Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program

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program is currently on hold. Contact the Office for URaCE for more information.

About the Program

The URaCE Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) is a ten-week, residential, intensive research and career training experience for students interested in gaining a competitive advantage for graduate school, medical school and professional careers.

The program introduces students to the academic research culture through hands-on participation in interdisciplinary research and creative projects, professional development training and community building.

Under the direction of faculty mentors and program administrators, student scholars complete a research project, participate in discovery seminars, and build community through social activities and residential activities. The program culminates with presentation of research findings at the UTC Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the Southern Conference Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF). Students in their sophomore, junior and senior years across all disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Students with a strong desire to pursue research centered careers at the doctoral level are strongly encouraged to apply.

Students without prior research experience, rising sophomores, first-generation college students and students from underrepresented and underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply, and will be given priority.

A Note About Participation

The URAP program is a research apprenticeship, which requires full-time effort and a deep interest in academic research and career preparation. It also requires participants to embrace all aspects of the program (not just the research part). The program includes a variety of experiences and activities such as group recreational activities, participation in leadership activities (speaking with students at orientation), weekly discovery seminars (which are typically a minimum of 1 1/2 hours in length), the development of an electronic portfolio and curriculum vitae, field trips, writing assignments, and the completion of CITI training and research training modules (which must be completed before the summer program begins).

An Important Note about URAP Participation

Students selected to participate in the URAP Program:

1) Will not be enrolled in coursework (i.e., take courses for credit) while participating in the URAP program.

2) While participating in the URAP program, will not hold eoutsidemployment.

There are no exceptions to the two criteria listed above. If you plan to be engaged in part-time employment, internships or coursework, you should not submit an application for this program.

Application Deadline: TBD

Eligibility

Please read the eligibility criteria and program participant responsibilities carefully before submitting an application.

Program Eligibility

Before you apply for this program make sure you meet all of the following criteria.

You:

Are an active, currently enrolled UTC undergraduate student
Are a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student in good academic standing
Currently have a 2.5 UTC GPA or higher
Will have completed freshman year by May, 2021
Are graduating in Fall 2021 or later
Will be registered for at least 12 credit hours during the Fall 2021 semester.
Have a faculty mentor who will supervise the research project component of this experience for the duration of the program.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Students selected for the program:

1) Will not be enrolled in coursework (i.e., take courses for credit) while participating in the URAP program.

2) While participating in the URAP program, will not hold outside employment.

There are no exceptions to the two criteria listed above. If you plan to be engaged in part-time employment, internships, coursework, etc. you should not submit an application for this program.

Program Details: Scholars

URAP Scholar Program Package: TB

Program Details: Faculty

URAP Faculty mentors receive: TBD

Program Duration

The URAP Program runs from May to August.

Program Responsibilities and Expectations

URAP Scholar Responsibilities

What URAP Scholars Do (Note: Below is a list of primary program activities and assignments. Additional activities and assignments may be added to the program schedule at the discretion of faculty mentors and URAP Program Coordinators.)

URAP Scholars will:

Conduct research with their mentors
Attend weekly seminars to develop transferable skills
Share research progress through short presentations and writing assignments
Prepare documents for future careers including a CV and e-portfolio
Complete research training modules
Meet and engage with other student groups on campus such as REU programs, the UTC Upward Bound program, and international student groups
Attend information sessions about applying for scholarships and graduate school
Participate in group activities (recreational, field trips, residential activities)
Prepare a research poster
Present at two undergraduate research conferences

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty who serve as URAP Mentors will:

Attend program meetings, activities, and events including faculty and scholar orientation sessions (which are scheduled on the same day in late April), and other program activities. A complete list of required meetings, activities, and events will be included in the program contract, which mentors will review and sign at the beginning of the program. A list of program meetings, activities, and events are available on request. Attend at least three discovery seminars during the program. Seminars are held every Thursday between 11:30am-2:30pm (Meetings will be scheduled within this time block).
Prepare a mentee mini-syllabus/guide, which will include details about the research project including deadlines, major assignments, mentee responsibilities, mentee weekly schedule, etc. URAP Scholars will be asked to submit the guide as an assignment at the beginning of the program.
Supervise the research project for the duration of the program.
Provide guidance and engage in discussions about the research process.
Meet with scholars regularly to discuss program progress and expectations.

Note: Faculty may mentor up to two students in the program.

Application Instructions

Application Review and Selection

All applications will be reviewed by a selection panel composed of UTC faculty and administrators.

Application Criteria: Before you Apply

Review the application criteria and program requirements carefully and make certain you are eligible to apply and can fulfill all of the requirements of the program.
Meet with the Office for URaCE to understand the expectations and responsibilities associated with participation in this program.
Identify a research topic of interest.
Identify ;a faculty member you would like to work with on the research project. Make certain that the faculty’s expertise aligns with your project ideas/interests.
Meet with the prospective mentor to determine her/his willingness to serve as your research mentor, and to discuss the specifics of the research project.
Once you have secured a research mentor prepare the application materials under the supervision of your mentor.

Preparing Your Application

Required Application Materials: Coming Soon

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted by TBD. Applicants will receive a confirmation message once an application has been submitted. Late submissions will not be considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Questions?

For assistance with proposal and application preparation contact:

Lisa M. Piazza, Ph.D., Director, Office for URaCE: [email protected]

For technical assistance with the application or other questions:

Contact the Office for URaCE: [email protected]

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