Insights from the Socioemotional Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Framework

This study examines the Socioemotional Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), a student-led, interdisciplinary co-mentoring framework that guided 15 undergraduates as they designed and conducted their own projects. Using interviews with six alumni and the Meditation Model of Chemers and colleagues (2011), the authors identify which elements of the framework most shaped student success. Findings show that the integration of socioemotional and instrumental mentoring—within a co-mentoring, cohort-based structure—supported the development of science self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and researcher identity. Students highlighted the value of technical guidance, emotional support, meaningful independence, and opportunities to present their work. These results suggest that small, intensive, transdisciplinary research programs like SURE can effectively cultivate strong research identities and offer a portable model for undergraduate research mentoring.