SUPER (Skills for Undergraduate Participation in Ecological Research)
Program Overview
The SUPER (Skills for Undergraduate Participation in Ecological Research) Program combines the teaching of foundational research skills from the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) with research mentoring conducted primarily by scientists from the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL), along with a broader set of researchers from the Warner College of Natural Resources. The program is designed primarily for Colorado State University (CSU) sophomores and juniors who are interested in gaining experience in ecological research. First-year students should wait until their sophomore year, but seniors may participate, space permitting. Students from all disciplines who are interested in developing ecological research skills are welcome to apply.
The SUPER Program is designed to give students a hands-on research experience that:
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Strengthens scientific critical thinking skills
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Enhances scientific literacy
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Builds the capacity to conduct and communicate ecological research
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Develops collaborative skills through mentorship
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Improves qualifications for future research positions or graduate study
At its core, SUPER operates on the belief that students in the ecological sciences should be empowered with practical skills and active learning experiences. The program prepares undergraduates to evaluate, design, and carry out research independently or as part of a team. SUPER also emphasizes the importance of becoming engaged scientific citizens: participating in public scientific discourse, communicating effectively with diverse audiences, and preparing for success in graduate education. Ultimately, the program aims to equip students to make meaningful contributions to the pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century.
SUPER Course Requirements
The SUPER Program is an established component of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) curriculum at Colorado State University. It includes a one-credit seminar in the fall semester, during which students complete a literature review and annotated bibliography, and are paired with mentors based on aligned interests and expertise. In the spring, a second one-credit seminar culminates in the presentation of research projects at the Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity (CURC) showcase. Students also earn three additional credits for conducting research in collaboration with their mentors.
While course credit is awarded through ESS, mentors may come from any department within the Warner College of Natural Resources or other CSU colleges. The program offers undergraduates valuable experience in research and scientific collaboration, while providing graduate student mentors with guided opportunities to develop their mentoring and advising skills.
History of SUPER
The SUPER Program was created in 2010 by graduate students in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL), who saw both a need for foundational research training and an opportunity to leverage the expertise of NREL scientists and graduate students to mentor undergraduates. Since then, the program has evolved to better support emerging scientists and respond to the changing demands of the ecological research field. Today, it is taught and coordinated by Dr. Stacy Lynn, a faculty member with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS).
Interested in becoming a SUPER student?
Whether you want research experience to be more qualified to enter the workforce, or you plan to apply to graduate school, research experience is extremely valuable! Take this opportunity to work with a mentor to build your research skills, and to gain depth in an area of study!
Students are required to complete an application online and will be selected to participate in the program based on eligibility and readiness for in-depth research participation. Please take some time to read through the application guidelines below to prepare your application:
The application period for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open!
- Please read the application questions here and draft your responses in advance of opening the application.
- Preference will be given to Ecosystem Science & Sustainability and Watershed Science/Watershed Science & Sustainability majors, but any student at CSU is eligible to apply and participate.
- You must have sophomore standing or higher to apply.
- All applications will be reviewed in late April and we will notify applicants of our decisions around May 1st. At that time, participants will be given an override to enroll in ESS 220 (1 credit) and ESS 298 (1 credit) for the fall term.
Interested in Becoming a Student Mentor?
Mentors are recruited each fall, but you can apply now! Matching with a student is competitive and carefully considered, so make your project description detailed and engaging—even if it’s student-driven or still forming.
We’re seeking mentors whose research connects to ecology, broadly defined. Past projects have involved soils, wildlife behavior from video, conservation policy mapping, and qualitative human dimensions research.
Once matched, students will complete an annotated bibliography in the fall and conduct research in the spring. Final projects are due by the second week of April for presentation at CSU’s Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity (CURC) Symposium Symposium.
To apply, contact Dr. Stacy Lynn
SUPER Student Testimonials
Kate McGill Testimonial
ESS Major, SUPER Participant: 2023-2024
McGill's Mentor: Avery Driscoll, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Before SUPER, I had little research experience. With my mentor Avery Driscoll’s support, I learned to write and present research, focusing on agricultural models and soil moisture. I gained skills in R, data analysis, and networking, and was honored at CURC for excellence in natural resources. Most importantly, SUPER gave me confidence as a scientist.
Morgan Dunn Testimonial
ESS Major, SUPER Participant: 2022-2023
Dunn's Mentor: Greg McKittrick, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
The SUPER program has been the highlight of my education at CSU. I worked with a lab on campus studying biological means of carbon capture in soils, and I have learned so much more than I could’ve ever gotten from a classroom. I had always wanted to go into research, but after actually getting to work hands-on in the lab, drafting a paper, and sharing my findings with my colleagues, I know for sure that research is the right field for me.
Bodie Spinner Testimonial
ESS Major, SUPER Participant: 2021-2022
Spinner's Mentor: Dr. Caitlin Wells, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
“Participating in the SUPER program was the most important step in my growth as a researcher. I started with no experience, but learned how to design a proposal, explore my interests, and navigate academia. With support from my mentor, Dr. Caitlin Wells, I began a new project at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab and built lasting connections. Now, we’re working on another project together—and I’m aiming to become a published researcher.
SUPER Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
In mentor directed research, the ideas will be generated by your mentor and carried out by you. You will need to employ day-to-day critical thinking skills in your research, but major problems will be resolved by your mentor. In contrast, during independent research, you will think of your own research question and plan. Of course, you will discuss your research plan with your mentor and you can also discuss problems with your mentor as they arise. However, you will likely feel great enough ownership over your project to solve minor problems as they arise.
Approximately 20-30 students.
Credit hours will be distributed per university guidelines. The workshop portions of the class — ESS 220 and ESS 221 — are 1 credit per semester. Additional research credits are gained through the completion of 67 hours of work for 3 credits in ESS 298 Research. Please see the Registration details tab for more information.
In the first semester, you will attend weekly workshops over the course of the semester via ESS 220. Out of class you will be assigned key readings and begin defining your research project’s research questions and objectives.
In the second semester we will continue weekly workshops via ESS 221 that will guide you in preparation of three communication pieces: a Research Report, a poster that will be presented formally at CURC, and a public communication piece. You will also carry out your research project with your mentor. Three credits of research requires a minimum of 67 hours of work on your project (research activities over and above work on ESS 221 class deliverables).
Please see the Program Details tab for more information.
Please see the “Our Student Researchers” page to get a feel for the very diverse research that our students have engaged in! The projects are different every year and depend on mentors volunteering to mentor undergraduate researchers.
Yes! The SUPER Program is a program because of the series of components that together provide you with the skills to become a skilled researcher. If you want to develop your own research or keep working on your mentor’s project after the second semester (spring), you may talk with your mentor about additional opportunities. If you and your mentor continue to have common interests and they have the capacity to continue mentoring you, you may be able to stay on as an undergraduate researcher through your time at CSU. You can also explore different ecological research questions with additional mentors. SUPER is highly recognized as a program that builds highly desired and fundamental skills that students need to join research lab groups, start graduate school, or get research-related jobs either at CSU or following graduation. These foundational skills are also desirable for non-research jobs!