The Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) is one of the nation’s largest undergraduate research conferences, bringing together hundreds of students from across disciplines to showcase their work and connect with peers, faculty, and industry professionals. Join the excitement on April 11, 2026, in Chicago. Abstracts due by March 1!

Less than one month left to apply to present at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS)! The URS, set for Thursday, April 30, 2026, is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 26 - May 2, 2026) and brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also open to friends, families, and the public who are interested in learning about undergraduate research and its impact. The deadline to apply is March 13 at 11:59 pm.

Please see the full post to learn more.

The Image of Research — UR Edition is a multidisciplinary competition celebrating the diversity and breadth of undergraduate student research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All undergraduate students are invited to submit entries consisting of an image and brief text that articulates how the image relates to the research. “Research” is defined broadly to include creative and scholarly work in all fields. The image submitted can represent your work either concretely or abstractly. Perhaps it is an image of your research itself, an activity related to your research, or the impact of your research.

For more information, see full post.

The Community-Academic Scholars (CAS) program is a 10-week summer research experience empowering undergraduates in all majors to address real-world challenges across health, equity, and community well-being in Champaign-Urbana. Scholars are matched with an Illinois researcher and a community organization to work on a project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization. 

This is a paid research experience.

For more information, including how to apply, please see full blog post.
 

The Maleiha Carino Foundation Scholarship for Cancer Research Advancement recognizes outstanding contributions made by undergraduate researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the field of cancer research. This encompasses various aspects of cancer research, including basic, translational, clinical, and social/cultural dimensions.

Looking to get involved in research or hone your research skills? The Office of Undergraduate Research offers a number of undergraduate research workshops to all students throughout the university. From getting started with the research process to learning to effectively present your work at a conference or symposium, these workshops give students a clearer understanding of participating in different aspects of research as an undergraduate. 

The Brooks lab is looking for an undergraduate research assistant who is interested in gaining experience in physiology and genomics. Work in the lab is aimed at understanding how photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism are coordinated and how these processes will respond to climate change. 
 
 Duties will include growing plants, helping carry out experiments, analyzing data, and assisting with general laboratory maintenance. Specific techniques that are used in the lab are RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, cloning, and measuring nitrogen and photosynthetic traits by various techniques. 

This is a paid research experience, and is ongoing.
 
 For more information, including how to apply, please see full blog posting.

The Maleiha Carino Foundation Scholarship for Cancer Research Advancement recognizes outstanding contributions made by undergraduate researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the field of cancer research. This encompasses various aspects of cancer research, including basic, translational, clinical, and social/cultural dimensions.

We invite students and their families and friends to attend the Undergraduate Research Showcase and a guided tour of the Beckman Biomedical Imaging Center. Scheduled over Dads Weekend, this event celebrates the incredible undergraduate research happening across campus. An invited and featured cohort of students will present their research projects spanning science, engineering, humanities, and the arts. It’s a great opportunity to support your peers, explore diverse research topics, and connect with OUR staff and student researchers. For families, it is also a chance to see the outstanding research enterprise and types of opportunities that are available at Illinois. Light refreshments will be served. 

See the full post for information on how to register for these events.

The First-Gen Scholars Research Program (FGSRP), now entering its second year, offers first-generation college students who are federal work-study eligible the opportunity to engage in paid, hands-on research with a faculty mentor while building skills, confidence, and community. Participants work 10 hours per week, earn $17/hour through Federal Work-Study, and take part in cohort activities that support their academic and professional growth.

Applications for the 2025–26 cohort are due Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM.

Learn more about the program, application requirements, and upcoming informational sessions on our website: go.illinois.edu/FGSRP.

The application for URAP @ UI, our Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, is now open. Deadline for applications is October 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

It is now easier than ever before to stay notified! Sign up for the Office of Undergraduate Research monthly email newsletter to receive occasional emails about research programs, events, opportunities, and helpful information for current and aspiring undergraduate researchers. Students are encouraged to sign up at: go.illinois.edu/subscribeOUR

Congratulations to our 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium award winners! 

Join Cutting-Edge Cancer Mechanobiology Research! 
 
