South Carolina EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) provides several programs to support professional development for STEM students in South Carolina, including: 1) The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program which provides research experiences and stipends for undergraduates, allowing them to present and co-author publications. 2) The Scientific Advocate Network (SAN) program which aims to increase underrepresented minority graduate student participation in materials science research through stipends, conferences, and potential graduate assistantships. 3) The Stimulus Research Program (SRP) which engages students in faculty research through stipends and allows them to present and co-author publications

1. Professional Development for
STEM Undergraduate and
Graduate Students
April Heyward, MRA
Program Manager, SC EPSCoR Program
Friday, March 13, 2020
NSF EPSCoR EOD Webinar Presentation

2. South Carolina EPSCoR Jurisdiction Landscape
• South Carolina has been an EPSCoR state since 1980
• Housed at the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) – public nonprofit
• 3 R1 Institutions
• 20 PUIs with STEM programs
• 5 Private HBCUs
• 1 Public HBCU
• Current NSF EPSCoR RII Track 1 – Materials Assembly and Design Excellence in South
Carolina (MADE in SC)
• Professional development for STEM undergraduate and graduate students is administered
through SC EPSCoR programs, initiatives, and the MADE in SC Track-1
• Engage students in STEM research and dissemination of results
• Increase URM student participation in STEM
• Provide opportunities for students to be engaged in entrepreneurial activities
• Provide opportunities for professional development and access to STEM graduate
programs
SC EPSCoR Education, Outreach, and Diversity Goals

3. Research Experiences for Undergraduates
(REU) Program
• Aims to increase undergraduate student’s
research participation in STEM research during
the academic year and/or summer.
• REU locations inclusive of home institution,
another institution, research institute, or research
laboratory in SC.
• Student mentoring plans required with
assessment to measure success.
• Students receive stipends and travel support for
professional development.
• Students can be co-authors on publications and
be primary or co-presenters in oral and poster
presentations.
• Students author 1-page report documenting the
REU experience and plans to pursue graduate
school in STEM.
Scientific Advocate Network
(SAN) Program
• Aims to increase URM student’s research
participation in Materials Science research
(multi-disciplinary), graduate school readiness,
assistantships, and other approaches.
• Research can take place at student’s home
institution or another institution in SC.
• Student mentoring plans required with
assessment to measure success – research
engagement only.
• Students receive stipends and travel support to
conferences for professional development (e.g.,
registration fee, lodging, poster printing).
• New STEM URM graduate students can receive
assistantships – materials science related
research.
• Students can be co-authors on publications and
be primary or co-presenters in oral and poster
presentations.
South Carolina EPSCoR Programs
Note: SC EPSCoR Programs Are State Funded and Available at Different Times of the Calendar Year

4. Stimulus Research Program (SRP)
• Aims to increase institutional and investigator
research capacity and competitiveness to solve
complex problems through collaboration and
integration of STEM disciplines.
• Engage undergraduate and graduate students in
SRP research.
• Student mentoring plans required with
assessment to measure success.
• Students receive stipends, tuition support, and
travel support for professional development
(e.g., registration fee, lodging, poster printing).
• Students can be co-authors on publications and
be primary or co-presenters in oral and poster
presentations.
Phase-0 Program
• Aims to increase research and development
activities that will lead to SBIR/STTR funding.
• Undergraduate students can participate in
material science related internships in functional
entrepreneurship environment.
• Student mentoring plans required with
assessment to measure success.
• Students receive stipends.
• Students author 1-page report documenting the
internship experience.
Note: SC EPSCoR Programs Are State Funded and Available at Different Times of the Calendar Year
South Carolina EPSCoR Programs

5. South Carolina EPSCoR Jurisdiction
Other Undergraduate and Graduate Student Engagement
SC EPSCoR Annual State Conference
• Morning and Afternoon Poster Sessions
• Oral research presentation judging competitions
• Conference Student Programming (e.g., Professional Development, Communicating
Science)
• Student Lightening Oral Presentations
• Exhibitors for recruitment of STEM students to graduate school and internship
opportunities
Note: Sample of Undergraduate and Graduate Student Engagement Activities
MADE in SC Track-1 Project
• All undergraduate and graduate students participating in MADE in SC research are MADE
in SC Research Fellows
• Students receive stipends, tuition support, travel support for professional development
• Participation in MADE in SC Research Fellows Conferences
• Poster Sessions
• Professional development sessions (e.g., STEM career paths in academia, government,
and industry; communicating science; entrepreneurship)