Randolph-Macon College held its 21st annual SURF (Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship) Symposium on August 10, 2018. SURF offers students the opportunity to conduct summer research under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Generous Support, Special Guests
The Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program was founded by Benjamin Schapiro ’64 and his wife Peggy in 1995 to support scholarly undergraduate research by students in all disciplines. The Schapiros were special guests at the 2018 SURF Symposium.

“It was great having the Schapiros at the Symposium for the very first time,” says Serge Schreiner, the Dudley P. and Patricia C. Jackson Professor of Chemistry, who co-directs the SURF program with Art History Professor Evie Terrono. “They were genuinely impressed by what they saw, and they realized what a difference their generosity has made. We are so thankful to the Schapiros for making the SURF program possible. Because of them the program has grown from just a handful of students to over 650 students.”

Engaging Presentations
Provost William T. Franz welcomed students, parents, and faculty, and President Robert R. Lindgren was in attendance throughout the day. In Copley Science Center, Brock Commons, and Birdsong Hall, students analyzed their research methodology and their final conclusions in oral and poster presentations.

Students researched a wide variety of topics across the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences and sciences. For example:

Dea Alqurwani ’20 (engineering physics major; mathematics minor), under the guidance of Physics Professor James McLeskey Jr., researched Melt-Electrospinning: Manufacturing an Optimal Hydrophobic Membrane for Direct Contact Membrane Desalination.

Under the mentorship of Communication Studies Professor Joan Conners, Shelby Ethington ’19 (English and communication studies major; journalism and religious studies minor) researched “You Can’t Be What You Can’t See”: Gender Presentation in Netflix Original Shows.

Dylan Tolley ’19 (English major; education minor) researched Curating the Periodical Culture of the Lost Generation. Tolley worked under the guidance of English Professor Robert Volpicelli.

SURF: An Enriching Experience
Students from all disciplines can apply to the SURF program. Students submit a research proposal for funding to faculty reviewers, emulating a competitive external review process. If funded, the student receives a stipend of $3,500, and it is understood that the research should result in presentation of the findings at professional meetings and submission for publication where appropriate. The college also provides free housing so students can engage in a number of activities as a community. Results of the research are presented at the annual SURF Symposium and on Research Day.

“SURF is an excellent opportunity for students and professors,” says Schreiner. “Students have an enriching, hands-on learning experience, and professors can fine-tune their research and scholarship skills as they work alongside students. The one-on-one interaction is invaluable, and faculty and students, unencumbered by other classes, can focus completely on the research. Many students continue their research well beyond the nine weeks of SURF, a testimony to the program.”