Student Enrichment Opportunities

Research is fundamental to the SEO experience. SEO Scholars typically conduct research in faculty laboratories beginning the summer prior to the Junior year, gaining valuable scientific skills. MS students start research upon admission. Our students contribute meaningfully to projects, taking ownership of questions that push the boundary of what is known in a given field.  

SEO Scholars meet weekly with fellow cohort members under the guidance of SEO faculty/staff to build community, participate in professional development activities, and support each other on their journeys from student to scientist.  

The summers are fruitful times for SEO Scholars, providing opportunities to enhance academic readiness, gain familiarity with laboratory skills, and understand the path of a PhD scientist. From the Bridge Program for entering Freshmen, to the Directed Research Program for rising Sophomores, to the Doctoral Prep program for rising Juniors, SEO Summer Programs are carefully constructed to support the development of young scientists. 

SEO believes that computational expertise is a key component to future success in the sciences. We are proud to support the Summer Coding Immersion Program (SCIP) and partner with the Promoting Inclusivity in Computing (PINC) programs and require that our scholars develop computational skills through these programs and/or SFSU computational coursework.  

SEO Scholars typically receive a scholarship that includes tuition and fee coverage and a monthly stipend. This financial support permits our scholars to focus on academics and research and frees many of them from the necessity of outside employment while they are in school.  

FYI: Fellowships are financial awards based on research project positions. Scholarships are financial awards based on academic merit and may consider other qualifications. For the purposes of the SEO programs, we consider them all fellowships, but we sometimes use both terms interchangeably.

Our scholars work with research mentors trained in working with emerging scientists from a variety of backgrounds. Each academic year, research mentors pledge to provide consistent, inclusive, developmentally appropriate mentorship, that includes regular in-person meetings and the support of each student’s Individual Development Plan (IDP).