In-Person Program
Make Clemson Connections
A Summer Research Experience on Campus
EUREKA! participants in the in-person program are immersed in the Clemson experience for 5 weeks. They are given several opportunities to get to know their fellow EUREKANs, while also exploring Clemson University campus and the surrounding community.
In the past, our in-person EUREKAns have taken a tour of the Clemson football facilities, been whitewater rafting, and participated in cultural and sporting events on and around University campus.
Students also get a head start on campus living, as they will be living in campus housing and getting to know campus through a variety of activities, including scavenger hunts.
Explore the 2026 in-person itinerary and project list below.
Not sure if you can make it to campus this summer? Explore our online delivery option!
Timeline
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Application opens for EUREKA! 2026 | April 1 |
| Application due date (including $50 application fee) | May 3 (11:59 p.m.) |
| Notification of admission to EUREKA! | Week of May 18 |
| Program fees due (electronic payment RECEIVED, not postmarked) and participation forms completed and submitted | June 1 |
| Move-in and opening program | June 22 |
| Move out | July 24 |
| EUREKA! Poster Forum | Friday of Family Weekend |
Explore Clemson and its Surrounding Communities!
Meet Fellow Tigers
Get to know fellow incoming first-year Honors students, building connections that, for many of our EUREKA! alumni, can last throughout (and beyond!) your undergraduate experience.
You will also make key campus connections, including with faculty mentors and key campus contacts, such as in the University's Center for Career and Professional Development, which has consistently been recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the top 10 career services programs in the country - including #1 Best Career Services in 2022.
Get Started on Research
Working as part of a team or one-on-one, EUREKA! gives students the chance to engage early and start a path toward their next great discovery.
Many of the participating students continue their projects throughout their undergraduate years. We hope their enthusiasm for research will encourage their peers to follow their lead to build an exciting and productive environment for undergraduate research, scholarship, and discovery at Clemson University.
Take Shared Adventures
Although your five weeks on campus will be focused on your research, we also make time for you to familiarize yourself with Clemson, through a series of team-building events.
EUREKA! adventures are planned by your counselors, who are also program alumni. These activities help you bond with your cohort while helping to ease your transition to your new home at Clemson.
Program Fees and Policies
Program participants are held to local, state, and federal laws as well as Clemson University's alcohol and drug policy. The EUREKA! program has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy concerning drugs and alcohol.
Students found in violation of these laws and policy will be dismissed from the program. No program refunds will be issued for dismissed students.
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Program Fee
EUREKA! program fees are collected online. If you are selected to participate in the program, program fees are due on June 1, 2026.
Program fees for the in-person option include:
- Application fee ($50)
- Program fee ($2,500 for residential or $1,000 for commuter)
No application fee refunds.
Please note that no refunds are given to any student expelled from the EUREKA! program.
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Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend required EUREKA! academic activities. The in-person program option is an immersive experience, whereas the online program offers more location flexibility and requires less time each day. Please keep this difference in time commitment in mind when applying.
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Orientation
You must complete first-year orientation modules and meet with your Academic Advisor before the start of the program. You should register for orientation as instructed by the Office of Orientation (you will receive registration instructions via email).
Meet the 2026 In-person Counselors!
EUREKA! counselors are Honors students who provide care and support for the program participants on a daily basis, while also serving as role models on and off campus. Get to know the 2026 counselors below!
Gabrielle Bridges
Hello, everyone! My name is Gabrielle Bridges, and I am excited to serve as Head Counselor for the in-person EUREKA! program. I am a rising junior in the Honors College majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry and an emphasis in Biomolecular Science and Engineering. I am passionate about research that advances human health and plan to pursue a career in drug development. On campus, I work as an Undergraduate Student Tutor at the Academic Success Center, where I tutor General Chemistry, and as a Student Lab Assistant in Hunter Chemistry Lab, supporting daily experiments through solution preparation and lab organization. I am also involved in AIChE, NSBE, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, and the NAACP.
EUREKA! is such a powerful way to begin your Clemson experience because it combines hands-on research with early community building. College moves quickly, and having the chance to step into a lab, connect with faculty, and build friendships before the fall semester begins makes a lasting impact. Beyond academics, what makes this program special is the network you build with other motivated students who are navigating the same transition. As a counselor, I want to be a steady source of support whether you need guidance with research, advice on balancing a challenging course load, or simply someone to talk to as you adjust to campus life. I cannot wait to meet this year’s group and grow alongside you this summer!
Tyler Abercrombie
Hi! I’m Tyler, a rising senior from North Augusta, SC. I’m pursuing dual degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology with plans to earn an M.D.–Ph.D. focused on functional neuroscience and immunology. I’m fascinated by how the brain and immune system shape the way we experience the world — and how we can use that knowledge to improve patient care. I currently work across three research labs spanning molecular immunology, biochemistry, and industrial psychology. While this involves a wide range of research topics, everything I do connects back to one goal: building systems that help people heal better. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to design and lead clinical trials that translate advances in neuroscience into effective treatments that improve the quality of life of those suffering from neurological issues.
I’m driven, but I’m not all lab coats and textbooks. I believe life should feel alive, full of challenges and adventures. That’s why, if I’m not in the lab, I’m chasing something that makes me feel alive, trying new things, and meeting new people. For me, that means lifting at Fike, cycling the backroads, dancing till the music stops, climbing mountains, or catching the last light at the beach. I love meeting new people, trying things I’ve never done before, and saying “yes” to experiences that turn into great stories later. That’s why I’m excited to be a EUREKA! Counselor and can’t wait to help make this a summer full of unforgettable experiences.
Savannah Tournear
Hello everyone! My name is Savannah Tournear, and I am so excited to be a counselor for the 2026 EUREKA! program! I am a rising sophomore from Nokesville, Virginia majoring in both Biochemistry and Genetics and minoring in Chemistry. I currently work in Dr. Kerry Smith’s lab, where my project involves double gene knockouts in the acetate kinase metabolic pathway of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus Neoformans. Outside the lab, I am also a sports program assistant for Campus Recreation, which allows me to further pursue my interest in athletics.
EUREKA! is an amazing opportunity to get involved in research before your first semester at Clemson even starts, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who is like me and has a strong research passion. Beyond the lab, it also provides the opportunity to form lifelong friendships with people of similar interests and to seamlessly adjust to college life. I look forward to a great summer and getting to know this year’s EUREKA! participants!
