Research & Innovation
at NCSSM
Opportunities for the Class of 2027 will be announced in September/October 2025
About NCSSM Research & Innovation
NCSSM students have a wealth of opportunities and options for research and innovation. The objective is to engage each student as a thinker, maker, doer in an experience that requires the application of knowledge and skills to address challenges in the world beyond the classroom.
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The model for research and innovation at NCSSM is unique with student experiences designed to:
Serve many students (at no cost to students and families)
Ensure high quality experiences (under the guidance of instructor)
Give ownership to the students
Focus on student development
Offer widely diverse range of opportunities and options
The possibilities to engage in research and innovation abound in any field of interest from STEM to humanities, and the range of opportunities continues to expand in research, entrepreneurship and design. Opportunities take place in a variety of timelines and formats and do not typically require previous experience. Students are asked to bring their creative capacity, their self-reliance and self-awareness, and their dedicated work ethic, and their desire to develop as a leader by building skills and confidence through practice and application within the safety and support of the NCSSM community.
NCSSM Foundation, NCSSM state, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund among many others support these opportunities for the students to monopolize upon the treasure of time within a course or during the summer and the wealth of guidance and inspiration provided by the instructors and volunteer mentors around the state.
Learn About Different NCSSM Research Opportunities
Summer R&I Program
SRIP features a wide variety of instructor-led programs hosted on NCSSM-Durham and NCSSM-Morganton campuses
each summer
Mentorship Program
Mentorship engages students in projects under the guidance of a professional partner at local research universities, companies, and nonprofit agencies
Departmental Programs
Departments invite students to participate in student-driven research, entrepreneurship, or design project led by the expertise of an NCSSM faculty
Courses
Courses offer an opportunity for students to register for shorter-duration, academic year/J-Term opportunities to gain experience
Apply to the Class of 2026 Summer Research & Innovation (SRIP) and Mentorship Programs!
Options available for NCSSM Durham and Morganton residential and Online students!
The NCSSM Summer Research & Innovation Program and Mentorship Program share an application that allows students to apply to a maximum of 4 of any of the SRIP/Mentorship opportunities offered at Durham and Morganton.
Durham-Hosted SRIP/Mentorship Fair
Attend virtual drop-in interest meetings on Zoom to chat with instructors and past/currents students about their opportunities!
Monday, October 7, 2024 (4:00 - 5:00 PM)
Morganton SRIP/Mentorship Fairs
Visit the NCSSM Morganton Fair (Google Site) to learn about offered opportunities!
Monday, October 7, 2024 & Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Programs Available for Mentorship Program for the Class of 2026
Mentorship 1 (M1): Summer
Mentorship 2 (M2): Academic Year
Mentorship 3 (M3): Extended
Mentorship 1 (M1): Summer
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification Program
Burke County Finance
Exploring Joara Foundation
Western Carolina University: Highlands Biological Station, Mountain Heritage Center, Rapid Center
Western Piedmont Community College: Simulation and Game Development
Mentorship 2 (M2): Academic Year
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification Program
Environmental Conservation and Ecology
UNC Health Blue Ridge
Mentorship 3 (M3): Extended
Programs Available for the Summer Research & Innovation Program 2025
How to do a Startup: An Experience in Entrepreneurship
Mentorship Program
Summer Research in the Humanities
Summer Research in Mathematics
Computer Science and Software Incubator
Data Science Service Learning
Designing Historical and Social Science Research Projects
Leading Music Therapy Activities for People with Dementia
Mentorship Program
Mapping Folklore across Western North Carolina
Robotics Design Exploration
Explore Your Interests as a Durham Student (Class of 2026)
Durham Research & Innovation Fair
Wednesday, September 18 at 4:00-5:00 PM in the PEC!
Connect with the Research and Innovation Instructors, talk to students, and learn more about the features, timelines, and/or applications of each program!
Explore Your Interests as a Morganton Student (Class of 2026)
Morganton R&I Junior Meeting
(Required) NCSSM-MOR Junior Meeting NCSSM Fall 2024.pdfMorganton Departmental Opportunities Fair
Wednesday, September 18 at 4:00-5:30 PM at the Academic Commmons Stairs!
Departmental offerings only, open to Morganton Residential only.
To learn more about departmental programs at Morganton, visit the departmental programs pages!
Explore Your Interests as an Online Student (Class of 2025)
Mentorship Program
The Summer (M1) timeline for the Mentorship Program is open for online student participation! M1 Mentorship students stay on campus at Durham or Morganton for 5-7 weeks of full time work with a professional partner.
Courses
Specific courses that are offered to online students include a component of research and/or innovation to provide an opportunity to gain experience. Enroll to participate during the
upcoming semester!
Summer R&I Program
The Summer Research & Innovation program offers a variety of diverse opportunities. SRIP students stay on campus at Durham or Morganton for the duration of the program and work directly with NCSSM faculty.
Summer Ventures
Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a no-cost, state-funded program. Students will have the opportunity to engage in research with faculty and get
hands-on experience
at a university.