Greetings from SDUR!

April showers have brought May flowers to the SDUR office! With the Symposium on the books and many of our early spring applications closed, you May think that there’s less opportunity for scholarships, financial assistance, and research, but there’s still plenty we’re doing to help our students bloom!

In this month's edition, we feature late spring opportunities and some deadlines after the summer break. Read on for updates on all things SDUR—nationally competitive scholarships, undergraduate research information, and details on the McNair Scholars Program. For more information, click here to visit the SDUR website, click here to follow our SDUR Instagram, or click here to email us at SDUR@k-state.edu.

Dreaming of summer,
The SDUR Team
Click here to learn more about us!

Celebration Corner

SDUR would like to congratulate Alexis Correira (PhD in Agronomy, Dec. ‘25) for selection as a Fulbright Student Award winner! She’ll be traveling to Honduras in the 2026-2027 academic year to perform research and study water quality in Lago Yajoa, a tropical lake, in association with faculty at Zamorano University in Tegucigalpa. Join us in wishing her the best on her new adventure!

We’d also like to congratulate Erin Frenk (Master’s in Chemistry, ‘27) for being selected as an honorable mention by the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Program! Erin has earned many honors in her time at K-State and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her.

Finally, we’d like to congratulate K-State's seven newest Gilman scholars! The Gilman Scholarship awards undergraduate researchers with merit-based scholarships to travel and study abroad. K-State's newest Gilman recipients are:

• Harrison Hamilton, traveling to Germany in fall ‘26

• April Schmidt, traveling to Costa Rica in summer ‘26

• Darleen Ferrer Stricker, traveling to Spain in summer ‘26

• Gheran Anderson, traveling to Japan in summer ‘26

• Reygan Schrock, traveling to Italy in summer ‘26

• Whitley Sikes, traveling to Spain in summer ‘26

• Nick Kaiser, traveling to Italy in fall ‘26

We know these Wildcats will do K-State proud overseas! Congratulations to all seven!

 

Undergraduate Research

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Teams

SDUR is excited to share a new way for students in all majors to join a research team and participate in applied learning. Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is a transdisciplinary, project-based learning model designed to increase undergraduate research participation in faculty-led research project teams. Students earn academic credit while growing from a learner to a leader on a VIP team over multiple semesters.

The inaugural K-State VIP Team, Groundwater Quality Geopaths, led by Dr. Matt Kirk and Dr. Helene Avocat, is enrolling now for Fall 2026. For more about this team, watch this short video at this link.

This team will:

• Explore groundwater quality in private wells in Kansas

• Collect groundwater samples and analyze their chemical and bacterial compositions

• Analyze data to show regional trends, and share findings at local conferences

Who should join?

• Students interested in water quality and data analysis.

• Students who are passionate about protecting the health and environment of Kansans.

This team is a great fit for many different majors!

Did you read this recent K-State Today article about well testing and think to yourself, “This is such important work—I wonder if there are opportunities for students to be involved?” This is it! If you’re interested, fill out the VIP Student Interest Form! If you have more questions, email us at sdur@ksu.edu.

Undergraduate Research Amplification Project (URAP)

The Undergraduate Research Amplification Project, funded by Student Governing Association, offers 10 undergraduates $2,000.00 to support their unfunded, student-directed research project for one academic year. Students are expected to engage in 6-10 hours per week of research-related activities, to regularly engage with SDUR staff for advising, and to present their findings in the Spring Campus-Wide Undergraduate Research Symposium.

The deadline for the 2026-2027 application is Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Click here to visit the SDUR website for more information.

Advertising Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Do you know of a team that has openings for undergraduate researchers? SDUR can help advertise research opportunities. Research teams with open spots can fill out this Qualtrics form and the opportunity will be shared on our resource list.

TRIO McNair Scholars Program

The K-State TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program selected the 31st Cohort of McNair Scholars early in the spring semester. Throughout the semester scholars have been preparing for the 8-week summer research internship, which is completed under the guidance of a selected faculty mentor. By the end of the 8-week internship scholars will have written and submitted a research proposal, article-length project, abstract, and short broad audience document, and presented their research.

Cohort 31 scholars participating in the 8-week summer research internship are:

• Eleanor Allen, English

• Rowan Anderson, English Literature

• Alexia Bouslog, Psychology, Human Health Biology, and Philosophy

• Sal Caudill, Medical Biochemistry and Human Health Biology

• Evan Dickson, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Chemical Science

• Jaimi Gay, Psychology

• Sarah Lopez, Animal Science

• Dahlia Ortiz, Dietetics

• Yaretzy Rodriguez-Medina, Animal Science

• Tyler Seaborn, Animal Science

Cohort 30 scholars who will be completing a 2nd research internship are:

• Shawna Logue. Social Work

• Michael Richaert, Chemistry, Animal Science

• Dulce Reyes, Animal Science

Each of these scholars will also have the opportunity to present their research again in September at the National Heartland McNair Research Conference.

Wish our scholars luck as they begin an intense, yet rewarding, 8 weeks!

 

Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Kansas State University is proud to celebrate students pursuing the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which offers opportunities for graduating seniors, graduate students, and young professionals to study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Fulbright participants build cross-cultural connections while advancing their academic and professional goals worldwide.

Students interested in applying are encouraged to connect with our office for guidance. Reach out to sdur@ksu.edu to learn more about eligibility, timelines, and next steps.

Faculty and advisors are encouraged to recommend students and direct interested applicants to sdur@ksu.edu for support.

Click here to view all upcoming NCS events.

Featured Opportunities

American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund provides merit-based scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students who are enrolled in certificate, undergraduate, or graduate programs in colleges and universities.

Priority deadline: May 31st.

Phi Kappa Phi Pioneer Award

Phi Kappa Phi Pioneer Awards are designed to encourage and reward undergraduate members for developing the research, engagement, and leadership skills necessary to become a successful scholar. Fifty $1,000 awards are distributed annually.

Deadline: June 1st.

Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award

Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate studies and/or career development for active Phi Kappa Phi members to include (but not be limited to): Graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/studies, etc. 200 awards of $1000 are distributed annually.

Deadline: June 30th.

Beyond SDUR

This section features opportunities beyond SDUR’s purview. If you or your organization wishes to advertise for upcoming opportunities, please contact SDUR@ksu.edu by the 25th of the month to be featured in the following month’s letter. Please include:

• A brief description of the opportunity as you would like it listed

• Relevant dates, links, and contact information

• ‘SDUR Newsletter Contribution’ in the subject line

Student Research Competition at IFoRE ‘25

November 6–7, 2026 | Virtual conference

Student researchers across most scientific disciplines are invited to showcase their research and compete for awards at the 2025 International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), powered by Sigma Xi. Students who attend IFoRE get unique opportunities to network with peers and professionals in their field, gain valuable research presentation experience, and discover future opportunities with school programs and employers.

Awards include monetary prizes, commemorative medals, and induction into Sigma Xi. Learn more at experienceIFoRE.org.

 

SDUR Pic of the Month

^{The 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium was a smash hit! Thanks to all presenters, mentors, volunteers, and guests for showing up for K-State research! (Photo credit: Staley School of Leadership’s communications team)}

 

 

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