ACS PRF Supplements for Underrepresented Minority Research (SUMR)

The SUMR Scholar award is a supplement for existing ACS PRF research grants, intended to involve an undergraduate from an underrepresented minority group in a principal investigator’s research project. Only current grant holders are eligible to apply. The purpose of the SUMR program is to offer a research experience for undergraduates from underrepresented minority groups, as defined below. At the same time, this program offers ACS PRF grantees additional resources to further their PRF-sponsored research.

The following criteria are applied in ranking SUMR requests (in order of importance):

• Scientific merit of the proposed research
• Impact of the experience on the education of the student
• Availability of enrichment opportunities such as research seminars, project-related field trips, significant mentoring, and exploration of scientific career choices
• Richness of the environment for learning through research
• Receptiveness of the environment to the SUMR Scholar
• Impact of this opportunity on the climate for recruitment of underrepresented minorities to scientific careers

The ACS considers the following minority groups to be underrepresented in the science and engineering disciplines: African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian. Principal investigators are encouraged to consider students who are early in their undergraduate programs as potential beneficiaries of the supplements. For summer 2009, up to $5,000 is provided to support the SUMR Scholar. Application is made by the host ACS PRF grant holder.