The Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Enterprise (SSURE) fosters research partnerships between Rice social sciences majors and faculty. The program offers 3 hours credit for SOSC 321 and a research budget of up to $1500 to conduct independent scholarly projects on topics of their choosing with the advice and mentoring of a faculty member. These research partnerships are designed to enhance future employment and educational opportunities for students.

Sample Projects

• The Impact of Immigration on Health Care
• Climate Change and the International Economy
• The Brain and Spelling
• Poverty and child obesity
• New reproductive technologies

How it Works
Students who wish to participate in SSURE may submit proposals (electronically) by November 1, 4 pm, to Ipek Martinez, Assistant Dean at ipek@rice.edu. Projects must then be completed no later than August 15 of the following year.

A student should begin the process by coming up with an idea and then discussing the idea with a faculty member. This idea should lead to interesting, independent work. If the faculty member approves the idea, the student prepares a three-page research proposal that must be formally endorsed by the faculty member. The key to SSURE is finding a faculty member who is willing to help you with your project.

Having received the approval of a faculty member, the student submits the proposal and a budget request for expenses up to $1500 (such as site visits, data set purchases, etc.) to SSURE's evaluation committee. Selected proposals will be announced by November 15. The student will start working on the project, enroll in SOSC 321 in the spring, and complete it during summer.

Once the Project is Complete
Students are given two opportunities to share their research results.

On campus - the School of Social Sciences sponsors a SSURE conference on student work. The students are also encouraged to present their projects at RURS (Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium) in April.

Nationally – If warranted and funds available, the school provides the opportunity for students to travel to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in April to present their projects to students and faculty from across the country.

Quick Facts:
Application Deadline: November 1, 4 pm.

Eligibility: Social sciences undergraduates who are returning to Rice the following year. Graduating seniors are ineligible.

Research Stipend: up to $1500 reimbursement for research expenses (such as travel, data sets, etc) based on pre-approved budget proposals.

Travel expenses to conference: If warranted and funds available, the school will cover travel expenses for students to present papers at National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

Order of process:
1. Student consults with a faculty member about their research ideas.
2. Student and faculty reach mutual consensus regarding the project.
3. Student submits (3 page) proposal to SSURE evaluation committee by November 1 along with a budget request for related expenses.
4. Committee announces selection decisions by November 15 and reserves the right to modify the budget (up or down) as deemed appropriate.
5. Student starts working on the project and enrolls in SOSC 321 Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Enterprise in the spring semester.
6. Students work with their individual faculty member. The class meets for 2 or 3 sessions during the semester so that all students can come together and talk about and/or present their work.
7. Student completes research over the summer and submits paper by August 15. The faculty submits grade change in the fall if the student fails to complete the project (or the research report has significant problems).
8. Student presents paper on campus, and possibly nationally at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).