Aaron Swiney, Furman University Class of ’25, wanted to know more about how the earth formed, so he spent the summer as a paid research fellow, following his curiosity into tectonics research with Ruth Aronoff, associate professor of earth sciences. The experience, which included a trip to Colorado for field work, has informed his path after Furman University.
Stella Peters ’25 spent the summer in a Furman art studio doing research with Kevin Kao, a ceramicist and sculptor, studying the human body as a vessel and unpacking what it means to be human.
Peters and Swiney were among 282 undergraduate Furman students who worked as summer research fellows this year. They came from majors as diverse as chemistry and classics, history and health sciences. It’s the largest group of summer research fellows ever in a fast-growing program. Watch videos below with Swiney and Peters in which they discuss their research.
Some research projects are ongoing, like work in psychology or chemistry. Others are new, like a jazz project that culminated in an album of original student work. Students went to Costa Rica to collaborate with a local university on sustainable agriculture and outreach, while others in sociology and communication studies are researching demographic shifts in Greenville.
Summer research fellows receive discounted summer housing and stipends, from $3,500 to $4,500, said Erik Ching, the Walter Kenneth Mattison Professor of History, interim associate provost for Engaged Learning, and director of Undergraduate Research.
The program is part of The Furman Advantage, which includes the promise that every student will have the opportunity to participate in at least one research project, internship or study away.
Furman has a long history of providing research opportunities for undergraduates. A concerted effort started in earnest in 2016, when 150 students and 61 faculty members studied over the summer. That year, Furman received the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments.
Because The Furman Advantage includes constant reassessment and improvement, summer research shifted focus in 2017, from faculty-centric projects to focusing on mentoring and students’ needs, while still creating original scholarship. Participation, Ching said, has grown rapidly since then.
The benefits don’t stop when summer ends. Swiney and Peters both say they’ve gained insight into their futures. Reflecting on their work is also part of The Furman Advantage.
Students complete assessments before and after their experience and write a separate reflection about it. They also take a professional development program that helps them leverage their summer experience in job interviews and graduate school applications. Some will author research papers and some will present at professional conferences. Every student will have the chance to present at Furman Engaged, an annual event in the spring celebrating student work.
Written by Clinton Colmenares, Furman University Director of News and Media Strategy.
Photo: Stella Peters ’25 conducted research this summer with Kevin Kao, associate professor of art.