Reviewing Proposals
As a UROP Coordinator, you are asked to review all UROP proposals from your department, laboratory or center prior to submission to UROP staff for review and approval.
We prefer that you review applications online via the online UROP proposal system (MIT certificates required). See Using the Online UROP System for complete information on how to use this system. However, if you prefer to continue signing hard-copy applications, you may request that students print their submissions for your approval signature.
To help you with proposal reviews, we ask that you familiarize yourself with the proposal guidelines set forth below. Proposals that are not appropriate for UROP consideration (i.e. the proposed work is not worthy of academic credit in your department), should not be forwarded to UROP staff.
Students are required to submit updated research proposals every semester/summer in which they wish to pursue UROP research. Each proposal should demonstrate that the student has a clear understanding of their faculty supervisor's expectations and their specific duties.
UROP proposals must include:
- A 1-3 page research proposal describing the planned research for the term.
- The nature of the research (context and scope of project)
- The student's specific role and duties with regard to the project and in the lab group.
- The location of research facilities (i.e. on-campus or off-campus)
- A tentative work plan and schedule for completion of the project.
- An explanation of why the project interests him/her and what s/he hope to get out of the experience both academically and/or personally (i.e. does the student hope to get a sense of whether or not s/he is comfortable with lab research; guidance toward a professional degree or career goal; experience in a field outside of or related to his/her major, etc.)
- An indication of whether or not presentations or publications are expected to come from the research/take place during the given proposed period of participation.
Note: Poorly written, incomplete, or duplicated proposals will not be reviewed by UROP staff. In such cases, we will notify the student and indicate the need for clarification and/or editing.
Your online approval or hard-copy signature indicate that you approve of the student's proposed research plan and believe it to be academically sound.
