Southern Nevada Northern Arizona Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (SNNA-LSAMP)

LSAMP-sponsored undergraduate research is a semester-long activity for selected students, supervised by STEM faculty members, to engage in a STEM-focused project outside of the classroom setting. The projects will have definitive start and end dates with appropriate benchmarks for completion of various components. Upon completion of their project, participants will be required to produce a technical poster to present at the annual SNNA-LSAMP conference. A performance-based stipend of $2000 will be provided to each participant who completes their research, produces a poster, and presents their findings.

Why engage in undergraduate research? 

Participation in undergraduate research has a strong positive impact on persistence and degree completion. The hands-on application of classroom knowledge offers many advantages, including:

• Gaining clarification of your academic and career goals.
• Networking within your discipline, which may connect you to future opportunities.
• Developing professional skills and adding valuable experience to your resume.
• Strengthening transferable skills like written and oral communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

These benefits will contribute to a successful undergraduate experience and prepare you for your future career in STEM. Whether you plan to pursue a graduate degree or join the workforce, undergraduate research will set you apart from your peers and open many doors!

How to find a research project:

LSAMP faculty and staff, along with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (OURCA), are committed to assisting eligible participants in finding appropriate projects and research mentors. We have distinguished faculty researchers across all STEM disciplines who are eager to work with LSAMP students. You may already know of a project you want to work on, or just want to discuss options for the future. Either way, your next steps are to:

• Review the “How to get started” tab on OURCA’s website (see link above), and
• Fill out the LSAMP-funded research application.

These applications are reviewed on a weekly basis for research to be conducted in either the fall or spring semester each year. Due to our grant budget cycle, there is no funding for summer research. After reviewing your application, LSAMP staff will follow-up with you via email to guide you through the process.

Eligibility: To be selected for this activity, you must identify as an underrepresented minority (URM)* and also be:

• a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the U.S.,
• a sophomore, junior, or senior with a 3.0 minimum GPA,
• enrolled in an NSF supported STEM major**, and
• not already involved in research funded through another grant.

*For LSAMP program purposes, underrepresented minority (URM) students are individuals who are members of groups historically underrepresented in STEM at the undergraduate and graduate-education levels. In accordance with the solicitation (NSF 20-590) under which the SNNA-LSAMP grant (EES 2307200) is funded, these groups include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders. The purpose of LSAMP nationally and SNNA-LSAMP regionally is to broaden the participation of these students from these groups in STEM academic disciplines and careers.

** This includes most CEFNS and SCE majors, but does not include health professions or social sciences degree programs. See below for exact list of NSF approved NAU majors.

Discord-based Resources

Discord is a voice, video, and text chat app that is used by our LSAMP community to network, share information such as upcoming events and unique opportunities, and provide resources like online tutoring and mentoring. Any NAU or CCC student is welcome to join; however, many of the posts are specific to our underrepresented minority (URM) STEM students. We encourage all URM students in CEFNS and SCE to join our LSAMP Discord server as it is the primary method we use to communicate opportunities and your participation will help build this supportive community.

Discord-based Tutoring

Each semester we will provide online tutoring in select STEM gateway courses with historically high D, F, W, I rates. All students enrolled in any section of these courses will be invited to use this service free of charge. The tutoring schedule will be made available to all instructors of these courses and will be posted on the LSAMP bulletin board outside of Biological Sciences room 132.

Preparing for graduate school admission can be overwhelming! The LSAMP-sponsored Post-Baccalaureate Transition Success Program (PBTSP) is an academic year-long activity (fall and spring semesters) consisting of graduate school preparation events and individualized assistance designed to help graduating seniors identify perspective STEM graduate programs, navigate the application process, and secure funding. Participants will complete various program components: establishing a timeline, exploring potential STEM graduate programs, creating a process to track application requirements and deadlines, drafting and finalizing their personal statement, securing letters of recommendation, and researching funding opportunities.

The PBTSP will culminate in the submission of at least two graduate program applications and one funding application. Graduate school application fees will be waived for NAU and UNLV STEM degree programs, and a performance-based stipend of $1000 will be provided to each participant who completes all PBTSP requirements.

Eligibility: To be selected for this activity, you must identify as an underrepresented minority (URM)* and also be:

• a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the U.S.,
• a full-time senior with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher,
• enrolled in an NSF supported STEM major**, and
• intending to enroll in a STEM-based graduate program no later than the fall semester immediately following your graduation.

There are a limited number of performance-based stipends, which will be awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, interested students should complete the PBTSP application as soon as possible and no later than the last day of September.

Why pursue an advanced STEM degree?

Are you thinking about pursuing a graduate-level degree in STEM? There are many reasons to do so, including:

• Personal growth – New experiences help you know yourself better and gain confidence in your abilities and future career.
• Skill development – Learn new equipment and techniques while mastering basic skills through hands-on practice.
• Professionalism – Join or become more involved in a professional organization to interact with fellow researchers and experts in your field.
• Career flexibility – Gain a competitive edge in the job market with an advanced degree.
• Increased compensation – Enjoy a higher starting salary and more opportunity for advancement.

Annual Alliance Conference

Each spring semester the SNNA-LSAMP Alliance hosts a 1.5 day conference where students participating in Alliance activities can engage in professional development and networking activities as well as undergraduate research presentations and campus tours. The conference will be held in Las Vegas, NV during even years and Flagstaff, AZ during odd years. Conference registration will begin in January each year and priority will be given to students engaged in SNNA-LSAMP sponsored activities.