Summer Research Program and SIReS
Summer Research at Valpo: 2026 Resources and Symposium Details
The Summer Research Program includes an array of social and scholarly events. Students attend cookouts, present their research findings to each other in weekly colloquia, take part in scholarly communication workshops, and discuss issues in research ethics.
At the end of the summer, students present their research findings to the public in our annual Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium (SIReS). Valpo offers a limited number of summer housing grants for those living on campus during the summer. To begin planning for a summer research project, talk to a faculty mentor today!
| Activity | Date/Time/Topic |
|---|---|
| Welcome Gathering (CFS 181) | Thurs. June 11 12:00 Pizza Lunch & Introductions by Faculty Mentors |
| Professional Development Workshops (GEM 120–except for June 23) | Tues. June 16 12:00 Profs. Michael Chikeleze, Danielle Orozco-Nunnelly, and Devin Sodums: Research Ethics Tues. June 23 12:00 (CFS 181) Dr. Anna Stewart: Writing Your Research Story for Grad Programs and Grants Tues. June 30 12:00 Prof. Kristi Bugajski: Effective Oral & Poster Presentations Tues. July 7 12:00 Devin Sodums: Grants Aren’t Just for Grad School Tues. July 14 12:00 Prof. Reva Johnson: Communicating Research to the Public |
| Brown Bag Lunch Presentations (GEM 120–except for June 24: click for link to schedule) | Wed. June 10 12:00 Profs. Tiffany Kolba and Jeffrey Pruet Wed. June 17 12:00 Student Research Groups Wed. June 24 12:00 (CFS 181) Student Research Groups Wed. July 1 12:00 Student Research Groups Wed. July 8 12:00 Student Research Groups Wed. July 15 12:00 Student Research Groups |
| Campus Cookout | Thurs. July 8 4:00 pm (CFS) |
| Abstracts Due (Valpo Scholar) | Fri. July 10 |
| SIReS Symposium | Wed. July 22 Poster Session: 8:30 Harre Union Ballrooms; Speaker: 11:00 Dr. Mara Paterson ’19 |
| Evaluation Survey | TBD |
The 2026 Summer SIReS (Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium) will take place on Wednesday, July 22 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in the Harre Union Ballrooms. The schedule is below. You can scroll down to see the poster presentation titles and abstracts in each session.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Mara Paterson ’19
“The Value of Strong Networks: Lessons Learned While Becoming a Polymer Chemist“
Stimuli-responsive “smart” polymers have been transformative for fields such as sustainability, medicine, and engineering, especially in recent decades. Designs of these systems typically rely on a bottom-up approach, taking advantage of molecular phenomena to impart macroscopic properties into polymer networks. My career has followed a similar trajectory, beginning with fundamental organic chemistry research at Valpo and embarking on more interdisciplinary and application-driven work during my Ph.D. and postdoctoral training. In this presentation I will discuss some of the projects I have worked on throughout the years while also highlighting important life lessons learned along the way.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Poster Presentations–Session 1 | Ballrooms |
| 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. | Poster Presentations–Session 2 | Ballrooms |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Speaker: Dr. Mara Paterson ’19 | Brown & Gold |
| 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Students complete Evaluation Survey | TBD |
Students engaged in summer research are eligible to apply for free housing in the residence halls, subject to the following stipulations:
- Each student must be a registered undergraduate at Valparaiso University.
- Each student must be engaged in full time research (at least 30 hours per week), up to a maximum of 10 weeks.
- Each student researcher must have a faculty mentor.
- Each student must be engaged in real research, as opposed to simply assisting with a faculty research project. For example, a student employed by a faculty member to work solely as a laboratory technician, to find journal articles in the library, or to proofread a manuscript would not be eligible. The key criterion in defining ‘real’ research is that the student be engaged in, and contribute to, the intellectual development of the research or creative project. Two manifestations of such engagement are: 1) that the student write a comprehensive research report and 2) that the student be included as a co-author of any scholarly publications that result from the research.
Faculty mentors request housing on behalf of their students through the Creative Work and Research Committee. The deadline for such requests is usually in late March. The request includes the following information:
- Student’s name.
- Expected graduation date.
- Short description of the student’s planned activities.
- Beginning and ending dates for the research/housing.
- Source of funding from which the student will be paid.
The Committee on Creative Work and Research selects students to receive Summer Housing Grants before May 1. The Office of Residential Life coordinates the awards with Finance and Administration. These awards are subject to the following conditions:
- Students enrolled in summer school must have the approval of the Financial Aid Office.
- Students receiving this award must abide by all the rules and regulations of the residence hall system.
Students must complete and submit a summer housing agreement to the Office of Residential Life in the Harre Union no later than the summer school housing application deadline. - Students should indicate that they are a “summer research student” on the form. If students are not approved for free housing, and then wish to cancel their housing, they may do so without financial penalty.
- Grants will be for up to 10 weeks. When not on campus for one (1) week or more, students must vacate their rooms.
Rooms will be double rooms with roommates assigned by the Office of Residential Life.
Student Research and Creative Work