Program Description and Requirements
| Eligibility Requirements | Application Information
- MURF students are welcomed into Caltech’s community
of researchers and scholars.
- Students carry out individual research projects under the mentorship of
Caltech faculty or JPL technical staff over an 8 to 10 week summer period.
- MURF students will work on a day-to-day basis with graduate student/postdoctoral
scholar co-mentors.
- Program Associates introduce MURF students to the Caltech culture, provide
advice, discuss graduate school issues, answer questions, etc.
- MURF students join a large contingent of undergraduate researchers in an
array of programs administered by the Student-Faculty Programs office.
- MURF students may participate in a wealth of programs and activities coordinated
by the Student-Faculty Programs office.
- Students receive a payment of $600/week plus housing and travel
allowance.
Upon receiving a MURF award, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following
requirements:
- To submit a project plan by May 15 following collaboration with the mentor
- To submit progress reports signed by their mentors
- To submit an abstract of their project
- To submit a written technical report approved by the mentor
- To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar day symposia
MURF students receive payments of $600/week. Payments will be distributed in
equal installments on the first business day of July and August.
To enrich the research experience, MURF offers:
- MURF Monday sessions to hear seminars by faculty and graduate students,
graduate student panels, and other presentations. Lunch is provided.
- Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty and JPL technical staff. 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).
- Weekly SURFSAC Suppers give small groups of students the chance to get
together with two to four faculty members for informal conversation at local
restaurants.
- Special field trips.
MURF students will be housed in Caltech apartments near the campus.
