The Emerging Scholars program is a year-long research partnership between a faculty member and a junior or senior undergraduate student. This is an exciting opportunity for faculty to get material support for research while developing a meaningful mentoring relationship with a student.

After reviewing these expectations, faculty members should submit their information by email to: EmergingScholars_Applications@uml.eduby February 6, 2025, to have your project considered for inclusion in the program.

Expectations of the Emerging Scholars Program

This experience will pose important responsibilities for both the students and faculty. Beyond compatibility, student-faculty partnerships with the most success are those capable of meeting the expectations of the program.

Expectations of Emerging Scholars Faculty Mentors

Serve as a mentor for the student, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Create a specific partnership contract
  • Meet with student weekly at a regular time
  • Provide clear communication of tasks for students to work on
  • Communicate with student about support needed
  • Respond to student communication promptly and clearly
  • Keep student logs up to date and go over with students at each meeting

Actively participate in Emerging Scholars community, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Attend Emerging Scholars orientation
  • Meet monthly with other Emerging Scholars faculty
  • Communicate any concerns to Faculty co-Directors
  • Respond to emails from Program Coordinator and Faculty co-Directors within a reasonable time frame (48 hours)
  • Participate in evaluation in December and May
  • Participate in Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring
  • Attend mid-year Emerging Scholars symposium in December
  • Attend end-of-the-year celebration in May

Contribute to professional development of the Emerging Scholars, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Consider student co-authorship on publications if appropriate
  • Consider opportunities for students presenting at conferences
  • Help organize and lead workshops on graduate school, research methods, writing, etc.

Faculty Application Information

Please provide the following information and email to: EmergingScholars_Applications@uml.edu by February 6, 2025. 

  1. Name
  2. Department
  3. Email Address
  4. Phone Number
  5. Describe your interest in the Emerging Scholars program and explain your relevant experience mentoring undergraduate students. (200-300 words)
  6. Describe your research project and the role of a potential Emerging Scholar. The collaboration with an Emerging Scholar is tied to a specific project rather than more general assistance with your overall research agenda. Explain clearly what stage of development the project is in and if it involves other collaborators. (200-400 words)
  7. List in more detail some of the tasks you would assign to your student partner and the skills your partner would need to bring to the project. Be as specific as possible.
  8. Write a 200-word description that will be used in materials for student recruitment if your project is selected. Be thoughtful in making this something that students will understand and be interested in. This description should include the following elements:
    • (a) Title of research project
    • (b) Description of research project, including relevance, major questions to be addressed, and general methodological approach.
    • (c) Identification of possible tasks for student involvement over the 2024-2025 academic year and skills desired in a student partner.
  9. Add anything else you would like us to know.

Please direct any additional questions by email to: Mignon_Duffy@uml.edu or Jenifer_Whittenwoodring@uml.edu.