CDAIS is associated with the National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in IT (SURF-IT) which is directed by Prof. Guthaus. SURF-IT offers opportunities for both UCSC students and non-UCSC students. SURF-IT provides an intensive and personalized summer program for women, minority, or disadvantaged undergraduates. SURF-IT includes a research experience supervised by a UCSC Baskin School of Engineering faculty member. Scholars also have weekly meetings focused on graduate school preparation, how to present research results, research ethics, as well as field trips to local neighboring Silicon Valley research laboratories, and of course a number of social activities.