Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards
About The Program
The Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards are a one-time, competitive award made by the Office of Undergraduate Education, designed to reward the contributions and facilitate the professional development of undergraduate researchers at UT Dallas.
Students selected to receive an Undergraduate Research Scholar Award receive $500, awarded upon participation in the Undergraduate Research Scholar Award poster competition held in mid-April. Faculty research sponsors supporting participant projects receive $300 (for supplies, project travel, poster printing, etc.). Students whose research, posters and presentations are deemed to be exceptional will move on to the poster finals competition, held one week later. Judges from the external research community will appraise the top presentations; the top three winners will receive additional award money.
Eligibility
In order for a submission to receive consideration for an Undergraduate Research Scholar Award, the student must meet certain eligibility requirements. Student applicants must be:
- Currently-enrolled, degree-seeking UT Dallas undergraduate researchers
- Enrolled in a UT Dallas undergraduate program through the spring semester
- Contributing to an existing research project, under the supervision of a faculty principal investigator OR acting as an independent principal investigator under the guidance of a faculty research mentor
- Able to create a research poster encapsulating the project and present results at the virtual Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards poster contest event in mid-April. Semifinalists selected during the poster contest must present their posters and results to corporate judges and compete for cash prizes at the Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards poster finals event, held in late-April.
How To Apply
Applications for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards will open September 2024.
Application FAQs
Which type of research topics are eligible for an Undergraduate Research Scholar Award?
There are no restrictions on the nature of the research – it can be in any field. However, the research must be on a serious, credible topic of inquiry, and there must be a faculty supervisor (principal investigator or research mentor) for the project.
May I submit an application for a project that has already been completed?
The purpose of URSA is to fund ongoing research projects, so no already-completed projects will be funded.
What should be included in my application description?
You should focus on the goals of your research and how you plan to achieve those goals. If your research is part of a larger project, you need to make it clear what your piece of that project is.
My application has special symbols that don’t work in the text box. What should I do?
You can attach a .pdf with your project description. Type “Please see the attached” in the text box and attach your application.
When will I know if I will receive an Undergraduate Research Scholar Award?
The Office of Undergraduate Education will notify applicants of their status by mid-January.
How will my poster be judged?
At the poster contest in April, faculty judges evaluate the effectiveness of the poster in presenting the research as well as the overall quality of the research conducted. At the poster finals a week later, corporate judges from area companies evaluate the posters along similar lines, with an added emphasis on applicability.
Program Timeline
- November 13, 2023 – Deadline to submit URSA proposal at 11:59 p.m.
- Mid-January 2024 – Applicants informed of final selections
- March 8, 2024 – How to Design a Research Poster workshop event
- April 16, 2024 – URSA Semifinals (2-5pm/VCB Atrium)
- April 19, 2024 – URSA Finals (9:30am-1:00pm/FO 2nd Floor Atrium)
Program Contact
Hillary Campbell
Director
FO 2.710C
972-883-4515
Hillary.Campbell@utdallas.edu
Andrew Bell
Assistant Director
FO 2.704E
972-883-4583
andrew.bell@utdallas.edu