EDUCATION
The CHEER Hub offers undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars a diverse set of engaging research and professional development opportunities.
The Next Generation
The CHEER Hub is investing in the next generation of scholars. The Hub’s education goals reflect its commitment to fostering engaged inquiry.
YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES
Our students and postdocs participate in CHEER research at all core universities. Activities include:
Discipline Dyads
This traditional advisor/advisee mentoring is focused on discipline-based knowledge and professional development goals.
Student/Postdoc Cohort
Bi-weekly, virtual seminars for students and postdocs include: (1) Professional development; (2) Peer-to-peer research mentoring; and (3) CHEER research integration.
Summer Lab Exchanges
Students and postdocs in the Hub can spend the summer working with another CHEER researcher at another Hub university.
DRC IT!
DRC IT! gives postdocs and students an opportunity to practice communication skills by working on CHEER-specific research topics
Quick-Response Research
Grad students and postdocs have opportunities to deploy for interdisciplinary quick-response data gathering in disaster-impacted communities with experienced Hub researchers.
In-Person Networking
Each year, CHEER students, postdocs, and researchers will meet for networking and research integration opportunities.
SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Each summer, an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate students and Bill Anderson Fund graduate scholars participates in a multi-week summer research experience.
APPLY NOW: 2026 SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Each summer, an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate and graduate students, including Bill Anderson Fund scholars, participates in a multi-week summer research experience. Now entering its fourth year, CHEER is seeking three undergraduate and three graduate students from a variety of disciplines to join its 2026 cohort. Selected students will receive opportunities for professional development and research training. Download the 2026 Summer Scholars Program Flyer for a more detailed overview of the program.
The application can be accessed here and is due by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, January 30th, 2026.
- Dates. In-person program runs from May 26th to July 3rd. In addition to the in-person program, scholars will coordinate with members of the CHEER research team to hone research topics that align with the CHEER research and the selected participants’ areas of study. This pre-arrival virtual planning will be scheduled to align with participants’ schedules and availability.
- Location. Scholars will be housed in on-campus or near the East Carolina University campus in Greenville, NC.
- Finances. Students will receive a $6,000 stipend. Travel and housing will be covered by the program.
- Program Hours. Students should expect to work approximately 30 hours each week.
- Research Opportunities. Students will work closely with fellow cohort members and CHEER faculty mentors to develop projects that cultivate their individual interests and training. These projects are developed in collaboration with the larger CHEER research team and involve community engagement.
For more information, contact CHEER Education Director Meghan Millea or see the 2026 Summer Scholars Program Announcement.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! This program was so amazing and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my summer any other way. I truly feel this developed my professional career, I had so much fun with the professors and students, and being able to present made me feel so proud. So thank you for this opportunity!”
— A 2023 CHEER Summer Scholar
“I think the interactions with people and relationships formed with my peers and the faculty we interacted with were very valuable. I loved learning from people with different backgrounds and perspectives. This program has impacted me in a great way. It has helped me grow as a person and has helped me solidify my own educational and research interests.”
— A 2023 CHEER Summer Scholar
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and think this was a great program! CHEER has helped me in so many ways, and I’m eager to continue this important work.”
— A 2023 CHEER Summer Scholar
COLLABORATIONS
The McNair Association of Professionals’ Scholars Program and Bill Anderson Fund are highly respected national organizations supporting graduate and undergraduate students. We are fortunate to partner with them on recruitment and providing research opportunities.
