Summer Research Program: Submitting a strong application

Through this session, we'll guide you through each stage of the application process, explain what to expect, and share practical advice on presenting your experiences, skills and motivation in a clear and compelling way. You'll also learn how to tailor your application to individual research projects, avoid common mistakes, and understand how applications are assessed.

By attending this session, you will:

• Gain an overview of the Summer Research Program application process and key dates.
• Understand what selection panels are looking for in a strong application.
• Learn how to write an effective personal statement tailored to a research project.
• Discover how to present your experiences, skills and interests in a concise and relevant way.
• Receive practical tips for preparing a clear, professional CV.
• Have the opportunity to ask questions before submitting your application.

Whether you're applying for your first research experience or looking to strengthen your application from a previous round, this session will provide practical guidance to help you submit your application with confidence.

Meet our panellists: 

Frenky Tanni Wijaya - School of Communication and Arts 

Would you like to explore how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples connect with Australia's beaches? My research, conducted with guidance from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit, examines how beaches are understood and experienced across social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. One piece of advice I would share with prospective applicants is to clearly understand the purpose of your proposed research and ensure it aligns closely with your academic interests, studies, or professional experience. 

Arpitha Uday Nayak - Faculty of Science 

Curious about what research is like as a student? My research experience gave me the chance to explore AI-driven genomics and multi-omics while learning something new every day. If you’re considering applying, come chat with me about the process, what to expect, and how to turn your interests and experiences into a strong application. I'd love to share the highs, the learning curves and everything in between. My advice? You don’t need to tick every box. Just show your curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. 

Meera Alhammadi - School of Chemical Engineering 

What if something you loved as a child could become part of your university research journey? My curiosity started with LEGO, grew through robotics competitions, and eventually led me to engineering. Studying Chemical Engineering, I never expected to reconnect those childhood interests with research, making the experience incredibly rewarding. My biggest tip? Don’t limit yourself to projects that perfectly match your degree, follow what genuinely interests you, because any research experience will help you grow, learn new skills, and discover new possibilities 

Mritul Narayanan Rajesh - School of Biomedical Sciences 

Ask me what it's like to walk into a research institute where you don't know a single person and be the only UQ winter student there. I came in knowing almost nothing about Histology, asked a lot of obvious questions, and left four weeks later having learned more than any semester taught me. Turns out, I've never done this before isn't a dealbreaker, curiosity is. Tip: the strongest applications explain why you want to learn, not what you already know.