As soon as a student commits to Caltech and starts their fall term, the omnipresent word ‘SURF’ starts spreading around campus. But what exactly is a SURF?
Caltech, founded over 130 years ago in 1891, has been developed and brought to prominence as a research institute, where students are encouraged to participate in research starting as early as the first year of their undergraduate program. Whether that be during the school year or over summer breaks, students can explore their interests in various research fields, from biological sciences to robotics, chemical engineering, applied physics, and even economics (yes, research in economics does exist).
In particular, Caltech’s famous Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, abbreviated into the well-admired acronym SURF, is a program that allows undergraduate students to participate in a 10-week funded summer research project in a field they are passionate about. While working with professors who are experts in their fields, along with graduate student and postdoctoral mentors, undergraduates have the opportunity to explore their passions, learn about the ins and outs of working in a research lab, and create connections with fellow students and researchers. The best part is: students can participate in a SURF as early as the summer after their freshman year! And, you don’t even have to be a Caltech student to apply and participate. Students even get paid (over $7000 for the summer)! Below are some tips for students looking for a SURF opportunity.
Though the SURF program takes place in the summer (from June to August), students are encouraged to start searching for an opportunity as early as Thanksgiving and Christmas break. That might sound intimidating, especially for a freshman who has only been in college for a couple months. But don’t be shy! Professors love hearing from passionate students who are interested in getting involved in research opportunities. The easiest way to reach out is to send the professor an email and copy their administrative assistant. Alternatively, some professors have an open door policy; you can simply knock on their door and talk to them! Before reaching out, remember to read about their research interests online to know whether you’re interested in the field. You can and should definitely email multiple professors at once to see which opportunity works out. If you want to SURF off-campus, you definitely can (that’s what I did this summer)! All you need to do is find an associate mentor at Caltech to approve your application, and if awarded the SURF, you will receive half your funding from your off-campus mentor.
In February, the SURF application is due. Think of it as a shortened college application, which asks for your extracurriculars, involvements, and (college) transcript. However, the most important part is the SURF proposal, which details your proposed research project for the summer. With assistance from your research mentor, the 2-3 page proposal includes the research ideas you hope to accomplish. Over the next month faculty review the proposals, and by the beginning of April, students are notified if they are awarded the SURF. The Caltech SURF Office, as well as student SURF ambassadors, are always there to help with applications as well.
For the next few months, students may have to complete lab safety training and other procedures. Once Caltech’s spring term ends in mid-June, SURF begins!
The 10 weeks fly by so quickly. I can attest to that; I can’t believe I’m already done. By the end of your SURF, you’ll have written two reports, an abstract, and a final report that mimics a research paper. Students also present their work on campus!
Everyone has different experiences while working in their SURF labs. While some students run physical experiments, some work on more computational or theoretical projects. No matter what project you end up working on, even if it isn’t in your major or area of interest, a SURF research experience is so fulfilling, and you learn much more than what you expect. SURFs are intrinsically interdisciplinary, allowing you to discover the convergence of various topics being researched.
My SURF experience this summer was challenging, but it was also so interesting and eye-opening. I SURFed off-campus at Florida International University in my hometown (Miami, FL) at the Applied Research Center, where I worked on creating simulations of the Boston Dynamics Spot robot in low gravity and rough terrain environments that mimic extraterrestrial planetary systems (such as the Moon and Mars). I spent most of my time learning the code wrapper ROS2 (Robot Operating System) and simulation software Gazebo, which is used to simulate the robot.
I’ve learned so much more than just programming, however. One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of patience and trial-and-error in research. When working in a lab, you’re not going to get the desired results immediately. Though it may feel discouraging at first, research is all about persistence, resourcefulness, and asking for help from your mentors.
Even if you don’t know if you’re interested in pursuing a career in research, SURF is a great way to explore the research field and discover your interests. Students should definitely consider applying for a SURF sometime during their time at Caltech!
