MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities ProgramUROP
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Basic Information

What is UROP?

Eligibility

Participation Modes

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Applying for UROPs

Deadlines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct UROP Funding (Funding from the UROP program)

When financial support from faculty is unavailable, UROP has a limited amount of funding available to support MIT students' research during the academic year and over the summer. This Direct Funding process is competitive—heeding deadlines is crucial for full consideration.

When applying for Direct Funding, you may request funding up to  $1,250 for an academic term and $4,275 for a summer, both paid at $9 per hour. The hourly wage and total stipend amounts are current for the 2007-08 academic year and may be subject to change.  Both you and your department's UROP payroll coordinator are expected to monitor the expenditure of UROP-awarded funds.

Because UROP funds are limited and cannot be budgeted to support overtime charges, UROPers should not work beyond 40 hours per week. Questions or concerns about overtime should be addressed to UROP staff in the UAAP.

Guaranteed Direct Funding Option for MIT Scholarship Recipients

Starting in academic year 2007-2008, all MIT scholarship recipients will be guaranteed funding for one semester of a paid UROP during their undergraduate careers. Please note that the guarantee is for financial funding support; you are still responsible to first successfully secure a UROP position and faculty sponsor. Funding will be awarded through the traditional UROP Direct Funding process, and all project and proposal standards and requirements apply.

Funding applications are due to UROP staff in the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming no later than 5 p.m. on the direct funding deadline date for the given term (Fall: Friday, September 14 and Spring: Thursday, February 14). Please go to the For MIT Students section of this site for complete information on UROP requirements, advice on finding available projects, proposal guidelines, application deadlines, and more. If you have questions or concerns, UROP staff members located in Room 7-104 can be reached at 617-253-7306 or via email to urop@mit.edu.

Questions about your financial aid package, scholarship eligibility, etc, should be addressed to staff in Student Financial Services, Room 11-120, 617-258-8600, ssc@mit.edu.

Materials Funding

A limited amount of money is available for lab supplies, conference fees, small equipment, photocopying, and other items used solely for your research. When requesting funding for such items, you should be sure to include information about your request in both your research proposal and where requested on your UROP Direct Funding project application.  The Direct Funding deadlines must be met to be eligible for consideration.

Some Direct Funding comes from special funds established to support UROPers. Check Awards & Special Funds to see if your project might qualify.

Standards for Funding Requests:

  • A clear and convincing proposal. It should contain a description of the area under study, your role, and the amount of time you expect to devote to the project.

  • A Responsible UROP track record. All evaluations of previous UROPs, both from you and your faculty supervisor, should be on file at the UROP office. Missing evaluations will delay the processing of your UROP proposal.

  • Evidence of faculty enthusiasm. We look for supervisors’ willingness to commit time and financial support.

  • Departmental UROP Coordinator support. We count on backing from our liaison to your faculty supervisor's department. Talk with your department's Coordinator and enlist his/her advice and support in preparing your funding request.

  • First time? Special consideration may be given to students requesting direct funding for the first time in the fall or spring semesters, and to students working with new faculty.

  • Available funds. We do our best to give everyone a fair chance at UROP direct funding, but we are limited by the funds available at any given time.

Approval Notification

Allow at least 2 weeks for UROP staff to process your request. It may take slightly longer if required items are missing. You will be notified via email if your proposal is incomplete (i.e. if feedback on previous UROP work is missing, etc). Call UROP staff at x3-7306 or send an email to urop@mit.edu to check on the status of your proposal.

If you are approved for direct funding, you will be issued an approval email containing pertinent information regarding submitting your hours and receiving payments.


MIT
Massachuesetts Institute of Technology


77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg. 7-104, Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: 617-253-7306, Fax: 617-258-8816

Be sure to check the UROP Deadlines page for upcoming deadlines.