<aside> 💡 **Applications closed on March 1, 2024. Thanks to all who applied!

The program will run from June 3, 2024 until Aug 9, 2024.**

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What is TRAILS-SURF?

The 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) at the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society (TRAILS) is a 10-week program that engages an interdisciplinary team of current undergraduate students in research on trustworthy artificial intelligence at the University of Maryland in College Park.

TRAILS is dedicated to transforming the practice of AI from one driven primarily by technological innovation to one that is driven by ethics, human rights, and input and feedback from communities whose voices have previously been marginalized.

Focusing on either participatory design, trustworthy AI methods and metrics, or evaluating trust, projects will prioritize ethics, human rights, and input and feedback from communities whose voices have previously been marginalized in AI research, development, and deployment. See the sample projects for examples of possible topics and scope.

SURF-TRAILS will be run in coordination with the Research Experience for Undergraduates in Combinatorics, Algorithms, and AI for Real Problems (REU-CAAR).

What do Fellows get?

• A summer of exciting research that will help shape the future of trustworthy AI.
• An opportunity to work with internationally-recognized University of Maryland faculty and graduate student mentors affiliated with TRAILS.
• A $8,000 stipend.

How do you apply?

1. Read about:
   1. TRAILS research, particularly the Participatory Design, Methods of Metrics, and Evaluting Trust research thrusts, and
   2. The sample research projects, and learn more about the University of Maryland researchers working on them.
2. Write your personal statement
   1. Choose the two projects that are of most interest to you, and reflect on how your coursework and other previous experience has prepared you to contribute to them, as well as to other projects within the research thrusts of which they are part.
   2. Write an essay of up to 5000 characters explaining why you are interested in Trustworthy AI research. Explain which two sample projects are of most interest, why, and what strengths you would bring to a team working on them. Please detail specific preparation and experience, including related courses you have taken, projects you have completed, and/or previous research or work experience.
3. Request and secure two letters of recommendation from people with whom you have worked who have expertise relevant to trustworthy AI (such as a professor or internship supervisor).
4. Complete application form, including uploading your personal statement, two letters of reference, and a current resume. (If you are writing a resume for the first time, this guide may be useful.)

Who should apply?