The Saif Lab is seeking a motivated and curious Undergraduate Research Assistant to join our lab for Summer 2025! 
 
Our research focuses on Cancer Mechanobiology, a field that explores how mechanical forces and stiffnesses influence cancer progression and the microenvironment. We are developing high-throughput systems capable of performing multiple biological assays to accelerate drug discovery and viability assays. 

This is a Summer 2025 opportunity for course credit.

For more information and how to apply, please see the full description.
 
 

Arabic-speaking undergraduate students sought to join a research project focused on developing culturally tailored online content for a weight loss program. Students will help convert educational materials into short, engaging videos using PowerPoint or Canva, record audio in Arabic, and assist in building related surveys using REDCap (training provided). 
 
This opportunity is available now through the summer, with the possibility of continuing into the fall. Students can earn 1 credit hour for their participation. The expected time commitment is around 1 hour per week. 
 
For more information including how to apply, please see full description.

Gies Business Research Lab is seeking applications for Fall 2025 GBRL undergraduate research assistants (2-3 positions available): 
 
This is a paid position and is in-person. Afternoon and early evening availability is required. Maximum of 10 hours per week. MUST be an undergraduate student. 
 
For more information and how to apply, please see full description.

The 2025 Undergraduate Research Week is here, and the final program has been posted!

The Undergraduate Research Week showcases the best of undergraduate research and creative inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Campus events include special exhibits and colloquia sponsored by individual departments, programs, and units, highlighting the best of our students’ work. The Undergraduate Research Symposium (All day on Thursday, April 24 in the Illini Union) is URW’s day-long signature event where hundreds of students from all academic disciplines share their research through oral panels, poster presentations, and performances. We invite you to come be inspired!.

You can find a link to the URW 2025 program here: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/researchweek.html

Stay up-to-date on URW events by following us on X @ugresearch_UI,  Facebook @UGResearchIllinois, and Instagram @ugresearch_UI

First-Generation Scholars Research Program provides research experience and more

Research opportunity available in Computer Science to help create a video dataset. 

Currently accepting applications (start ASAP). No specific skills required. This is a paid position ($15/hr, 10 hours/week)

For more information, please see full description.

FiberMech project opportunity for an undergraduate student to work on a project that aims to unravel the link between structure of gels made of model fibers and their mechanical properties. Student will investigate how gel topology affects its mechanics. 

This is an ongoing, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 opportunity for course credit, though funding may be available for Summer 2025.

For more information, please see full description.

And the Winner Is…

The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute 2025 Community-Academic Scholar program is a 10-week summer research experience empowering Illinois undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in the local community. Scholars work with an Illinois researcher and community organization on a research project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization.

This is a paid research position for Summer 2025: $4500 stipend. 

Deadline to apply: February 6, 2025.

For more information on this summer program and how to apply, please see full description.

Opportunity to assist in language teaching research for the MA TESOL practicum at the Champaign-Urbana refugee center. Duties include interpreting for interviews and analyzing oral or written information.

This is a paid research opportunity for Spring 2025.

For more information, and how to apply, please see full description.

The Maleiha Carino Foundation Scholarship for Cancer Research Advancement recognizes outstanding contributions made by undergraduate researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the field of cancer research. This encompasses various aspects of cancer research, including basic, translational, clinical, and social/cultural dimensions.

The November issue of the OUR Research Insider is here with exciting updates you won’t want to miss—especially the opening of applications to present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium! Take a look at what’s inside!

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is excited to announce our Sticker Design Contest! We’re looking for a creative, eye-catching, and engaging design that embodies the spirit of undergraduate research, and we’d love for you to be part of it. The winning design will receive a $300 prize (through your student account) and will be featured on stickers distributed campus-wide to be used on laptops and water bottles for years to come! In addition, the winning designer will also receive the printed stickers to share and enjoy!

See full post to learn more.

The Speech Perception Laboratory (https://spl.shs.illinois.edu/) is seeking students interested in contributing to projects focused on hearing and cognitive health and technology. Projects in the Speech Perception Laboratory focus on how we understand speech in challenging listening environments and how those abilities change across the lifespan and due to hearing loss. 

