Program Description | Eligibility Statement | Application Information | FAQ | Interview Guidelines |
Proposal Guidelines | Announcements of Opportunity
Caltech Students/Non-Caltech Students
Caltech Students
Requirements
Upon receiving a SURF award, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:
- To devote full effort to conducting the SURF project (Fellows should not take courses or hold another job)
- To participate in the project for the full ten-week period
- To submit two progress reports signed by their mentor
- To submit an abstract of their project
- To submit a written technical final report approved by the mentor
- To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar days
Compensation
SURF Fellows are considered Caltech student employees and
will receive $600/week. Wages will be subject to state and federal taxation.
International students may qualify for federal tax treaty exemption. For further
information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and
we will forward your question to the SURF payroll coordinator.
Payments will be distributed in equal installments near the last business day in June and July.
Funding
SURF is funded from a variety of sources including individual, corporate,
and foundation donors; income from an endowment; JPL; and faculty grants. Mentors
pay all research-related costs and provide space. Caltech and off-campus mentors
generally pay half the award amount. JPL mentors pay the full amount plus an administrative
fee.
Proposals are reviewed on their merit, not on the mentor's ability to contribute funds.
Named SURFs
Each year a number of students are selected to represent SURF to special donors.
These students are carefully chosen by matching their research interests, fields,
and activities to those of the donors. Students will be notified in July
if they have been designated named SURFers. Named SURFers may be invited to
meet their benefactors and will be required to write a "thank you" note.
SURF Activities
To enrich the research experience, SURF offers:
- Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty and JPL technical staff.
- A grad school/professional development series.
- Social and cultural activities coordinated by the SURF Student Advisory Council (SURFSAC).
- Weekly SURFSAC Suppers with small groups and faculty.
- Special field trips.
Non-Caltech Students
Requirements
Upon receiving a SURF award, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:
- To devote full effort to conducting the SURF project (Fellows should not take courses or hold another job)
- To participate in the project for the full ten-week period
- To submit two progress reports signed by their mentor
- To submit an abstract of their project
- To submit a written technical final report approved by the mentor
- To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar days
Compensation
SURF Fellows are considered Caltech student employees and
will receive $600/week. Wages will be subject to state and federal taxation.
International students may qualify for federal tax treaty exemption. For further
information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and
we will forward your question to the SURF payroll coordinator.
Payments will be distributed in equal installments near the last business day in June and July. Students will be required to purchase a declining balance card for use at Caltech and JPL eateries.
SURF has extremely limited funding for non-Caltech students.
In most cases, mentors will have to pay the full award amount.
Housing
Students may live in Caltech housing during the ten weeks of
SURF. Non-Caltech students cannot move into Caltech housing before the first
day of SURF and may not stay in Caltech housing beyond the designated ten-week SURF period. Students will be required to purchase a declining balance card for use at Caltech and JPL eateries. For more information on Caltech housing,
click
here.
SURF Activities
To enrich the research experience, SURF offers:
- Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty and JPL technical staff.
- A grad school/professional development series.
- Social and cultural activities coordinated by the SURF Student Advisory Council (SURFSAC).
- Weekly SURFSAC Suppers with small groups and faculty.
- Special field trips.
