Undergraduate Research Opportunities

UROP: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The U of M's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides a stipend to undergraduates for special research, scholarly, or creative projects done with a faculty member. You must apply and be accepted into the UROP program. To apply, you'll develop your own research proposal, usually in partnership or with the permission of a faculty member. Applications are accepted twice a year. They're judged on the quality of the proposed project, and on the educational benefit to the student.

Application materials, deadlines, and additional UROP information can be found here and below:

Examples of UROP project ideas
Potential CFANS faculty Sponsors
Getting started on a UROP proposal
International scholarship program for UROP (for study/research abroad)

CFANS students who have questions or need guidance with the UROP program can contact Hal DeLaRosby at dela0106@umn.edu. All others, contact the U of M central UROP office.

Work in Professors' Labs

If you're looking for a flexible, on-campus job, many professors hire students to help with research projects or to work in their labs. Wages are competitive. These positions allow you to work closely with graduate students and professors. Some lab jobs are posted on the U of M student employment site or on GoldPASS. Not all jobs are advertised. Sometimes professors will tell their students about lab positions during class, and students are encouraged to ask about opportunities.

Directed Research/Directed Study

You earn credit by working in a lab or field setting under a faculty member’s guidance. Before Your Register for Directed Research/Study:

Talk to your advisor and instructor regarding how directed research/study works in your major.
Talk to your instructor about the details of your directed research/study projects will be structured.
Fill out the Directed Activity Contract. To fill out the contract, you will need:

Instructor’s UMN Internet ID (the first part of their email)
Year and term of the project
Course subject, number, and possibly the section number
Number of credits
Grading basis
The title and description of your project
A description of methods, resources, and strategies you may use

See the Directed Activity Contract workflow guide for more information about the process.

CFANS Research Apprenticeship Program

The Research Apprenticeship Program is a 2-year program. It provides an early opportunity for students to develop their interests in formal research through faculty mentorship. This is supported by an action-oriented programmatic model encompassing the research experience from beginning to end. This Research Apprenticeship experience is meant to stimulate minds, broaden perspectives, expand intellectual and social networking, and strengthen connections in the University and global community.

Students will be selected to participate in the Research Apprenticeship Program based on their expressed interest in undergraduate research, and the academic qualifications demonstrated in their undergraduate application for admission. Students accepted into the program are awarded a $1,500 scholarship.

First-Year Research Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn about the research process, meet professors who have similar research interests to their own, and develop a research proposal. During their second year, Apprentices will conduct their research and summarize their findings in a formal research paper. They will end their program by presenting their research at the annual University-wide Undergraduate Symposium.

See a timeline of the schedule (.pdf) for this 2-year program.

Research Apprentice Program contact:

Hal DeLaRosby
Assistant Dean of Student Services and International Programs
dela0106@umn.edu

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

UROP: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

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