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Program Overview

The GREAT Summer Research Program is a collaboration between UC Davis International and Access Programs and the UC Davis College of Engineering. 

Participating Departments that have Mentored GREAT Students

  • Computer Science and Engineering
  • Health and Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Physics
  • Plant Biology and Environmental Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics

GREAT is available to undergraduate students on a highly selective placement process. International students who are nominated by participating partner institutions and approved by the UC Davis GREAT committee are matched with a UC Davis faculty mentor based upon their preference, faculty availability and the discretion of the program faculty director. GREAT students have been mentored by faculty in a wide array of departments, including engineering, physics, math and more. Learn more about UC Davis faculty, their research and their impact across the world. 

Research Experience

Students gain introductory research experience in state-of-the-art laboratories under the mentorship of leading faculty members at the University of California, Davis, such as learning about planning and managing experiments, conducting independent experiments, analyzing data and summarizing research results. The program allows students to:

  • Work in a UC Davis lab alongside a faculty mentor and UC Davis graduate students
  • Attend lab meetings
  • Participate in a capstone UC Davis Interdisciplinary Research Symposium with scholars and students engaged in multidisciplinary research collaborations
  • Develop a competitive edge in applying for Master’s and Ph.D. programs at UC Davis by developing relationships with faculty mentors, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students
faculty and student in lab looking at petri dish

Engineering 199: GREAT Professional Research Development Course

This course offers comprehensive education and research training in advanced technological fields. It comprises a series of lectures on current science research, research conduct, laboratory safety, responsibility and authorship, scientific writing and presentations, and preparation for graduate school and applications. Students in the course receive:

  • Multiple presentation training opportunities 
  • Campus lab and facility site visits
  • Official UC Davis academic credits and transcripts
  • UC Davis Certificate of Completion in the GREAT Summer Research Program

Cultural and Social Activities

  • New Student Orientation
  • UC Davis campus tour
  • Field trip to a scenic destination in Northern California
  • Closing ceremony celebration

Program Duration

The GREAT Summer Research Program starts in July and runs for approximately eight weeks.