This is a research experience for course credit, for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Fall 2025. For more information, including how to apply, please see full description.

Illinois undergraduates interested in a summer of biomedical research at the Mayo Clinic are invited to an information sesswion on October 10, at 6 pm, via Zoom. Up to seven of Mayo Clinic's prestigious Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) are reserved for Illinois sophomores and juniors who are seriously considering a biomedical research career as a PhD or MD/PhD.

The Illinois preselection period opens Monday, October 7. For more information, including the Zoom link, please see full description.

The Center for Autonomous Vehicles In Air Transportation Engineering (AVIATE) REU offers the opportunity to work on a NASA grant project to create flying quadcopters for personal transportation.

This is a paid research experience for Fall 2024, Spring 2025. You must be a US citizen or permanent resident, 18+, and currently enrolled student to participate.

Deadline to apply: Friday, September 27, 2024.

For more information and to apply, see full description.

The University of Illinois’ Applied Research Institute is pleased to announce a Fall Job Opportunity for the DHS-funded project “Managing ATON Configurations for Optimization of Reliability and Resiliency” (MACORR). 

This job is part-time (2-5 hours per week) remote position. This is a paid research experience for Fall 2024.

For more information and how to apply, please see full description.
 

Saif Lab is seeking a higly motivated and innovative undergraduate student to join their research team in the develpment of a new neurosurgical device. The project involves designing, prototyping, and testing a novel device that, upon success, will be utilized in surgical procedures. This experience is for course credit; compensation may be considered as the project progresses.

Key qualifications:

• Affiliation with Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Bioengineering
• Interest in mechanics of materials and mechanical design
• CAD skills
• Junior or senior academic standing
• Creativity and problem-solving ability
• Experience or coursework in electronics is desirable

For more infomation, including how to apply, please see full description.

The Distributed Autonomous Systems Lab (DASLAB) is looking for an undergraduate research assistant. This is a 10 hour/week paid position open to Computer Science majors currently in their junior or senior year for Fall 2024. The research project is relevant to computer vision with application in agricultural robotics. For more details about the position and how to apply, please see full description.

It is now easier than ever before to stay notified! Sign up for the Office of Undergraduate Research monthly email newsletter to receive occasional emails about research programs, events, opportunities, and helpful information for current and aspiring undergraduate researchers. Students are encouraged to sign up at: go.illinois.edu/subscribeOUR

The Office of Undergraduate Research announces its Fall 2024 calendar for the Planning Your Research Journey Workshop and Getting Started in Research Workshop.

We will have both in-person and online workshops available for each offering. Information for each workshop including how students can register can be found in this post.

The Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is seeking a motivated and creative undergraduate social media and communications intern. This intern will be responsible for crafting engaging textual and visual content to enhance OUR’s online communication efforts. The Social Media and Communications Intern will work, on average, 10 hours per week. This position will start in Fall 2024 and will be extended into Spring 2025 based on performance and availability of funding. This is a paid internship at $16.00/hour for undergraduate students. Federal Work Study designation is preferred. For questions about Federal Work-Study status, please contact Financial Aid.

Applications are due August 29, 2024. For more information on the position and how to apply, please see full post.

Congratulations to our 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium award winners! 

OUR is seeking highly motivated and personable undergraduate students from all majors who are eager to guide and support their peers through the Illinois undergraduate research experience. If you have previous experience in research or creative inquiry, whether through coursework, assisting faculty, research staff, or graduate students, or conducting a project of your own, we invite you to apply to become an Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassador. In this role, you will have the opportunity to help other students navigate their own research journeys.

Deadline to apply is Monday, March 18, 2024 at 11:59pm.

Less than one month left to apply to present at the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS)! The URS, set for Thursday, April 25, 2024, is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 21-27, 2024) and brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also open to friends, families, and the public who are interested in learning about undergraduate research and its impact. The deadline to apply is March 8 at 11:59 pm.

Please see full post to learn more.

