The Ohio State University’s Graduate School announced the successful completion of its 2025 Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), celebrating a cohort of 40 undergraduate students who spent the summer immersed in a world-class research environment. The program, which concluded with a research symposium and closing reception, is a critical initiative aimed at providing students interested in graduate school with a pathway to graduate education.
Image – 2025 SROP Students performing O-H-I-O on their visit to Wooster
According to Brianna Johnson, assistant dean for mentoring and strategic initiatives, the program’s success is built on the foundation of hands-on experience. “The key feature of the Summer Research Opportunities Program is the research experience that SROP students get with talented faculty across the university,” Johnson said. The 2025 cohort conducted research in nine of Ohio State’s colleges, gaining skills and developing their identities as future scientists and scholars. This hands-on approach is what truly differentiates SROP from other summer programs.
Beyond the lab, the students participated in a robust series of professional development sessions designed to prepare them for the rigors of graduate school. Martia Williams, a graduate assistant who worked closely with the students, noted the program’s intentional design. "Much of our professional development programs over the summer [were] focused on topics such as how to write a personal statement, hearing from a graduate student panel and how to deal with challenges such as imposter syndrome in graduate school," Williams said. "These programs were chosen intentionally to not only give them the practical knowledge but also knowledge to support their social and emotional health in grad school." The sessions included popular topics like developing resumes and personal statements, as well as a candid panel discussion with current Ohio State graduate students about the realities of advanced education.
Image (Top) – Brianna Johnson and Martia Williams enthusiastically engaging students in discussion. (Bottom) Students participating in a name memorizing game.
The program's effectiveness was evident in the independent research students were able to complete. Williams described how faculty often treated SROP participants like graduate students, giving them a starting point but leaving them to complete the project on their own. "Several of our students who had research experiences elsewhere talked about how valuable this experience was because they were able to conduct a lot of independent research, which helped them feel ready for graduate school," she added. The mentorship between students and faculty was central to this success. “Effective mentorship is the bedrock of a successful SROP experience,” Johnson explained. “At the beginning of the program, we provide learning agreements that the SROP students complete alongside their faculty mentors to help align expectations and set goals for the summer.” The team also conducted individual check-ins with each student throughout the summer to monitor their progress and offer support, gathering anecdotal evidence that reinforced the program's positive impact.
To ensure the students felt welcome and supported from day one, Johnson emphasized the focus on community. “At the start of SROP, we have a full-day orientation where we emphasize community building and help students get acclimated to the program,” she said. This initial effort laid the groundwork for a supportive environment that continued throughout the summer, facilitated by social events and a group chat that encouraged students to connect with each other. Students took the initiative themselves to schedule movie nights, volleyball games and other activities and outings collaborate with anyone who wanted to join, reinforcing the sense of community.
Images – Four students presenting their research at the 2025 SROP Symposium
A major highlight of the summer was the SROP symposium, held on July 24 at the Physics Research Building and Scott Lab. The event showcased the students’ hard work, culminating in poster and paper sessions where they presented their findings to the academic community. "The best proof of the effectiveness of this experience was seeing students present their research at the closing research symposium and how many people from their research communities on campus came to cheer them on," Williams recalled. The symposium also featured Brian Orefice, assistant dean for graduate studies and Brianna Johnson as keynote speakers and a closing reception at The Ohio State University Faculty Club, complete with a certificate ceremony and opportunities for scholars to network with faculty and staff.
Image – (Left) Students taking a tour of the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster (Right) Brianna Johnson and Stephen Quaye admire a beehive along with an SROP student.
Earlier in the summer, on June 12, the students had the opportunity to visit the College of Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus. The day provided a broader perspective on the research opportunities available at the university, with tours of research facilities and labs. The itinerary included a visit to the Secrest Arboretum, where students learned about research from curator Jason Veil and a graduate student. They also toured the Bee Lab, the Molecular and Cellular Imaging Center (MCIC), the Service Testing and Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) and even the Equine Center, before returning to the Columbus campus.
The program's success, according to Johnson, stems from strong collaboration among staff. "The strong collaboration between GRA Martia Williams and me, as well as many other key members of the SROP Team...is what led to a strong program overall," she said. Johnson noted that this collaborative spirit was vital. “I enjoyed filtering information and ideas from various partners and participants and taking it back to our team and using it to make the SROP experience positive for all involved,” she said. The team added several new components this year, including one-on-one sessions for students, a new Ohio State SROP logo featured on T-shirts and the closing reception and ceremony after the symposium. “I am pleased with the outcome of all that we did. Working with this team throughout the SROP experience has been a true delight!” she added.
The program's impact extends well beyond the summer. "The primary goal of the SROP program is to prepare undergraduate students for graduate education at a large research-intensive university like Ohio State and others in the Big Ten Academic Alliance," Johnson stated. "SROP emphasizes not only the research experience but also the importance of building connections with cohort members, faculty and staff that last well beyond the summer," she added. The SROP team will continue to support the cohort throughout the academic year by hosting virtual monthly sessions to guide them through the graduate application process in real time. The Summer Research Opportunities Program stands as a powerful testament to The Ohio State University's commitment to increasing access to graduate education and preparing the next generation of research scholars.