Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)

Purpose Statement

In support of Rackham Graduate School’s mission, SROP expands access and opportunity to students with diverse experiences and goals, and who come from various educational, cultural, geographic, and familial backgrounds. We aim to facilitate their preparation as a pathway to doctoral studies, because this enhances the quality of the intellectual environment for all students.

Vision Statement

SROP at U-M strives to increase the number of students with unique experiences and perspectives by supporting their preparation for graduate studies. Through intensive mentorship, active learning, and enrichment activities, SROP fosters a community of scholars who increase social and cultural capital and networking while mastering research skills and knowledge that advance their preparation as candidates for successful graduate study at U-M and success in future careers, increasing representation in professional fields.

• $5,000 stipend (includes domestic travel reimbursement)
• Research and graduate application mentorship by faculty and graduate students
• Networking and professional development opportunities
• Opportunity to present at the annual SROP Research Symposium
• Room and board in university housing facilities
• Access to campus facilities and U-M resources, such as libraries and gyms
• Social events and exposure to U-M, the Ann Arbor campus, and Southeast Michigan
• Community building with a national cohort of rising scholars
• Application fee waiver to apply to a Rackham Graduate School program

SROP participants are expected to participate full-time during the ten-week program. Participants may not enroll in classes, concurrent summer programs, or hold other employment during the period of the program. Program start and end dates cannot be modified.

Please read the eligibility requirements carefully, as they may differ from other Big Ten Academic Alliance SROP programs. Students with diverse experiences and goals in the social sciences, physical or natural sciences, and engineering are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or non-U.S. citizen with DACA.
• Have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Be entering their junior or senior year in college (at a school other than the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) and not be scheduled to graduate before December 2026.
• Have an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in one of the Rackham graduate programs. Please note that this does not include programs leading to professional degrees, e.g., Medical School (M.D.), Law School (J.D.), and Ross School of Business (M.B.A.).
• Have a genuine interest in academic research and/or teaching as a career.

Applicants must also meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Have led and/or been substantially engaged in activities that broaden the participation of individuals with diverse backgrounds in the academic, professional, or civic realm. By broadening participation, we mean efforts in the U.S. to specifically reduce educational disparities based on race, ethnicity, first-generation status, familial income, or gender.
• Have experienced financial hardship as a result of family economic circumstances;
• Are first-generation U.S. citizens in their families;
• Will be first-generation in their families to graduate from a four-year college;
• Are from an educational or geographic background that is underrepresented in their discipline in the U.S. or at U-M and/or holds membership in a federally recognized tribe.

Students in the humanities are encouraged to apply to the Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars (MICHHERS) program.

We are not able to accept students currently enrolled at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Currently enrolled UM-Ann Arbor students should contact the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) for more information on summer internships at U-M. Also, visit the Big Ten Academic Alliance website for information on SROP options at other institutions.

Students currently enrolled at UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn are encouraged to apply.

Please read the SROP Application Process and Guidelines thoroughly before starting the application. For additional details, please email [email protected].

Deadline to Apply

Applications and supporting documentation must be received online by Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m., EST. The application portal will not be available after this date.

U-M will notify applicants of acceptance into U-M SROP by email no later than Monday, March 31, 2026. Offers of acceptance will continue until all available spots are filled.

Official acceptance agreements will be included with the pre-arrival paperwork.