Students as Scholar-Practitioners (SSP)

What We Do

Students as Scholar-Practitioners (SSP) is the hub for the Student Learning Center’s (SLC) undergraduate research programs, which include the Lucheta-Vaterlaus Scholars Program and Research Associate Program. SSP participants pursue an original research project with the foundational grounding of rigorous research training and ongoing support of academic coaching and mentorship from SLC staff. Upon completing their study, undergraduate scholars formally present their research at UC Berkeley and in the larger community. 

Our Philosophy

We believe that undergraduate research is a pathway to academic and lifelong success. From promoting academic engagement to cultivating a sense of belonging, research opportunities provide students not only with the tools to succeed academically, but also with the connections, confidence, and skills necessary to thrive beyond their undergraduate years. Furthermore, we believe that every undergraduate should be an active producer of knowledge with a purpose, not simply a passive receiver of information. In addition, SSP calls upon students to draw from their lived experience during the research process, including their passions, interests, and pursuits. Students as Scholar-Practitioners aims to cultivate and foster the research identity of budding scholars, engage students to be entrepreneurial, question and think from a critical mindset, problem-solve, and seek transformation towards equity, justice, and social impact.