We are excited to announce a new resource for students who want to learn more about undergraduate research. "Demystifying the Academic Research Enterprise: Becoming a Successful Scholar in a Complex and Competitive Environment" by Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier is now available via MIT Press open access. This book serves as a guide for students across disciplines, offering insights into the essentials of academic research and how to thrive in a research environment.

The Community-Academic Scholars program is a 10-week summer research experience that empowers undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in Champaign-Urbana. Scholars work with an Illinois researcher and a community organization on a research project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization. Review the project descriptions and the scholar's role within each project to find projects that best match your strengths and background. Apply by Feb. 6.  This is a Summer 2024 research opportunity.

For more information and to apply, please see full blog post.

The Office of Undergraduate Research is now accepting applications for the Aspiring Researchers Alliance, a program to guide and support students through the process of securing an undergraduate research experience. Deadline to apply is Monday, February 5 at 11:59 PM.

Whether you're just beginning to explore the world of undergraduate research or are a seasoned researcher seeking support for your next steps, our Ambassadors are here to offer tailored advice based on your experience, interests, and goals. Our Ambassadors are excited to meet with you and are dedicated to ensuring you feel empowered to take your next step in your undergraduate research journey.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), set for Thursday, April 25, 2024. The URS is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 21-27, 2024) and brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also open to friends, families, and the public who are interested in learning about undergraduate research and its impact.

Click to learn more.

Dear Students & Families,

We invite you to attend our upcoming Undergraduate Research Showcase. This new event offers a small glimpse into the world of exceptional research being conducted by our talented undergraduate researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

During this one-hour event, coinciding with Dad's Weekend, you will have the privilege of witnessing research presentations by three invited presenters, followed by an open panel and Q&A session.  This event is a perfect chance for students interested in learning more about undergraduate research at Illinois to get their questions answered by experienced student presenters. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Feel free to bring your family and friends. Light refreshments will be served.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
• Time: 10 – 11 AM
• Location: Illini Union Ballroom (2^nd Floor)
• Please register at https://go.illinois.edu/ResearchShowcaseRegistration

Invited Presentations:

VR-Based Electrocardiogram Training Simulator (Arnav Shah, Senior in Computer Science)

VR technology provides an immersive way to train healthcare professionals cost-effectively. However, incorporating clinical feedback into the simulation design is a challenge. We discuss a pipeline for creating an ECG training simulator and present the results of usability and validity assessments. Researchers can use the proposed approach to develop other VR-based medical training simulators.

 How are Caregivers included in Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (ADRD) Clinical Trials? (Eve Rubovits, Senior in Community Health)

Family caregivers of people with ADRD have significant responsibilities within healthcare, and yet these responsibilities are not necessarily communicated clearly through clinical trial information. This study aimed to assess types of caregiver information given through an analysis of ADRD trials on clinicaltrials.gov from the last 30 years.

 Hg UMEs: A Tool for Developing Next-Generation Batteries (Curtis Althaus, Junior in Chemistry and Astrophysics)

With a huge global push to find alternative sources of energy, the ever-increasing demand for clean power is met with a similarly urgent demand to store it. Through the use of mercury ultramicroelectrodes, I am exploring the ways in which Lithium interacts at a battery cathode surface to develop a ground-up model for novel-electrolyte development. This could enable new high-capacity, fast-charging Li-ion batteries that are greatly needed in technologies like electric cars, smartphones, and space exploration.

We are excited to showcase a new Spring 2024 course available for Illinois students. The "Foundations of Academic Research and Creative Activity" course is thoughtfully designed for undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-docs across all academic disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, STEM, and more.

The Maleiha Carino Foundation Scholarship for Cancer Research Advancement recognizes outstanding contributions made by undergraduate researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the field of cancer research. This encompasses various aspects of cancer research, including basic, translational, clinical, and social/cultural dimensions.

Position for an undergraduate researcher available in the Taher Saif lab at MechSE. The project's primary goal is to investigate how mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment influences metastatic progression. We shall explore the crosstalk between cancer cells and other cells (e.g. cancer associated fibroblasts) in the tumor. 

For more information, including how to apply, please see full description.

The application for URAP @ UI, our Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, is now open. Deadline for applications is October 6, 2023 at 11:59 pm.