Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Each summer, the McDonough Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) offers students the opportunity to apply for a grant to conduct original research of their choice. Those receiving the grant are awarded up to $3,000 for a 5-6 week research project or up to $6,000 for a 10-12 week research project to be completed during the summer.
Students connect with faculty members to investigate topics that are related to business but may also be interdisciplinary in nature. By working one-on-one with a faculty advisor, students learn how to use the research process to inform a real problem.
Upon completion of the research project, students present their findings in a forum open to the entire Georgetown community and have their research papers, posters, or video presentations published to our website. Students also receive the following notation on their transcript: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, along with the year they participated in the program.
Applications for the 2022 SURF program are due on March 18, 2022.
Please contact Dr. Justin Smith, assistant dean for student success, with any questions.
*Please note that the SURF program is only available to current McDonough undergraduate students.*
2021 Summer Research Projects
Robert Alward (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Bonnie Montano
Comparative Case Analysis Between Linear and Circular Business Models
By Stephanie Boyd (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Bill Novelli
Cultural Values Analysis in Talent & AI
By Andrew Chuang (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Michael O’Leary
Does College Cost Too Much?
By Emily Cloonan (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Eric Sampson
Is Blood Thicker than the Balance Sheet? Inculcating Innovative Behavior in Indian Family Firms
By Ananya Dalmia (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Charles Skuba
The Future of Art: Covid-19 Pandemic’s Impact on the Global Art Market
By Genevieve Domenico (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Prelinger
Off-Grid Solar Installs on the Navajo Nation under the CARES Act
By Matthew Greer-Gentis (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Robin Dillon-Merrill
The Undergraduate Obsession with Finance
By Mariana Guzman (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Lee Pinkowitz
Different Sizes, Different Responsibilities: Corporate Social Responsibility for Large and Small Businesses
By Christine Ji (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Jason Brennan
The Role of Government Stability in Facilitating Economic Growth: A Case Study of India and Pakistan
By Jim Kerr (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Ricardo Ernst
Autonomous Trucking and the Diffusion of Technology
By Connor Keyes (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Jason Schloetzer
The Future of Stakeholder Capitalism
By Ralph Lamberti (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Jason Brennan
Covid-19 as a Potential Impetus for a Revolution in the Hospitality Industry: A Comparative Analysis of Italy and Germany’s Recovery Plans
By Lucrezia Lualdi (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Andreas Kern
Determinants of SPAC Success
By Christopher Matrullo (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor James Angel
Do Passively Managed Funds Contribute to Market Volatility?
By William Nemoy (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Quan Wen
The Future of Grocery Stores
By Constanza Nicolini (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor Sezer Ulku
MythBusters: Green Bonds Edition
By Alicia Novoa (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor James Angel
Luxury in 2020: Covid-19’s Impact on High Fashion and Wines
By David Park (B’23)
Project Advisors: Professor Michael O’Leary and Neeru Paharia
Impact of Relationships with Superiors on a Chief Diversity Officer’s Efficacy
By Carsten Schoer (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Ella Washington
Method or Catalyst: A Quantitative Study of Firearm Ownership, Purchases, and Suicide
By Colton Scrudder (B’22)
Project Advisor: Professor William English
Economic Nationalism: An Analysis of the Financial Impact of Populist Policies
By Cristian Smina (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Charles Skuba
Assessing the Impact of U.S.-China 5G Technology Competition on Global Markets
By Anish Sundar (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Charles Skuba
Addressing Information Security Threats & Responses in the Healthcare Industry
By Sachi Tejani (B’24)
Project Advisor: Professor Ryung Suh
Open Banking in Thailand: Lessons from Singapore and Hong Kong
By Claire Vithoontien (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor James Angel
Beyond the Excitement of Going Public: The Risks Associated with the De-SPAC Process
By Caleb Yang (B’23)
Project Advisor: Professor Reena Agrawal