After UROP
If you would like to continue to be engaged in research following your UROP experience, there are many ways to receive support for your activities. Here are some avenues to explore:
UROP Sponsored
Research Scholars Program: for students completing their first year in UROP and who will have Sophomore status beginning Fall Term. Read more about this program.
UROP Summer Research Fellowships: Students submit proposals for independent research to be conducted full time for 12 weeks during the Spring/Summer. Fellowships are paid positions and require attendance at seminars and a final poster presentation. Applications are due in January. Read more about UROP Fellowships.
To Stay on your Current UROP Project
If you are not eligible to return to UROP for a second year, talk with your UROP Research Sponsor about ways to be supported on the project. You may be able to earn independent study credit, be paid by the project or volunteer.
Independent Studies
An independent study is a course for credit option that allows an individual to design a project to be supervised by a UM faculty member. Talk to your concentration and academic advisors about how to set up an independent study and how the credit will apply to your requirements for graduation.
Honors Research
Talk with your concentration advisor about research related to an Honor's Thesis in your concentration. Graduation with honors requires the completion of a Senior Honors thesis in all departments except Math and Computer Science and the College of Engineering. Thesis work is typically done under the direction of a professor who shares the student"s interest. Work on Honors theses typically begins in the junior year. Often, UROP students continue to work with their UROP faculty sponsor and develop an independent research project, which then becomes their honors thesis. Some UROP students begin their honors theses work during a summer fellowship program. Talk with your concentration advisor about how to pursue honors in your concentration.
Summer Research Internships
Summer research internships are available in all disciplines to undergraduate students all across the United States. Most are sponsored by government departments and organizations and are hosted by universities and national laboratories. Research internships consist of individual students working with a faculty mentor on an independent research problem. Students conduct research full time (40 hours per week) for 8 – 12 weeks, attend weekly seminars and learn more about graduate school study and career opportunities. These programs usually pay a stipend, and provide travel expense to the research site as well as housing. Students usually participate in this type of internship in the summer between their sophomore or junior year. UROP maintains a database of summer research internships which is available for use only by UROP students. Students can also identify summer programs through the UM Career Center and by searching the internet.
Research Scholarships
The Sigma XI Grants in Aid of Research program provides funding for undergraduate student research projects in all disciplines of science and engineering, including the social sciences. Students may receive grants of up to $1000. Application deadlines are March 15 and October 15. Application information and forms are available at www.sigmaxi.org under the "Programs" section.
