Traditional UROP

• Introduce first and second year students to various fields of research.
• Partner students with a research mentor.
• Identify academic and career interests.
• Apply real world applications to the classroom.
• Help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Help students develop research skills useful in their courses.
• Help students meet great people and participate in diverse research teams.
• Help students stretch themselves intellectually and learn to think in creative, innovative ways.

• Conduct research 6-12 hours per week, for the full academic year (both Fall and Winter Terms).
• Engage with a community of student researchers participating in mandatory research seminars held on Tuesday evenings 4:00pm-5:30pm. The seminars are designed to complement your UROP research experience, facilitate your professional development as new scholars/researchers, and get the most out of your research experience.
  
• Present research at the annual Spring Research Symposium.
• Meet with a UROP Peer Facilitator once per month.

Every year, students are placed on the wait list for this program due to the limited availability of placements in UROP. Therefore, any student admitted to this program who fails to adhere to any of the requirements above could result in receiving a failing grade and/or being dismissed from the program.

Any incoming first year student who has been admitted and will be attending the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor  OR

A student who is currently attending the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and with Sophomore standing.

(Please Note:  If you are a current Sophomore participating in UROP and wish to continue participating in UROP as a Junior, you MUST instead apply to the Research Scholars Program.)

Academic Credit Option

Students can earn 2-4 academic credits per term. The number of credits earned is determined by the project you work on and the agreement made between you and the project's mentor.

Work-Study Option

Work-study students who have applied and accepted their Financial Aid work-study package will receive 1 academic credit per term and hourly compensation.

Federal work-study is a financial aid program for students who have financial need. The program funds part-time jobs for undergraduates, allowing students to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Under the Work-Study program, a percentage of students’ earnings is paid through federal funds, with the remainder paid by UROP.

Every UROP student will work on a research project under the guidance of a UROP Research mentor from 6-12 hours per week depending upon the specific project selected.  The research mentor may be a faculty member, community organization, a postdoctoral scholar or a graduate student. The research project is the core of the program and we encourage you to select your project very carefully.  Whether you are participating in the program for academic credit or work study your performance on the research will be a critical factor of your UROP grade.

All UROP students are required to participate in mandatory research seminars designed to provide information about research in your field or discipline and cover topics that will enhance your research knowledge and experience.  These topics should provide a context for your individual project as well valuable information to guide you through the research process from finding a project to presenting your research at the end of the year symposium. The seminars are facilitated by Peer Facilitators who are UROP alumni.  You will be required to complete short readings and written assignments for these seminars. This component of the program will factor into your grade and your Peer Facilitator will assign the grade. Details about specific seminar dates and assignments can be found in the UROP Syllabus.

Our UROP Research mentors do not expect you to have all the skills you need to complete the tasks for the projects, but they do expect you to acquire these skills as you proceed throughout the year.  Every research mentor was asked to indicate as part of their project description the workshops you should take to be able to work effectively on your project. Please make a note of these workshops once you get your project and also have a conversation with your mentor about what workshops will be helpful for you to take. While you will not receive a grade for the “research skill building workshops” you may not be able to do aspects of your project without taking the workshops needed for the project. In some cases (e.g. Laboratory Safety) you cannot begin working on your project without certification that you have completed this workshop. You will however be able to count the hours you are in the workshops toward your hours per week. 

Every UROP student is assigned a Peer Facilitator who will help you find a project, develop your resume, meet with you monthly to make sure you are having a good research experience, help to resolve any issues that arise, and provide guidance on academics, time management, research roles, etc.  Your Peer Facilitator is an important resource and they can help you have a great UROP experience and link you with important research and academic resources.  Schedule a Monthly Meeting with Your Peer Facilitator. You are required to attend multiple individual meetings with your peer facilitator each term. Individual meetings will last 15-20 minutes. The meetings are an opportunity for us to discuss your project, your experience in UROP,  and any questions or concerns you may have. Details about monthly meetings can be found in the UROP syllabus. Peer Facilitator Staff Profiles