UROP Summer 2023

Illinois Space Grant Consortium’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (UROP) offers students the opportunity to work in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) research positions that complements their studies. Undergraduate students will be supported to work in an intensive 10-week long program under the guidance of a faculty member or research scientist and their graduate student(s) at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. 

The program is supported by the Illinois NASA Space Grant and faculty/researcher contributions. Students will each receive a total maximum amount of $5000 in support. The Illinois Space Grant Consortium will provide a stipend covering 40% of the support ($2000), with the remaining support covered by the faculty.  The stipend is a fixed amount, while the faculty contribution is an hourly wage ($12.50/hr.)  Students are expected to be in the lab (involved in a research project) approximately 40 hrs/week.   

ISGC is required to provide a 1:1 cost-share on NASA space grant funding. On this campus, this is done through faculty effort; usually, this is assessed on 5-10% of a faculty member on their 9-month salary. You will NOT lose any funding or pay due to this requirement

In addition to conducting research, all UROP students will participate in a series of 1-hour workshops (approximately eight total) on topics include research ethics, how to give a technical talk, how to write a technical paper, how to apply to graduate school, etc…  

At the end of the summer, each student will write a short abstract, create a presentation, and participate in a one-day symposium to give a 10-12 minute presentation on their accomplishments to share with their peers.  

UROP is open to all undergraduate students in good academic standing who are interested in research in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM fields). As in all Space Grant programs, emphasis is placed on involving students from underrepresented groups (i.e., women and underrepresented minorities). Note: the program is also open to recently graduated seniors. 

If you would like to participate in this program, we request that you submit a one-page project description by November 9, 2022.   

The descriptions will be posted on the ISGC website here.  Students will then be able to apply to the projects.

The project description should include the following: 

• Project Title 
• Adviser(s) 
• Project Description 
• Student Background (skills needed) and expected research activity 
• Point of contact 
• Funding source

Contact Heidi with any questions at hbjerke2@illinois.edu