Registration Opens for SRAP, WY EPSCoR's High School Learning Experience. Join Us!

The dog days of summer bring a different energy to Wyoming EPSCoR, that of high school age youth. Those curious, perhaps unsure, eager, and wide-eyed individuals spend six-weeks of their summer at the University engaged in hands-on research through the Summer Research Apprentice Program, or SRAP. In addition to research in the lab, participants spend time with mentors and program staff discussing college preparation, trying out new activities in and around Laramie like rock climbing, and building a vision for themselves enrolled in college. The program is aimed at first generation college students who may be interested in going to a university. This experience offers an opportunity to try college life on, to cultivate comfort on a college campus, and think through their next steps in a safe space. SRAP participants live in the dorms and eat at the dining hall together, some rent bright yellow cruiser bikes to navigate campus and town. They often walk together in groups to their research labs, to the gym, or out to enjoy the sunshine. Individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and geographies but soon find a family among the diverse faces.

SRAP, Summer Research Apprentice Program from Wyoming EPSCoR on Vimeo.

This year SRAPpers will dig into research questions associated with the microbial ecology of the state, Wyoming’s new EPSCoR RII Track 1 Research Project. Check out a day in the life of SRAP in this film. Participants will engage in activities from data collection and analysis to modeling, depending on the associated lab. These practices will build on what students learn in high school and offer practical applications for that information in a lab setting. In addition, lab time adds a level of context to the science and mathematics content. Participants will have lab mentors available to guide their process, nurture their curiosity, and support them as they work to answer a research question over the programs duration. At the end of the program, SRAPpers present their findings to their lab groups, peers, and the community at large in a celebration of their effort and learning. In exchange for time in the lab, SRAPpers are paid a stipend of $1920 and receive room and board on campus.

Think SRAP might be right for you or someone you know? We are looking to bring a class of open minded young people to the University this summer. Successful SRAP participants will be willing to explore new fields of science as well as themselves. Whether it is through yoga or lab practices, we challenge participants to grow. In exchange, we will create an environment in which participants can develop new skills and confidence in navigating the world beyond high school through hands-on learning and living. 

Registration is NOW OPEN, an can be found on the SRAP website. 
Questions? 
Contact Lisa Abeyta: 307-766-6059    labeyta1@uwyo.edu