What is SURI?

NJCU’s Scientific Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) is an umbrella organization that fosters collaboration among STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) faculty, serves as a central clearinghouse for cutting-edge research opportunities for undergraduates, and promotes a unified vision and culture of undergraduate research.

A faculty-driven initiative established in February 2015, SURI brings together all of the University’s STEM departments--Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics—as well as several student organizations, including the Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Robotics Clubs, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), and Beta Beta Beta Honor Society.

Comprised of more than 20 STEM faculty, SURI has six initiative sub-groups: research, curriculum, fundraising, publicity, outreach to industry and graduate schools, and outreach to community college and high school STEM teachers. Each sub-group has a working plan that aligns with SURI's short-term, intermediate, and/or long-term goals.

In addition to an intense pedagogical focus, SURI faculty identify common research interests to ensure that cross-disciplinary research projects are developed. These research projects enrich the undergraduate experience for all STEM students while also augmenting the University’s research-based curriculum.

SURI is administered by a Director, who reports directly to NJCU's Provost, an Associate Director, and an Executive Committee.

OUR MISSION is to provide research opportunities to all STEM graduates, to educate a new generation of life-long learners, critical thinkers and innovators, to enhance a collegial, respectful, productive and fun-working environment for the faculty.

OUR PHILOSOPHY is transparency, collegiality, and functionality.

GOAL I: Create a learning community of STEM faculty and students.

GOAL II: Establish a unified vision of STEM undergraduate research.

GOAL III: Improve retention and graduation rate.

GOAL IV: Increase recruitment.

GOAL V: Increase external funding.

In October of 2016, SURI was awarded $714,216 from the U.S. Department of Education, specifically the Miniority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) grant for a project entitled "SURI: a model for enhancement of STEM Education." Project Director - Dr. Natalia Coleman; co-Directors - Dr. Muriel Rand, Dr. Reed Carroll, and Daniel Ward.

CONTACT US
Dr. Natalia Coleman, Founder and Director
Scientific Undergraduate Research Institute
New Jersey City University
Science Building, Room 328
2039 Kennedy Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305
201-200- 2382
ncoleman@njcu.edu
suri@njcu.edu

SURI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Natalia Coleman, Founder and Director (Biology)
Reed Carroll, Associate Director (Biology)
Robert Aslanian (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Debananda Chakraborty (Mathematics)
Wayne Eby (Mathematics)
Hanae Haouari (Chemistry)
Hun Bok Jung (Earth and Environmental Sciences)