STAR Scholars

The STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars Program matches current first-year students with faculty-mentored research or creative projects and was inspired by Drexel’s philosophy of learning by doing. Students selected as STAR Scholars are not required to be Honors students; however, STAR Scholars must earn a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA during their freshman year to remain in good standing in the program.

Students are selected for the program in two stages: 1) High-achieving applicants are invited to participate in the STAR Scholars Program during the admissions process. 2) Current students who meet academic eligibility requirements have the opportunity to apply for the STAR Scholars Program in January of their freshman year.

Once accepted into the program, STAR Scholars participate in a number of events and meetings designed to orient them to the program and to research. STARs may also take courses for credit on research and research methodology during their freshman year. During the summer research term, STAR Scholars are expected to work 400 hours (i.e., 40 hours/week for 10 weeks) during the term while living on campus. They are compensated at a rate of $10/hour (for a total of $4,000 in taxable income) and are given university housing. STARs are also expected to present professional research posters at the STAR Research Day at the end of the summer term and are invited to present at Drexel’s Research Day, as well as other national and international locations and conferences.

STARs are not expected to design their own projects. Instead, each STAR Scholar is matched with a faculty mentor who is currently doing research in an area of interest to the student. Drexel professors are engaged in a remarkable range of research, scholarship, and creative activity, and STAR Mentors are among the University’s most accomplished faculty members. Because of this, STAR Scholars have access to a truly unique array of projects, as well as opportunities for professional development.

The STAR Scholars Program provides a means for students to be mentored by University faculty, explore a major course of study, and gain practical skills and valuable research experience for their future career or course of graduate study.

For further information about the STAR Scholars Program, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research at our@drexel.edu.