximately 35 hours/week to their research project, for a total of 350 hours of faculty-mentored research, scholarship, or creative activity.

Each STAR Scholar is provided a taxable stipend of $3,500 to enable participation by students regardless of means. In addition, on-campus housing is provided at no cost to all STAR Scholars for the duration of the program. STAR Scholars are responsible for other expenses, including meals, which the stipend is intended to cover.

Each STAR Scholar is responsible for creating a research poster, which they are then expected to present at the annual STAR Scholars Summer Showcase. STAR Scholars are also required to write and submit an abstract of their research to be published in the STAR Scholars Summer Showcase program.

Yes. STAR Scholars are eligible to take one class during the STAR Summer Term with the approval of their STAR Mentor. Each student who chooses to take a course over the summer bears responsibility for tuition for this course, as payment for summer courses is NOT covered by the STAR Scholars Program.  

STAR Mentors are expected to define appropriate research activities within the chosen discipline, provide academic and career guidance to their STAR Scholars, and monitor the research being conducted under their tutelage. We expect Mentors to provide a research/creative environment that is conducive to learning, as well as feedback to students as their research/creative activity progresses. Our expectations of our STAR Mentors are explained in full detail in the STAR Scholar/Mentor Contract.

Absolutely. STAR is not the only way to participate in research at Drexel. You can volunteer, use federal work/study funds for paid opportunities, and participate in research for credit. Check out our resources for finding research for more information.

Many of our STAR Scholars continue their research by choosing a research co-op; participating in research as a volunteer, for academic credit, or for work/study; and/or by presenting their work at general undergraduate conferences or discipline-specific conferences. Students who choose to commit to undergraduate research throughout their time at Drexel would be great fits for the SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellows program, which is designed to help you document, reflect on, and be recognized for your sustained engagement in undergraduate research.