UROP Article

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

Supporting mentor-student undergraduate research experiences

UROP overview

UROP provides funding support for undergraduate students to work with a mentor on real-world problems to gain research and scholarly skills that can be applied to their college coursework and future careers.

In this program, students will acquire research skills (e.g., literature review, research methodology, data collection, and analysis), learn about ethics in research and writing, and improve their oral communication skills by presenting their research at either the annual IU Indianapolis Student Research and Creative Activities Day in the spring semester (usually at the end of April) or the CRL Summer Poster Symposium (usually at the end of July).

UROP projects involve one student and one mentor. Projects should provide an opportunity to engage in a substantive research experience focused on a significant research problem. Projects from all disciplines are most welcome, including science, informatic, math, the social sciences; the arts and humanities; and social, environmental, and public policy.

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UROP student learning outcomes

Investigate a research question and scholarly pursuit/activity in a personalized, mentored experience
Identify and utilize appropriate methods, procedures, and ethical principles for the gathering of information or the generation of new knowledge through scholarly activity
Analyze, assess, and evaluate findings and conclusion
Disseminate the results of scholarly activity through appropriate dissemination outlets

UROP program structure

UROP offers a unique, high-impact, mentored research experience for undergraduate students. In our commitment to increase and ensure access to high-impact practices (such as undergraduate research) for students of all backgrounds, especially Black students, Latinx students, American Indian/Alaska Native students, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students, first-generation students, and students from underrepresented groups, we encourage mentors to take a culturally inclusive approach to identify and recruit students for UROP experience.

We encourage mentors to promote UROP broadly and to approach a diverse pool of students about the opportunity to engage in one-on-one mentored research experiences, especially students with limited or no prior research experience. We encourage mentors to consider where and how they promote this program to prospective students, utilizing a variety of platforms and spaces across campus.

UROP provides funding support for one undergraduate student and a mentor to work on a personalized, mentored research experience.

UROP proposal guidelines

A mentor and student may submit a UROP proposal application by April 5, 2024.

The application requires one mentor and student to specify one of the following project durations:

Summer only: project will run during the upcoming summer term.
Academic year only: project will run during the next academic year.
One-full year: project will run during the upcoming summer term and the next academic year.
Depending on available funding, a second UROP funding cycle may be initiated at the beginning of the fall semester (e.g., early September). Please check this website for updates on a second funding cycle, should one be initiated.
A student may work up to 10 hours per week during the academic year (fall and spring semesters) and up to 25 hours per week in the summer (summer term). A student may not work more than 29 hours per week across all positions at Indiana University. Hourly wage will be $14 per hour.

UROP application process

Step 1: Apply for UROP funding

The first step is to submit your UROP project application.

Step 2: Application review

The CRL committee will review UROP application submissions. Applicants will be notified of their application status by mid-April. A separate application process is required if the mentor would like to be considered for supply funds.

Step 3: Initiate hiring process

Students will be hired directly through the mentor's department following application review. Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) will transfer funds to the mentor's account monthly to pay for the student's participation in the program. Students will follow the hiring practices of their mentor’s academic/unit home. The mentor will be familiar with the HR/Payroll team for their unit and not be required to follow the DUE process.

Step 4: Orientation resources for mentors and students

The Office of Student Employment has great resources for mentors who supervise students on UROP projects.

Step 5: Ongoing project resources

Terminating a student’s employment: Please let us know when a student has left your project for another opportunity or if their employment had to be terminated. If a student ends their UROP experience, the project is effectively terminated. A new student cannot be hired to complete the project.

Have questions?

Contact Andrea John for more information.