OUR Newsletter

Office of Undergraduate Research

OUR Updates

We have a LOT going on over the next few weeks! OUR is taking 27 University of Iowa student researchers to the Capitol on Monday, March 25th, we have our huge Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF 2024) on April 3rd and we are taking applications for Summer and Academic Year Fellowships! Check out all of the details on these events and more.

SURF 2024 - Opportunity to Share your Research!

The 2024 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival application deadline is fast approaching! If you want to be recognized for your contribution to research, scholarly, and creative work as an undergrad, apply by March 22nd. SURF will be hosted at the Old Capitol Mall (201 S. Clinton St.) from 3:30-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3rd. Register Now!

Want to help OUR Amazing Student Researchers?

Calling for all faculty, graduate/professional students, post-docs, professional staff, and community members!! We need you to serve as evaluators of undergraduate posters who wish for valuable feedback on Wednesday, April 3rd. This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved with undergraduate researchers as well as discover more about current research that is underway at the University of Iowa!

SURF Evaluator Registration right arrow

Important Dates and Deadlines

SURF Application Deadline:

Fri, March 22nd

Summer & Academic Year Fellowship
Application Deadlines
Fri, Mar 29th - Summer Fellowships
Fri, Apr 19th - Academic Year Fellowships

Events
Mon, Mar 25th - Research in the Capitol
Wed, Apr 3rd - Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF)

We Need You!

Interested in helping provide feedback to undergraduates presenting their research or creative scholarship?

The 2024 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival is April 3rd and we are looking for Faculty, Graduate/Professional Students, Post-Docs, Professional Staff, and community members to serve as judges for the event. Please consider volunteering for one block of time during the event!

More Information

SURF 2024

Application for SURF 2024 is fast approaching! This event will take place Wednesday, April 3rd in the afternoon. Held in celebration and recognition of undergraduate researchers' contributions to research, scholarly, and creative work at the University of Iowa. All students involved in mentored research or creative work are invited to present their work.

The application portal is open!

Need Help with Poster Design?

Need help formatting your poster to present at SURF? Any poster-related questions or feedback is available from OUR Research Ambassadors who have presented their poster research multiple times! Office hours for one-on-one help are available at 6 Gilmore Hall on March 25th from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and March 27th, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Research Opportunities

Open Research Positions

"Being a part of research here at the University of Iowa has been invaluable to me. Research has opened doors for me to find valued mentors, develop unique skills, and participate in unbelievably exciting opportunities that have shaped my future." -Abby Myroth, pictured above, who has been participating in research since her freshman year.

If you're looking to get involved in research, check out these lists of labs currently recruiting undergraduate researchers! This is not an exhaustive list of positions available, make sure to reach out to research faculty in your chosen field as well.

We are making some improvements to make the lists easier to navigate, check it out!

OUR Research Fellowships

Are you already involved in research on campus? Apply for OUR's Research Fellowship. The OUR Fellows Program has provided funding to nearly 3,000 students to promote undergraduate engagement in research and creative projects. The program allows current University of Iowa undergrads in any discipline to work with UI faculty mentors on a specific project during the academic year and/or summer.

The Summer OUR Fellowship app deadline: Fri, March 29th
2024-2025 OUR Academic Year Fellowship app deadline: Fri, April 19th

Click here to start the app process!

Undergraduate Research Travel

Student Travel Awards

One-time grants are available to UI undergraduate researchers who are traveling to a professional conference or professional development event. Students can request up to $500 per application, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Where we have been!

Thomas Anderson (pictured above) traveled to Houston, TX to present his geology research at the 2024 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

Click here to learn more about Thomas' trip and other Student Travel Award recipients!

Other News and Information

2024 Stanley Award for International Research

Meet the 2024 Stanley Award Participants here! Stanley Awards for International Research are given annually to outstanding University of Iowa students in all academic fields for the pursuit of foreign research, learning activities in international studies, and career interests abroad.

Csomay Center Summer Scholars

The mission of the Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence is to advance innovations in research, education, and practice to promote optimal aging and quality of life in all older adults and their caregivers. Our Summer Scholars program matches undergraduate students from across disciplines with research opportunities related to aging and older adults. Compensation provided! Deadline: March 24th, 2024

NEW: Undergraduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science

For undergraduates looking to gain more from their education, CCTS offers a team-based interdisciplinary approach to advance research-generated discoveries into clinical applications in healthcare. Translational science investigators understand principles in foundational research and how such studies relate to fields such as epidemiology, behavioral medicine, and patient-oriented research. Click here to learn more!

Register your Research
Do not forget to register your research!! OUR offers research courses each semester, available for registration through MyUI. All students involved in research and creative projects should have their experience recognized on their transcript. Having your involvement on your transcript is valuable when you apply to graduate or professional school or hit the job market.

Office of Scholar Development
The Office of Scholar Development (OSD) is available to assist University of Iowa undergraduates in their pursuit of national fellowship and funding opportunities.

Douglas W. Jones Memorial Research Grant
The Iowa Archeological Society (IAS) is offering a $1,000 student-oriented research grant. The goal of this research grant is to support projects that advance those areas of research Doug Jones was most passionate about, which include but are not limited to: paleoethnobotany, collaboration and consultation with tribal communities, the Underground Railroad, or sundry other Iowa archaeology and history topics. Complete details can be found at http://iowaarcheologicalsociety.org/grant-opportunities.
Deadline: May 1st, 2024

Searching for New OUR Ambassadors

If you or someone you know is looking to get involved, please look into becoming an OUR Ambassador. OUR's Research Ambassadors are a group of UI undergraduates who are actively involved in research and creative work on campus. They assist with campus recruiting and outreach, event planning, and other ways to promote undergraduate involvement.

To Learn More: https://our.research.uiowa.edu/our-ambassador-information

Contact us:

Bob Kirby, Director, bob-kirby@uiowa.edu
Tawny Tibbits, Associate Director, tawny-tibbits@uiowa.edu
Laura Kowalski-Bliss, Program Coordinator, laura-kowalski-bliss@uiowa.edu

Office of Undergraduate Research
undergraduate-research@uiowa.edu
https://our.research.uiowa.edu
6 Gilmore Hall
319-335-8336