Read the full story and watch the video at Ohio State News
For 40 years, The Ohio State University's Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) has helped undergraduate students envision themselves as future scholars, researchers and graduate students. What began in 1986 as part of a Big Ten Academic Alliance initiative continues today as one of Ohio State's signature pathways to graduate education, connecting students with transformative research experiences, faculty mentorship and professional development opportunities.
SROP's impact extends far beyond a summer research project. Each year, participants spend nine weeks immersed in faculty-mentored research while developing the skills needed to pursue advanced education and professional careers. Students gain hands-on experience, receive guidance on graduate school admissions and funding, and build networks with faculty, graduate students and peers from across the country.
The program's success is rooted in a model that has remained remarkably consistent over four decades. Historical records from the program's early years highlighted the importance of research engagement and faculty mentorship, principles that continue to define the experience today. Through these relationships, students gain confidence, expand their academic horizons and begin to see graduate education as an attainable next step.
SROP also strengthens Ohio State's broader research community. Through the Consortium of Undergraduate Research Experiences, participants engage in professional development programs and share their work with fellow researchers across disciplines. The consortium's 2026 symposium, which featured more than 170 undergraduate researchers, demonstrates the scale and impact of undergraduate research opportunities across the university.
After serving more than 1,000 students at Ohio State, SROP remains a powerful example of how research, mentoring and community can change academic trajectories. Forty years later, its mission is unchanged: opening doors, expanding opportunities and helping the next generation of scholars imagine what is possible.