Now in its third year of collaboration, the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and the Graduate College offer the opportunity for first and second-year undergraduate students (including transfer students) to assist advanced graduate students (those who have completed all coursework requirements and are in the dissertation research stage) with their research projects. Through a one-on-one research experience with their graduate student mentor, undergraduate students will have the opportunity to learn what it means to do research, create knowledge, and produce scholarship. Undergraduate students will begin work with their mentors in Spring 2018.
Undergraduate researchers will be given course credit (3 credit hours). Undergraduate students will attend regular weekly class meetings with OUR and Grad College instructors, as well as work one-on-one with their graduate mentors. Students will also complete a final project, consisting of a research poster, to be presented during “Undergraduate Research Week” sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR).
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING AS THERE IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH HOW TO APPLY, REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION, AND WHERE TO FIND GRADUATE MENTOR PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS, ETC.
Application is open to all registered freshman and sophomore students (both domestic and international); transfer students who are juniors may also apply. As part of the application, students will provide a statement of interest that speaks to:
- Why they are interested in participating in URAP @ UI; and
- Rank their top 3 project choices, and provide a brief essay outlining why they have chosen those projects.
Please read the project descriptions carefully. While these projects are meant for students with few or no research skills, participation in this program does require diligence, enthusiasm and commitment.
To apply: Undergraduate students should apply through the online application available at the following link: go.illinois.edu/URAP_UG
Graduate mentor project descriptions can be found here.
Deadline for applications is Monday, October 30. Finalists will be notified by Monday, November 6 2017, and meet with graduate student mentors between November 7 and November 15. Final selection will be made by graduate mentors. Undergraduate students selected to participate will be notified by November 17. Successful applicants will be given course CRN, etc., in order to register for the Spring 2018 semester.
Informational meetings: Informational meetings are scheduled for Friday October 13 and Wednesday October 18, from 3-3:50pm in Bevier Hall Room 166. Get tips on creating a good statement of interest, why you should participate, and get your questions answered.
Questions may be addressed to: ugresearch@illinois.edu. Please put “URAP” in the subject line.
