LGS-SOAR

Apply HERE; Application Guidelines HERE

Deadline: February 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST

The 2025 LGS-SOAR Program offers an exciting opportunity for NON-Emory undergraduate scholars interested in pursuing graduate study toward a PhD. Running from May 27 to August 1, 2025, the program will provide undergraduate scholars with the chance to engage in full-time independent and mentored research in fields such as biomedical, biological, natural, and public health sciences, as well as humanities and humanistic social sciences. 

About the Program

The 2025 LGS-SOAR Program offers a comprehensive learning experience designed to equip scholars with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in graduate school and beyond.

This experience is available in both in-person and virtual formats, providing flexibility and accessibility for all scholar participants. The program consists of:

  1. Academic Expertise Training
    1. In-person, full-time, direct, collaborative, but independent intensive research
    2. Academic-specific weekly learning sessions
  2. Research Ethics Sessions 
    1. In-person, weekly sessions focused on research ethics policies and guidelines for intramural research
  3. Professional Development Sessions 
    1. These in-person and virtual sessions aim to help scholars build a strong professional network and gain a focused experience to better prepare them for advanced studies in various fields.
      Topics covered include:
      • Making the Most Out of Your Summer Experience: Maximizing research opportunities and professional growth during the summer.
      • Presenting Graduate-Level Research: Learning the fundamentals of academic writing, proposal development, and presentation skills.
      • Developing My Individual Development Plan (IDP) and More: Creating a personalized plan for academic and professional success.
      • Applying to Graduate School? (or Not): Navigating the process of applying to graduate programs or exploring alternative pathways and Optimizing Your Application Materials – CVs, Resumes, & Personal Statements.

The program is particularly seeking applicants from the following groups:

  1. Scholars from Disadvantaged Backgrounds:
    • This includes:
      1. First-generation college students,
      2. Students from rural U.S. areas, and/or
      3. Scholars from low socioeconomic (SES) status backgrounds
  2. Underrepresented Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Groups:
    • Scholars from racial and ethnic backgrounds who are traditionally underrepresented in graduate education or scholars who identify as women in certain STEM fields.
  3. Scholars with Accessibility Needs:
    • Individuals who have access and physical or mental impairment need that substantially limit one or more major life activities.

The program also encourages applications from scholars who have participated in initiatives such as:

  • NIH-RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement)
  • NIH-MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers)
  • NIH-IMSD (Initiative for Maximizing Student Development)
  • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
  • McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
  • Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunities Centers, or similar programs for first-generation college students

General Eligibility

The 2025 LGS-SOAR Program welcomes applications from students interested in pursuing a doctoral program at Emory University's Laney Graduate School. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduation Status: Applicants must NOT be graduating before December 2025.
  • Graduation Timeline: Applicants must be on track to graduate by June 2028.
  • Citizenship: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, undocumented scholars, and international scholars are all eligible to apply.

Eligibility criteria must be met for an applicant to qualify, and all scholars who meet these criteria are invited to apply. This initiative offers a valuable chance for future PhD candidates to gain hands-on research experience and mentorship, preparing them for advanced research studies.

Primary Eligibility

  • Application Deadline: All applicants must submit their application by February 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
  • Program Commitment: Applicants must attend and participate fully throughout the entire program, from May 27 to August 1, 2025, for the On-Campus Scholars and from June 2 to July 30, 2025, for the Virtual Scholars.

Program Structure

This learning experience offers two distinct learning experiences for scholars: the On-Campus Experience (Residential) and the Virtual Experience (Remote). Below are the details of each option:

LGS-SOAR ON-CAMPUS EXPERIENCE (RESIDENTIAL)

  • Duration: 10 weeks (May 27 – August 1, 2025)
  • Format: Scholars will conduct full-time independent research while being mentored by Emory faculty, postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, graduate students, and other undergraduates.
  • Partner Programs: All LGS-SOAR Scholars will be affiliated with one of the following partner programs:
    • Cancer Research at Emory
      • American Cancer Society-Diversity in Cancer Research (ACS-DICR) at the Winship Cancer Institute
      • Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (AFLAC) at the School of Medicine
    • Jon C. Allen Summer Research Program at the Emory Primate Center (EPC)
    • Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) sponsored by the Laney Graduate School
  • Financial Support:
    • Housing award for residence on Emory’s campus
      • Apartment-style housing accommodations with other SOAR scholars
    • Sponsored travel to and from Emory campus at the start and end of the program
    • A stipend ($5500 per tax), provided either by the LGS program or the scholar’s home institution
  • Program Requirements:
    • Scholars must participate in Professional Development and Research Ethics sessions from May 27 to August 1, 2025.
    • A final report and participation in the 2025 Research Symposium will be required.
    • Additional program-specific requirements for affiliated partner programs will be shared upon acceptance.
  • Target Audience:
    • Ideal for scholars currently in the 2nd or 3rd year of their undergraduate degree, who have some research experience and are looking for an immersive, intensive research experience.
  • Expectations of Scholars:
    • Conducting full-time research which can consist of:
      • 6-8 hours daily for the entire summer in a didactic research setting (i.e., lab or library)
      • Independent review and analysis of relevant literature
    • Complete engagement in programmatic activities such as:
      • Relevant workshops and seminars
      • Local enrichment activities
    • Individualized guidance and planning on next academic and professional steps

Finding a mentor for the on-campus LGS SOAR Program

The LGS-SOAR Program emphasizes the importance of finding a mentor whose research interests are aligned with your own. Here is how you can approach this crucial step:

