2025 Summer Research Program

• Events Schedule
• Important Information
• Area Groups
• Librarian Mentors

Welcome to Occidental College’s 2024 Summer Research Program! Note the following important dates:

• The SRP will begin on Wednesday, May 29 (with on-campus move-in scheduled for Tuesday, May 28).
• SRP Orientation Lunch will be on Thursday, May 30, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Attendance is expected.
• Mark your calendar the SRP Research Conference will be all day on Wednesday, July 31. Participation is mandatory.

Newsletter 1

Newsletter 2

Tuesday, June 4, 11:00 am; Choi Auditorium

“Crash Course on Humanities/Social Science Research” 

Samantha Hilton (First Year Experience and Student Success Librarian)

Description: Research fundamentals and some advanced tips.

Intended audience: All humanities & social sciences students looking for more details beyond an introduction to research or who want a refresher. 

Wednesday, June 5, 2:00 pm; Choi Auditorium

“Intro to Research in Special Collections and Archives” 

Helena de Lemos (Special Collections Instruction & Research Librarian) and Alanna Quan (Archivist)

Description: Preparing to use Primary Sources in your research: Learn what’s different about researching archival materials, why special collections can be peculiar, how to time and plan your research, and take crucial notes for your citations.

Intended audience: All disciplines, All years, especially those with no prior experience in special collections or archives (or who have never visited SCCA before!)

Thursday, June 6, Noon: Luncheon is *Grab & Go* Pick up in front of Library. 

Contact your Peer Mentors about the location of your meeting.

Friday, June 7, 10:00 am; Choi Auditorium

“Advanced Science Research” 

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian)

Description: Identify article databases that are most relevant for your research, how to find full text, how to find an article from a reference and more!

Intended audience: All science disciplines, some experience with searching for research resources.

Newsletter 3

Monday, June 10, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Wednesday, June 12, 10:00 am; Choi Auditorium 

"Literature Review"

Sarah Parramore (Director, Teaching, Learning, and Research Support; Interim Director Special Collections and College Archives) & Kristin Peace (Social Science Librarian)

Description: Strategies for organizing and synthesizing a strong lit review. 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Thursday, June 13, 12:00 pm: Academic Quad

Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 4

Monday, June 17, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Tuesday, June 18, 10:00 am; Choi Auditorium

"How to Read a Research Article"

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian) & Samantha Hilton (First Year Experience and Student Success Librarian)

Description: Strategies for getting the information you need from a research article and how to understand the data presented. 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Wednesday, June 19

Holiday, Juneteenth

Thursday, June 20, 12:00 pm; Academic Quad

Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 5

Monday, June 24, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Wednesday, June 26, 11:00 am; Choi Auditorium 

"Revising Your Project"

Kristin Peace (Social Science Librarian), Alanna Quan (Archivist) & Erin Sulla (Arts & Humanities Librarian)

Description: Feeling stuck? Have too many sources and ideas and don’t know what to do next? We’ll go over some strategies for evaluating where you’re at and moving forward towards the finish line!  

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years, especially anyone who hasn't  completed larger research projects before.

Thursday, June 27, 12:00 pm; Academic Quad

Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 6

Monday, July 1, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Tuesday, July 2, 11:00 am; Choi Auditorium 

"More School? Thinking About What Comes Next"

Clair Morrissey (URC Faculty Director, Professor of Philosophy)

Description: An intro to exploring graduate and professional schools as a next career step.    

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Thursday, July 4

Holiday, Independence Day

No Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 7 

Monday, July 8, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Tuesday, July 9, 11:00 am; Choi Auditorium 

"Writing an Abstract"

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian) & Erin Sulla (Arts & Humanities Librarian)

Description: How to write an informative and concise abstract.   

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Wednesday, July 10, 12:00 pm; Choi Auditorium

"National & International Awards and Fellowships Panel"

Jennifer Locke (Director of National & International Fellowships)

Description: Panel discussion with students who have applied for fellowships.   

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Thursday, July 10, 12:00 pm; Academic Quad

Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 8

Monday, July 15, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Tuesday, July 16

11:00 am; Choi Auditorium

"Poster Presentation Style"

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian) & Erin Sulla (Arts & Humanities Librarian)

Description: Best practices for science and humanities posters. 

Intended audience: All disciplines, All years, doing a poster for the SRP conference.

2:00 pm; Choi Auditorium

"Dynamic Presentation Skills"

Samantha Hilton (First Year Experience and Student Success Librarian) & Sarah Parramore (Director, Teaching, Learning, and Research Support; Interim Director Special Collections and College Archives)

Description: Learn best practices for presenting to an audience.  

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years, doing oral presentations (not posters).

Wednesday, July 17, 11:00 am; Choi Auditorium

"The Elevator Pitch"

Samantha Hilton (First Year Experience and Student Success Librarian) & Kristin Peace (Social Science Librarian)

Description: Learn how to describe your project succinctly and encourage others to want to learn more.  

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Thursday, July 18, 12:00 pm; Sycamore Glen

Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 9

Monday, July 22, 10:30 am; Sycamore Glen

Morning Coffee Break

Tuesday, July 23, 12:00 pm; Choi Auditorium

"Reflective Writing for the SRP Final Report"

Clair Morrissey (URC Faculty Director, Professor of Philosophy)

Description: How to write a report focused on transferable skills and research accomplishments.   

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Wednesday, July 24, 2:00 pm; Brown Lab, Library

"Presentation Practice and Critique"

Alanna Quan (Archivist)

Description: Limit 10 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Thursday, July 25

12:00 pm; Academic Quad

Area Group Meeting

2:00 pm; Brown Lab, Library

"Presentation Practice and Critique"

Alanna Quan (Archivist)

Description: Limit 15 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Friday, July 26, 10:00 am; Brown Lab, Library

"Presentation Practice and Critique"

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian)

Description: Limit 15 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Monday, July 29

No Morning Coffee Break

10:00 am; Brown Lab, Library

"Poster Practice and Critique"

Erin Sulla (Arts & Humanities Librarian) & Sarah Parramore (Director, Teaching, Learning, and Research Support; Interim Director of Special Collections and College Archives)

Description: Limit 15 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

2:00 pm; Brown Lab, Library

"Poster Practice and Critique"

Erin Sulla (Arts & Humanities Librarian) & Samantha Hilton (First Year Experience and Student Success Librarian)

Description: Limit 10 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Tuesday, July 30, 10:00 am; Brown Lab, Library

"Poster Practice and Critique"

Kathleen Makarewicz (Science Librarian) & Helena de Lemos (Special Collections Instruction & Research Librarian)

Description: Limit 10 

Intended audience: All disciplines, all years.

Wednesday, July 31 - Summer Research Program Conference

This is an all-day event and student presenters must be here for the full day of activities. Stick around and support your fellow researchers.

Share your pics with us at urc@oxy.edu or tag us on Instagram @urc.oxy

Find the Conference Program here

Thursday, August 1

No Area Group Meeting

Newsletter 10