Open Doors Summer Research Program

About Open Doors

The Open Doors program is a collaboration among faculty and graduate students at the University of Virginia (UVA), Norfolk State University (NSU), and Virginia State University (VSU) to provide students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the opportunity to learn about conducting research. The program is for undergraduate students who may be interested in pursuing graduate research degrees.

In this program participants will:

• engage in the research and writing process that will lead to a research product and presentation that reflects their strengths, interests, and goals;
• gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available to them in graduate school;
• have the opportunity to examine the complexities and multiple layers of their intersectional identities, identify assets and cultural wealth, and identify academic strengths and areas of growth; and
• build relationships with faculty and graduate student mentors.

The program typically runs for three to four weeks in late May/early June. Participants must be available full-time for the duration of the program. The next program is scheduled for 2026.