Summer Research Assistants

For faculty, hiring a Summer Research Assistant (SRA) involves two steps:

1. Identifying a funding source or applying for Undergraduate Research Funding.
2. Completing the SRA Hiring Form once faculty have identified their  student(s).

Key Dates and Deadlines for 2026 

February 1 – Faculty deadline to apply for summer funding from the Undergraduate Research office (this is the first step in hiring a summer research assistant (SRA) unless faculty have external funding)

March 1 – Faculty notified of funding awards for SRAs

February and March – Faculty identify student researchers for their funded summer projects

April 1 – Deadline for Faculty to complete an SRA Hiring Form for each SRA they plan to hire

Note: The below dates need to be confirmed for 2026 and are listed for reference.

April 15 – Deadline for students working on campus to complete housing application on the housing portal (ResLife sets deadline) 

May 27 – Summer employment period begins 

June 7-8 – Summer campus housing first arrival dates

June 9 – Start of on-campus research work

June 16 – Dining Halls open

August 15 – End of on-campus research work

August 17 –On-campus summer housing ends

September 7 – Summer employment ends

Steps for Hiring a SRA

1. Read the Summer Research Assistant Policies. These policies must be followed for the position to qualify. 
    
2. Identify your funding sources. Apply for Undergraduate Research funding, if needed, by the February 1 deadline. Students are usually funded through faculty grants, Undergraduate Research funds, or other Middlebury funding sources.
    
3. Once you identify which students will work with you, you must submit the SRA Hiring Form to begin the hiring process. Deadline April 2026. 

A SRA Hiring Form is required for each SRA regardless of your funding source. It is also critical if your student requires on-campus housing. 

Tips for Filling out the SRA Hiring Form

• If you anticipate hiring an SRA but won’t have confirmation of the funding source (or yet know the student to hire), please submit the SRA Hiring Form by the deadline.
• Include a funding source, indicate if it is undetermined, or if the position is a volunteer (not paid through Middlebury College).
• Fill out the number of hours per week (estimated), the number of weeks, maximum amount to be paid, start/end dates and work locations for supervisor and student.
• Include a title of the research project. A project description is not necessary. We will contact you if we need additional information.
• Note any SRAs who need to be compensated with stipend payments rather than by payroll.
• If your SRA will need campus housing, please indicate that.
• For research that requires an earlier start date or later end date AND campus housing for the SRA, please provide an explanation. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• If the student is working outside of Vermont, include the city and state of the work location. This may impact the SRA’s pay rate or mode of payment.

Student Responsibilities

The student will complete any forms required by HR and the housing/dining form in their housing portal. Housing forms must be completed by the deadline set by Residential Life (typically mid-April).