Your SURF proposal timeline should:

• clearly indicate start and end dates,
• include an anticipated number of project work hours each week (maximum: 40),
• include a total number of project work hours,
• provide a week-by-week listing of planned project milestones, and
• include your full name.

This level of detail will show the reviewers you have carefully structured your project. Account for your planned enrollment in summer coursework, participation in study abroad programs, and/or any other substantial commitments in your timeline. All weeks of summer research must be completed between May 12 and August 22, 2025.

The standard SURF timeline involves working on your project 40 hours/week for 9 weeks (or 36 hours/week for 10 weeks). However, the weeks need not be continuous, and you might elect to work fewer hours per week if that would be more appropriate to your particular situation. If you commit to fewer than 360 total project hours, your stipend amount will be prorated.

There are many different ways to present a timeline; three good examples follow below. Remember that your proposal, timeline, and budget should work in concert to demonstrate the feasibility of your project.

EXAMPLE #1

Timeline – Jane Husky
Total project hours – 360. Work weeks will be 5 days per week at an average of 7-8 hours per day (36 hrs/week for 10 weeks). I will have weekly lab meetings with my advisor to track progress and troubleshoot any major issues. I will also be consulting regularly with graduate students in the lab working on related projects.

Week	Dates	Hours	Task Description
1	May 23 – May 27	36 hours	Training on new microscope. Synthesize experimental samples with varying ratios using multiple synthesis approaches (as summarized in Figure 2 in proposal).
2	May 31 – June 3	36 hours	Characterize samples using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Analyze data to identify optimal synthesis method.
3	June 6 – June 10	36 hours	Repeat the optimal synthesis method across the ratios and characterize the samples. Compare these results to the first round of samples.
4	June 13 – June 17	36 hours	Synthesize samples doped with iron, copper, and nickel.
5	June 20 – June 24	36 hours	Characterize the new samples. Repeat synthesis as needed for unusable samples. Collect and analyze conductivity data.
6	June 27 – July 1	36 hours	Dope samples with a combination of iron, copper, and nickel.
–	July 4 – July 8	0 hours	Vacation (no work)
7	July 11 – July 15	36 hours	Characterize the new samples. Repeat synthesis as needed for unusable samples. Collect and analyze conductivity data.
8	July 18 – July 22	36 hours	Synthesize best samples from previous experiments on copper bases (varying shape and thickness).
9	July 25 – July 29	36 hours	Characterize the new samples. Repeat synthesis as needed for unusable samples. Collect and analyze conductivity data.
10	August 1 – August 5	36 hours	Prepare summary data analysis and description of optimized procedure. Draft poster for Frontiers.

EXAMPLE #2

Timeline – Jonathan Husky
Work weeks will be 5 days per week (Mon. – Fri.) at an average of 25 hours per week, totaling approximately 400 hours.
In accordance with the policies of the Institute of Materials Science, I will not be working in the lab in the absence of supervision from either a graduate student or instructor.

Timeframe	Hours	Anticipated Benchmarks and Tasks to Complete
Spring 2023 (before project)	N/A	– Preliminary scanning laser microscopy apparatus and data acquisition program (complete as of December 2022) – Pump-probe microscope design finalization and component acquisition – most components already on-hand (complete by April 2023) – Arrival of Cryostation in lab (April 2023)
May 8 – May 21 (Weeks 1-2)	50 hours	Summer research begins. Construction and alignment of the optical setup proposed for thermal conductivity measurements. Testing of Cryostation.
May 22 – June 4 (Weeks 3-4)	50 hours	Completion of optical table construction and development of LabView data acquisition program.
June 5 – June 18 (Weeks 5-6)	50 hours	Initial room-temperature reflectivity measurements on well known control substrate Silicon with thin gold coating. Optimization of gold film thickness using control sample.
June 19 – July 2 (Weeks 7-8)	50 hours	Analysis of control measurements to check for consistency with literature values and preparation of ScF3 samples using optimized gold coating thicknesses.
July 3 – July 16 (Weeks 9-10)	50 hours	Room-temperature test measurements of time-domain thermoreflectance in ScF3. Initial low temperature tests.
July 17 – July 30 (Weeks 11-12)	50 hours	Low temperature data acquisition for time-domain thermoreflectance.
July 31 – August 13 (Weeks 13-14)	50 hours	Data Analysis: thermal conductivity calculations from thermoreflectance recovery, frequency analysis of strain induced echoes.
August 14 – August 27 (Weeks 15-16)	50 hours	Completion of remaining data analysis. Summer research ends.
Fall 2023 (after project)	N/A	1-2 credit Independent Study to complete work on ScF3 or extend the technique to measure thermal transport in Cd(CN)2.
Spring 2024 (after project)	N/A	Dissemination of results through the Physics Department, Frontiers and APS New England poster exhibitions. Potential publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal.

EXAMPLE #3

Timeline – June Husky

I will remain in regular touch with my advisor, Professor Cross, throughout the summer. We have scheduled weekly Skype calls for the time I will be in Brazil and biweekly meetings on campus upon my return. Project hours: 365 hours total.

Weeks	Dates	Hours	Research Activities
–	Prior to summer	N/A	– An application was submitted to the IRB for review on 1/15. Any requested modifications will be completed in a timely manner. I anticipate receiving IRB approval no later than 3/15. I will begin outreach to potential participants via the recruitment methods specified in the proposal once I receive IRB approval. – I will register with Education Abroad and share my registration information with the Office of Undergraduate Research.
1-2	May 15 – May 26	40 hours (20 hours/week)	Scheduling interviews with participants, communicating reminders to participants, booking lodging in Brazil, and finalizing all plans including transportation and directions. I will use stipend funding during this part of the study to cover living expenses as I make these research arrangements and prepare for my travel.
3-5	May 29 – June 16	100 hours	Interviewing in Brazil will take place. Anticipated work includes interviews, field note observations based on interviews, and preparation and organization of interview materials. I will be using SURF funds during this portion of the research to cover travel costs associated with my study.
6-8	June 19 – July 7	120 hours (40 hours/week)	I will transcribe, code, and analyze my interview and field note data. I will consult with my project advisor regarding the emerging coding scheme and recode data using a revised scheme as necessary. As time permits, I will also continue to review the literature on the related topics specified in my proposal (see page 3 of proposal for details). I request stipend support during this period (the remaining SURF funds after deducting my previous work and travel expenses)
9-11	July 10 – July 28	105 hours (35 hours/week)	I will draft the data analysis section of my thesis, selecting relevant data excerpts to illustrate the themes identified in the interviews and field notes. I will conduct this work at the UConn library and at my residence. I request stipend support during this period (the remaining SURF funds after deducting my previous work and travel expenses)