Working with Student Researchers

This page covers the practical side of involving students in your research: how to fund and hire them, how they are paid, summer housing, and the compliance steps that may apply.

Ways to fund a student researcher

• Collaborative Summer Research (CSR) — the college’s main internal program for summer research teams
• External grants — many federal and foundation programs fund undergraduate researchers; see External Grants and Foundation, Government and Corporate Relations
• Department endowed funds — some departments have donor-restricted funds for student researchers; your chair has details
• Wallace Scholarly Activities — can pay students hourly for specific tasks that support your research, but not for collaborative projects where the student’s intellectual contribution is primary
• Academic-year student employment — [[PASTE: how faculty hire students during the academic year on departmental or grant funds, and who to contact in Student Employment.]]

Pay rates and schedules

For Summer 2026 the standard rate set by the college is $660 per week plus up to 10% benefits. A student hired for 10 weeks receives $6,600 before taxes and costs up to $7,260 to the funding source. Benefits expenses vary between 0 and 10% depending on the student’s situation, as determined by Student Employment during hiring.

How and when students are paid depends on citizenship status and the location of the work. Some students are paid every two weeks; others receive their stipend in several lump-sum payments. Student Employment determines the appropriate mechanism.

Hiring

In the spring, a hiring form is shared with faculty. It asks for the research dates, source of funds, and information about the student being hired. [[PASTE: link to the current hiring form, or the date it is distributed.]]

Summer housing and meals

The college covers on-campus housing for on-campus student researchers for the duration of the research period plus four extra days for move-in and move-out. Students who stay longer are charged a daily rate set by Residential Life. The meal plan is required for anyone living in the dorms and is not covered by the summer housing budget. Dates and pricing are posted on the seasonal housing page.

Faculty summer stipend

Faculty are eligible for a summer stipend if they are working with full-time student researchers for at least four weeks and are not receiving other summer compensation. The stipend is prorated based on end-of-summer self-reporting of effort.

Volunteers and unpaid research experiences

[[PASTE: the college’s position on unpaid student research — when it is allowed (course credit, independent study, honors), when it is not, and any forms required.]]

Compliance

• Research with human participants requires IRB review before data collection begins; students conducting research need a faculty advisor and CITI training
• Research with animals requires IACUC approval
• Students working in labs must complete the safety training required by Environmental Health & Safety
• Research off campus or abroad may require the Macalester International Travel Form

Questions about student research programming: Office of Student Research and Creativity. Questions about funding: provost@macalester.edu.