Summer Workshops and Social Events
Summer Research Programs at Notre Dame host professional development workshops and social events for undergraduates and high school students to enhance their research experience and to create a vibrant community of young scholars. Some workshops are designed to help students prepare for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, where students present their research projects to a broader audience at the end of the summer.

2023 Events
The 2023 summer schedule of events below are free and open to undergraduate researchers at Notre Dame (all events are noted in Eastern Daylight Time). Students are encouraged to download the following 2023 Event Calendar, share a link to this page, post the QR code in their research areas, and share the event schedule with their mentors: 2023 Event Calendar.
Students are notified in advance of events that require registration to plan appropriately for meals and other refreshments.
For questions and additional details, please contact program administrators, event hosts, or Barbara Villarosa at villarosa.2@nd.edu.
Date/Time |
2023 Summer Event Calendar for Undergraduate Researchers |
Location |
Wednesday, May 24 6:00 p.m. |
Photo Scavenger Hunt (hosted by The Graduate School) Get to know the Notre Dame campus and fellow summer researchers by teaming up to solve brain teasers and puzzles that reveal various locations on campus and once found, snapping a fun photo with your group. Prizes will be awarded to the team with the most correct answers! |
Meet at the Main Building Steps (Golden Dome) |
Friday, May 26 3:00-5:00 p.m. |
Ice Cream Social (hosted by the College of Science) Celebrate your first week at Notre Dame by enjoying a refreshing treat and getting to know other students. Grab an ice cream and introduce yourself to at least one new person to kick off your summer of making new friends! |
Library Lawn, Galvin Life Science Center |
Thursday, June 1 6:00 p.m. |
Speed-Friending (hosted by The Graduate School) Get to know other students, and fast, by attending this speed-friending event. Share some fun facts about yourself and personal experiences as you move swiftly around the room to greet and meet someone new at every turn! |
G09 Bond Hall |
Friday, June 2 2:00-4:30 p.m. View 2022 Photos |
ND Explores STEM (hosted by the Alumni Association, Notre Dame Research, College of Arts and Letters, College of Engineering, and College of Science) Visit with over 30 STEM-related programs highlighting advances in STEM education and research in all disciplines at Notre Dame. |
Jordan Hall of Science, Galleria |
Tuesday, June 6 6:30-8:30 p.m. |
GRE Training Session #1 by Tim Ricchuiti (hosted by The Graduate School) Prepare for the GRE with this initial training session that includes practice materials. Students will register for the Zoom link. |
Virtual via Zoom |
Wednesday, June 7 6:00 p.m. |
Outdoor Game Night (hosted by The Graduate School) Get outside and join other students on the quad for lawn games and fun! |
Bond Hall Quad |
Thursday, June 8 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. |
3-in-1 Workshop - Preparing for a Successful Research Symposium: Finding Relevant Library Resources by Willie Baer, Communicating Your Research Effectively by Pat Gibbons, Creating an Effective Research Poster by Jonathan Ouimet (hosted by ND Energy and NDnano) Prepare for the summer research symposium and learn how to put together an excellent presentation in this 3-in-1 workshop: (1) gather and evaluate relevant data and other resources from the Hesburgh Libaries; (2) create a presentation outline and use helpful tools and methods to develop and present compelling stories about your work and its impact; and (3) design a scientific poster that conveys your research project and results clearly and without hyperbole. |
Jordan Hall of Science, Room 105 |
Tuesday, June 13 12:00-1:00 p.m. |
National Fellowships: Rhodes, Fulbright, NSF GRFP, and More by Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) (hosted by ND Energy) Learn how to apply for prestigious, nationally competitive scholarships that provide funding for study, research, teaching, and internships in the U.S. and abroad, including Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater and NSF GRF, to increase your opportunities for graduate studies and research. |
B01 McCourtney Hall |
Tuesday, June 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. |
GRE Training Session #2 by Tim Ricchuiti (hosted by The Graduate School) Prepare for the GRE with this initial training session that includes practice materials. Students will register for the Zoom link. |
Virtual via Zoom |
Thursday, June 15 5:30-7:00 p.m. |
Trivia Night! (hosted by NDnano, Naughton Fellowships, and SpectrumX) Join friends for a quizzical evening of brain-stretching fun and camaraderie! Students will register as individuals, and teams will be formed at the event. |
B01 McCourtney Hall |
Friday, June 16 12:00-1:00 p.m. |
