RISE Scholars Program

Your pathway to impactful research starts here - RISE 2025 Applications Are Now Open.

Are you ready to unlock your potential and make a real difference as a student researcher? The RISE Scholars Program (Research and Interdisciplinary STEM Experiences) offers a unique undergraduate research opportunity, crafted exclusively for students like you. 

• Are you an upper-level student who is new to undergraduate research and wants to pursue a faculty-mentored research project, but don't know where to start?
• Are you seeking an intensive, yet flexible Summer 2025 research experience (giving you time to balance summer classes, work and/or travel)?

Through RISE, you will have the chance to:

• Receive Financial Support: Eligible students will earn a $1,000 scholarship in the spring and a $5,000 stipend for summer research, helping you focus on your academic and research goals.*
• Build Research Skills in COS 300: Gain practical, hands-on experience through COS 300, a structured, Mason Impact research-intensive course that equips you with essential skills and methodologies for future research success.
• Design Your Own Research Project: Turn your ideas into action with guidance from George Mason’s renowned faculty and access to state-of-the-art resources.
• Receive Tailored Support: Access one-on-one mentorship to shape your research vision and achieve your project goals.
• Develop Essential Skills: Participate in skill-building sessions that will prepare you for success in graduate school or your career.
• Join a Community of Scholars: Connect with other transfer students who share your passion for discovery and innovation.

The 2025 Research & Interdisciplinary STEM Experiences (RISE) Scholars Program can be your on-ramp to Mason's research community.

Student Qualifications:

• First priority selection among students who transferred from community colleges to Mason, followed by transfers from four-year universities.
• Second priority to upper-level undergraduates with no prior research experience. 
• Research project should be in STEM or a related field (health, social or behavioral science, STEM education, etc.).
• Mason (or prior college) GPA of 2.75+ at the end of Fall 2024.
• Must enroll in COS 300 (3 credits, hybrid) in Spring 2025: 3 credit, research-intensive course (asynchronous online).
• Must be available 30 hours per week over the full, six week Summer A session to run your research project.

Questions about the RISE Scholars Program? Contact Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon at khilkerb@gmu.edu

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 – Apply HERE