  1. Identify Your Research Interests:
    • Reflect on the topics that intrigue you the most and make a list of those research areas.
    • These could be broad fields (e.g., biomedical sciences, public health) or specific topics (e.g., cancer research, neuroscience, environmental health).
  2. Use Resources to Explore More:
    • Explore local media, library databases, and web resources to gather more information about ongoing research in the field in which you are interested.
    • Familiarize yourself with current trends, discoveries, and prominent researchers in your area of interest.
  3. Consult with Academic Advisors and Instructors:
    • Discuss your interests with your academic advisor and professors. They are often aware of local researchers and can suggest potential mentors based on your research interests.
    • It is highly likely that there are researchers in the Atlanta area (or affiliated with Emory) who are working on topics that excite you.
  4. Do Not Contact Faculty Directly:
    • Important: Do not reach out directly to Emory faculty members.
    • The LGS-SOAR Program Administration will manage all communications with faculty and facilitate the mentor-matching process.
  5. Provide Potential Faculty Mentors in Your Application:
    • In your application, you will be asked to list at least 3 faculty members whose research aligns with your interests.
    • The LGS-SOAR Program will use this information to match you with an appropriate mentor.
    • Be sure to review the list of available faculty mentors before submitting your application to ensure that your selections are feasible.

This approach will help you find a mentor who not only matches your research interests but also provides the guidance and support you need for your summer research experience.

LGS-SOAR VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE (REMOTE)

  • Duration: 9 weeks (June 2- July 30, 2025)
  • Format: This program is entirely remote, and scholars will not engage in direct research with Faculty Faculty/Advisors/Mentors. Instead, they will participate in Research Discipline sessions led by current Laney Graduate School students.
  • Opportunity to Build Networks: Scholars will connect with top Laney Graduate School scholars from various research disciplines, expanding their network and gaining insights into graduate research.
  • Financial Support:
    • This virtual experience is offered at no cost to selected scholars but does not provide any stipend.
  • Program Requirements:
    • Scholars must participate in 80% of the programmatic requirements and complete the final project.
      • Professional Development Sessions
      • Discipline-Specific Research Sessions
  • Target Audience:
    • Ideal for scholars currently in their 1st or 2nd year of undergraduate study who have some research experience but cannot participate in person.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The On-Campus Experience offers a full-time, immersive research environment with financial support and mentoring, making it ideal for those who want hands-on experience.
  • The Virtual Experience provides flexibility for those unable to attend in person, offering networking and research discipline exposure without financial support.

Both options provide valuable opportunities for scholars interested in pursuing graduate education and conducting meaningful research.

How to apply

Before applying

  • Confirm Availability: Ensure you are available for the full program duration
    • May 27 – August 1, 2025, for On-Campus Scholars
    • June 2 – July 30, 2025, for Virtual Scholars

Application

  • Review Guidelines: Carefully review the application guidelines and tips available on the Application Guidelines page.

Notification

  • Results: Notification of application status will be sent via email during the week of March 17, 2025. Please be patient as notifications are processed.

This program offers a valuable opportunity for aspiring graduate students to gain immersive research experience and professional development.

Public Safety at Emory

Emory maintains its own police department that manages law enforcement, fire safety, and emergency medical services. Emergency "blue light" phones, located throughout campus, link callers directly to the department to report emergencies and request security escorts.

The Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) coordinates campus-wide activities related to unusual events. The Emory Emergency Notification program is a multi-modal system for alerting students, staff, faculty, and visitors to an emergency affecting the Emory community. The wide array of notification options affords Emory the flexibility to convey emergency information most appropriately and provides redundancy to help ensure the message gets out. These options include outdoor sirens, Emory email, text messages, and the Emory CEPAR social media pages (@EMORY_CEPAR on Twitter and EmoryCEPAR on Facebook).  For more information on campus safety, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

SHOULD I CONTACT ALL THE FACULTY MEMBERS AT EMORY THAT I MIGHT WANT TO WORK WITH?

No. The LGS-SOAR Program Administration will manage all the initial contact and faculty mentor matching; however, do list at least 3 faculty in your application to ensure matching is possible. Here are some tips on how to identify a potential research mentor. Please contact Dr. Amanda Marie James (amandamariejames@emory.edu) with any questions or concerns about identifying potential mentors and their availability.

WHY DOES THE PROGRAM TARGET RISING SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS AND NOT FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS?

Many available projects require students who have completed freshman-level coursework and beyond.

ARE GRADUATING SENIORS (SENIORS THAT WILL GRADUATE AT THE END OF THE SPRING QUARTER/SEMESTER PRECEDING THE SUMMER EXPERIENCE, OR IN THE SUMMER) ELIGIBLE?

No. The program is designed to support students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program. You are not eligible for the summer research program if your bachelor's degree has been awarded by the time the program starts or before the program ends (Summer term degrees).

IS THE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM OPEN TO STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS?

Funding is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International students are also eligible to apply but funds are limited. Undocumented students are also encouraged to apply.

CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I HAVE MY OWN FUNDING?

We encourage students who have funding from their home institution or special program to indicate this on their application and to contact Dr. Amanda Marie James (amandamariejames@emory.edu). Assuming the student is a competitive candidate, and that laboratory and housing space are available, we will do our best to place the student in our program. Note that funding availability alone does not guarantee a position: all applicants must be competitive as determined by the selection committee.

CAN I APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE REMOTE PROGRAM?

Yes, the LGS-SOAR Virtual Program is open to direct application.

IF I DO NOT GET ACCEPTED TO THE ON-CAMPUS PROGRAM, CAN I BE CONSIDERED FOR THE REMOTE OPTIONS?

Yes. You can indicate your interest in the virtual program when you submit your application.

WILL I RECIEVE A COMPLETION CERTIFICATE?

All scholars who complete the program (On-Campus SOAR and Virtual SOAR) will receive a completion certificate. On-campus scholars will present their research at the end of the summer Symposium. Virtual scholars will present a final project as a culminating experience.