Career Services Workshop: Improving Your CV/Resume by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development (hosted by The Graduate School) Meet experts from Career Services and get advice on improving your resume/CV so it stands out and you get the job you want! |
G09 Bond Hall |
Tuesday, June 20 12:00-1:00 p.m. |
Pathways to Successful Science Careers by Prof. Lynn Roy, Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend (hosted by ND Energy and Harper Cancer Research Institute) Get insight from a Notre Dame scientist on pathways to successful science careers and the importance of translating science into meaningful explanations. |
B01 McCourtney Hall |
Wednesday, June 21 6:00 p.m. |
Outdoor Game Night (hosted by The Graduate School) Get outside and join other students on the quad for lawn games and fun! |
Bond Hall Quad |
Thursday, June 22 12:00-12:45 p.m. |
3MT Competition Information Session by Graduate Career Services, Meruelo Family Center for Career Development (hosted by The Graduate School) Learn more details about participating in the 3MT Competition and get tips on preparing an effective 3-minute pitch on your research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. |
210 Duncan Student Center |
Tuesday, June 27 12:30-1:30 p.m. |
Main Building Gilding Construction Review and Tour by Tony Polotto, LEED® AP BD&C, GGP, RBEC, RRC, REWC, RWC, RRO, Director of Construction and Quality Assurance (hosted by ND Energy) View the iconic Golden Dome and learn about the tower's history, construction, and each portion of work involved in gilding the dome. |
200 Facilities Building |
Wednesday, June 28 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
Dinner and DVT Show: Space Science Beyond the Dome by Keith Davis, Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Physics & Astronomy (hosted by ND International) Experience space through an interactive illustration of the night sky and solar system with Dr. Keith Davis explaining astronomical events and findings from probes exploring the solar system. |
Jordan Hall of Science, Reading Room |
Wednesday, July 5 6:00 p.m. |
Outdoor Game Night (hosted by The Graduate School) Get outside and join other students on the quad for lawn games and fun! |
Bond Hall Quad |
Friday, July 7 5:00-9:00 p.m. |
First Fridays DTSB: Star Spangled Downtown An immersive community experience showcasing the best of what downtown South Bend has to offer with plans underway for a 4th of July weekend and all things Americana! (https://www.downtownsouthbend.com/july) |
Downtown South Bend |
Monday, July 10 - Tuesday, July 25 Sign-up now! |
Research Presentation Coaching by the Fanning Center for Business Communications, Mendoza College of Business (MCOB) One-on-one presentation coaching for students to help prepare them for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, 3MT Competition, and other future presentation opportunities. In-person or Zoom sessions offered at a preferred date/time. Sign up here! |
In-person or Zoom MCOB |
Monday, July 10 5:15-6:45 p.m. |
Dinner & Ice Skating (hosted by Notre Dame Summer Programs) See where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team plays and get your skates on for an evening of 'fun-on-the-ice' at the Compton Family Ice Arena! |
Compton Family Ice Arena |
Thursday, July 13 12:00-1:00 p.m. |
Graduate School Application Tips and Q&A by Amber Li, Director of Graduate Programs, College of Engineering (hosted by ND International) Invest in your future and gain insight into the advantages of having an advanced degree to improve your career opportunities! Get tips on applying to graduate school, schools you might want to consider, and how to make your application stand out. |
136 DeBartolo Hall |
Thursday, July 20 5:30-7:30 p.m. View 2022 Photos |
Dinner & Dance Night: Learn Ballroom and Latin Dancing by Prof. Ramzi Bualuan (hosted by ND Energy) Get your dancing shoes on for an evening of whirling to the sounds of Ballroom and Latin music with Prof. Ramzi Bualuan instructing every movement and step! Students will register as individuals or pairs. |
Stinson-Remick Hall, Atrium |
Wednesday, July 26 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. View 2022 Photos |
Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (hosted by Notre Dame Summer Programs and Saint Mary's College) Present your research project to a broader audience during one of two hour-long poster sessions and learn about other interdisciplinary research projects at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College. |
Jordan Hall of Science, Galleria |
Wednesday, July 26 12:30-1:30 p.m. |
Summer Undergraduate 3MT Competition by Graduate Career Services, Meruelo Family Center for Career Development (hosted by The Graduate School) Participate in an optional 3MT competition to explain your summer research in a language appropriate to an audience containing both specialists and non-specialists, all within 3 minutes! This experience provides students with an opportunity to sharpen their communication skills, reignite their passion for discovery, promote preeminent research, and foster community within undergraduate summer research programs at Notre Dame. |
Jordan Hall of Science, Room 105 |