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Student Advice & Resources

Tips for Finding a UROP

You may begin a UROP any time during your academic career. Even though the semester may have already started, a UROP can start as soon as arrangements (applications, funding, registration) are complete.  Although there are no universal starting dates, UROP projects are grouped into the following time periods: fall, IAP, spring and summer. UROP applications including your research proposal are due by the applicable UROP deadline for the term/summer.

This section provides some helpful tips and advice to assist you in your UROP search. If you have additional questions, please feel free to consult UROP staff for advice and support in finding a UROP that is right for you. You can also request virtual meetings with UROP staff.

Advertisements for UROPs are featured in the new Experiential Learning Exchange (Elx) Portal.

Locate Available Opportunities

There is no one way to find a UROP, many students use a variety of strategies to find the project that is right for them.  

Here are some tips to get you started.
  • Network! Talk with advisors, faculty, UROP Coordinators, graduate students, post-docs and other undergraduates. Speak with your recitation instructors and teaching assistants who may be involved in research projects.
  • Explore advertised opportunities, but know that these represent a mere fraction of available projects – many faculty members do not rely on advertisements to find students—they know that undergraduates will find them through subjects, seminars, IAP events, or by word of mouth.
  • Check department and lab websites– read about faculty research interests and look at their individual lab group pages to learn more about current projects and recent publications. Keep a running list of faculty with research of interest to you.
  • Email faculty and researchers who are working on projects that are of interest to you!
  • Speak with UROP staff—we are happy to help and can provide faculty suggestions and other advice related to your search.