The purpose of the Research Initiative for Science Education in CSD (RISE-CSD) training program is to provide talented undergraduate Speech and Hearing Science majors with direct laboratory research experience through immersive, faculty-mentored activities.  

The training program will provide academic support through intensive research-specific training; intellectual support via multiple levels of high-quality mentoring; and socio-cultural support through planned professional networking. RISE-CSD will span 15 weeks during the spring semester, six summer weeks, and 15 fall weeks in 2025. 

Freshman, sophomore, and junior-level CSD undergraduates interested in pursuing an intensive research experience should submit a formal application to the RISE-CSD program. Members of underrepresented minority groups and students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Students will need to complete a brief interest form and interview with the RISE-CSD directors in person or remotely. The RISE-CSD directors will independently evaluate each application and determine an applicant’s overall potential for success based on several attributes:

  • Background. There will be an emphasis on ensuring a diverse group of students with special attention to underrepresented groups in health science.  
  • Research Interests. During the interview, applicants will be asked about their top choices for research projects based on CSD faculty mentors’ availability, to allow appropriate faculty-mentee pairing.  The content areas will include pediatric audiology, aural rehabilitation, motor speech disorders, fluency, child language, speech sound disorders, and cultural and linguistic disparities.
  • Interest in a Future Research Career. Future career plans mentioned in the interest form and during the interview will be used to ensure that selected participants will gain the greatest benefit from the program.
The application deadline is November 15, 2024. Five students meeting all RISE-CSD qualifications will be chosen and accepted into the program. Successful applicants will be notified by December 1, 2024, and receive details about program duration, course registration, and stipends.

Next steps

If you are interested in being considered for the RISE-CSD training program, complete the online interest form.

All students who apply will be offered an interview with the directors. Acceptance decisions will only be made after the interviews are completed. 

Complete Interest Form

Who to contact for questions?

mili kuruvilla-dugsdale

Mili Kuruvilla-Dugdale, Ph.D.

Title/Position
Associate Professor
Elizabeth Walker

Elizabeth Walker, Ph.D., CCC-A/SLP

Title/Position
Associate Professor
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Scholar