• Focus on project for 10 weeks (roughly mid-May to Aug. 1)
• 2-3 progress update meetings in June and July
• Preliminary Presentation on project in late July or early August
• Register for a 1-3 credit independent study/research course during fall semester
• Fall update meeting
• Final papers/projects are due to mentors by December. Revised, polished versions are to be submitted to the Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
• Gather in December with mentors for a celebratory reception

• Overview of the Diamond Research Scholars program
• Introduce students to research methods and design
• Developing the research question
• Research seminars with experts in the field
• Work with mentor in establishing a timeline and expectations for the project

Information for faculty mentors can be found here. Guidelines for recommendation letters for the program can be found here. All applicants should share this information with proposed mentors. 

Advice from former faculty mentors for the Diamond Research Scholars program can be found here. 

Eligibility criteria for the Diamond Research Scholars Program:

• Current full-time undergraduates from all Temple schools and colleges
• Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA
• Rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
• Full-time undergraduate enrollment at Temple during the fall of the academic year following the summer research experience--preference will be given to applicants also enrolling in the spring
• Attendance at the required, in-person, all-day Undergraduate Research Institute on Friday, May 9, 2025
• Have a $0 tuition balance by May 1,2025 and not be in Temple University financial delinquency
• If you receive financial aid, have unmet Temple University financial aid need equal to or exceeding $4000 (schedule appointment with Student Financial Services for this information)*
• Have identified and reached out to a full-time Temple faculty member who has agreed to serve as their faculty mentor for the entire length of the program **
• Ability to devote full-time work on the research/creative project during the 10 week summer program (no additional job, internship or summer coursework is permitted)
• Can apply for but not accept additional fellowships/scholarships for the proposed Diamond Research Scholars project***

* If you have received loans and/or financial aid up to the limit of the full cost of attendance during the 2024-2025 academic year at Temple University, your $4000 program stipend will lower the loan amount and not be paid out as a refund. Please contact or visit Student Financial Services to speak to a representative about your specific account if you are not sure. You are still welcome to apply to the program, but please ensure that you are fully aware of any potential financial aid implications of your award.

** Applicants must reach out to prospective faculty mentors independently. The program does not match students with mentors. Please see the "Information for Mentors" section of the accordion for faculty mentor guidelines to share with prospective mentors.

*** Students with a Merit Scholarship Stipend available may apply but must use stipend for the program

All Diamond Research Scholars applicants must, at the time of application, have identified and reached out to a full-time Temple faculty member who has agreed to serve as their faculty mentor for the entire length of the program. Applicants must reach out to prospective faculty mentors independently. The program does not match students with mentors.

Resources:

Tips on Finding a Faculty Mentor

Information for Prospective Faculty Mentors (Program Information and Mentor Responsibilities)

Guidelines for Faculty Mentor Letters of Recommendation

If you require further guidance on establishing a relationship with a faculty mentor, please reach out to Anisha Bhat, [click-for-email] to set up an advising meeting.

Students should review the tips for preparing a strong application here and then access the application using the link below. Applicants will typically be notified of their status by mid-March.

*We recommend that students start a draft application online well before the deadline to view the prompts and ensure there are no access issues. Drafts can be saved and edited at a later date until submission. 

*Faculty mentors will be notified by email after a student submits their application, prompting them to submit a letter of recommendation. Recommendations must be submitted through the TUportal in order to be considered.

Diamond Research Scholars application

Application Components:

• Project Proposal (~500 words)
  • Please provide a clear statement of your research question, thesis, or central argument; a specific plan for how you will approach your question or thesis or argument, including a description of the methods you will use and what you will do during the first week of your project to launch your research; the expected project outcome and deliverable; and a statement of the project's significance.
• Past Experience and Qualifications
  • Please list, in order of importance, up to 5 courses, internships, research or creative projects, or work experiences that have provided useful background for your project.
• Personal Statement (~500 words)
  • Please describe your academic and professional interests and aspirations. Your statement should discuss your reasons for wanting to undertake the proposed project and how the project will contribute to your overall academic or intellectual development. If you have been engaged in an activity or research or creative project that has been important in clarifying or strengthening your interest in your field of study, please detail that activity or project
• Mentor Letter of Recommendation (~500 words)
  • See "Information for Mentors" tab of “Program Information” accordion

Diamond Research Scholars receive a $4000 stipend during the summer to support their living expenses while they are working full-time on their projects. The $4000 Diamond Research Scholars stipend is applied as a scholarship to the prior Spring semester and paid in one lump sum as a refund in mid-June. Stipend recipients must comply with the following rules and stipulations shown below:

• To be eligible to receive the award, your Bursar account for the previous Spring semester billing must be current ($0 balance). Any outstanding balance for the Spring will be paid by the award.
• Payments are received via a refund from your Bursar account. Students with direct deposit setup on their Bursar account will receive stipends to the currently listed bank account. Students can set up direct deposit via TUpay on the Student Tools Tab of the TUportal.
• In order to receive the full $4000 stipend as a refund, you must have unmet Temple University financial aid need equal to or exceeding $4000. If you have received loans and/or financial aid up to the limit of the full cost of attendance during the 2024-2025 academic year at Temple University, your Diamond Scholars stipend will lower the loan amount instead of being paid out as a refund. Please contact or visit Student Financial Services to speak to a representative about your specific account if you are not sure. If you find when speaking to them that there is any issue with you receiving this award in the summer, please contact Anisha Bhat at [click-for-email] immediately.

Revise your application essays (with assistance from your faculty mentor and by making an appointment with the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising). When you are ready, submit your application! An automated email will be sent to your faculty mentor prompting them to submit their letter of recommendation through the system within one week. Applicants will typically be notified of their status by mid-March.