Illinois Office of
Undergraduate Research

blog posts

• November Newsletter: Present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium!

  Nov 8, 2024 9:00 am24 views

  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 Sticker Design Contest!

  Nov 4, 2024 9:30 am601 views

  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.

• Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassadors - Call for Applications

  Nov 1, 2024 12:45 pm105 views

  The Office of Undergraduate Research is looking for motivated and personable undergraduate students in all majors who are excited to introduce and support peers through the Illinois research experience. If you have participated in a research project, be it 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 and help other students along their research journeys. We are particularly interested in adding students in the humanities & arts to our team of ambassadors. 

  This application is for ambassador positions beginning Spring 2025, with the intent that selected candidates can and will continue into the following Fall 2025/Spring 2026 academic year. Students will be expected to work 30 hours per semester, and will be paid a stipend of $450 per semester.  

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

  
  

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Hearing and Cognitive Health and Technology

  Oct 18, 2024 3:00 pm268 views

  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.

  
   
   

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY! INFORMATION SESSION Mayo Clinic Summer 2025

  Oct 7, 2024 1:15 pm202 views

  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.

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: REU Opportunity with AVIATE on NASA Drones

  Sep 18, 2024 10:45 am331 views

  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.

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Applied Research Institute - Visual Perception

  Sep 16, 2024 12:30 pm294 views

  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.
   

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: NEW NEUROSURGICAL DEVICE DEVELOPMENT

  Aug 27, 2024 9:00 pm283 views

  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.

  
  

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: DASLAB -- AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

  Aug 27, 2024 5:45 pm189 views

  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.

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  Demystifying the Academic Research Enterprise

  Feb 1, 2024 2:15 pm123 views

  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.

• Our Undergraduate Research Ambassadors Are Here to Help!

  Jan 22, 2024 9:00 am46 views

  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.