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�������’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems has joined the Undergraduate Research to PhD (UR2PhD) mentorship program, a nationwide initiative from the Computer Research Association’s (CRA) aimed at providing students with support to develop into strong researchers.

The program connects undergraduate students to high-quality research opportunities, pairing them with graduate mentors and faculty to support their development of key computer science research skills. Additionally, the program connects undergraduate students with the experiential learning and research opportunities that can lead to graduate study.

At �������, UR2PhD will be embedded within the Seidenberg Summer Undergraduate Research (SSUR) program—an annual, hands-on research experience for undergraduate students. This summer’s cohort includes 15 undergraduate students, six graduate student mentors, and eight faculty advisors.

“This is the first year that graduate students will be involved in SSUR,” said Christelle Scharff, PhD, professor of computer science, who has led SSUR for four years and applied for ������� to join . “The program is important for our students and for experiential learning at �������.”

During the program, undergraduate students will take a research skills course designed to reinforce their understanding of the research process, enhance written and oral communication, promote teamwork and collaboration, and foster a computer science research identity within the broader research community. They will also learn to consider the social, ethical, and cultural impacts of their computer science research projects.

������� faculty participating in the program include professors Krishna Bathula, Matt Ganis, Carmine Guida, Christelle Scharff, Tom Schmidt, Juan Shan, and Jonathan William. For this summer, the research projects will focus on areas including machine learning, cybersecurity, drones, game development, virtual reality, and human centered design.

Students will receive a stipend to support their participation from the CRA, as well as opportunities to receive funding to present their projects at conferences.

“Undergraduate research is a cornerstone of building a strong academic community,” said Li-Chiou Chen, PhD, dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. “Through this program, our students will have opportunities to develop their research skills and make meaningful contributions to the field, which is more important than ever.”