В Northwestern открыли программу для студентов-исследователей без опыта

With 23 interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, Northwestern has made a name for itself as a tier-one private research university. For many NU students, research opportunities played a role in their decision to attend the University. For others, research became an interest after they stepped foot on campus. It can be difficult to know where to begin at a school with such a breadth of research opportunities available, but no matter your experience, all students are welcome to partake. NU’s Office of Undergraduate Research provides a variety of opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved in funded research in a field of interest as early as their first quarter on campus. Here is a guide on how to get started. Undergraduate Research Assistant Program The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program is designed for students with no research experience, providing them with the opportunity to gain understanding of the research process while working with a faculty mentor. URAP is unique because project applications must be initiated by a faculty member, and then faculty are given the option to apply with a preselected student or run a job search for their research position. Job searches are posted in the fall and require students to submit a resume and short responses for consideration. Once selected, students are paid $16.60 per hour for their work. All undergraduate students are eligible, and applications are due mid-fall. Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants For students more familiar with research, the Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants offer up to $1,000 to spend on research expenses for independent projects. This opportunity requires students to connect their research to an independent study, thesis or capstone course that they complete during the same academic year. Applying for an AYURG requires students to write a two-page grant proposal, which is reviewed by the URG Review Committee. The committee has outlined guidelines for how the grant money can be used, as detailed on the Office of Undergraduate Research’s website. This fall, the URG program will implement a cap on how many grants each Principal Investigator — faculty members or graduate students who lead research teams — can support, due to a recently increasing volume of applications. The AYURG offers four deadlines for the upcoming school year: Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Jan. 12 and Feb. 9. A similar grant, the Summer Undergraduate Research Grant, offers $4,000 stipends for students to conduct eight weeks of full-time research during the summer. Applications for the 2027 SURG are due March 5. Other Opportunities While the opportunities described above provide chances for many first-year students to be involved in paid research across all disciplines at NU, they are just a small glimpse into the world of possibilities that the University’s research programs offer. Students may also take advantage of more specialized programs within the Office of Undergraduate Research, such as Conference Travel Grants for opportunities to present research beyond Evanston and the Emerging Scholars Program for first-year, first-generation or lower-income students interested in non-lab research that lasts 15 months following the students’ first year at NU. The Office of Undergraduate Research’s website provides comprehensive explanations of all of these opportunities, as well as information on how to find research that interests students and how to schedule a preliminary advising meeting. Many students also find that building relationships with professors, graduate student teaching assistants and classmates help them discover and participate in research opportunities. Whether incoming students are interested in STEM labs, humanities fieldwork, journalistic research or exploring the social sciences, there are research opportunities for every student at NU. Email: [email protected] Related Stories: — Students pursue University-funded independent research projects over summer — Students present research, creative work at annual Undergraduate Research & Arts Exposition — 3 Northwestern students present research at Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium