| Have a Great Winter Break! | As we approach the end of the semester, we want to say thank you to all of our mentors, researchers, ambassadors, and partners for their work and support. We have had an incredible semester that saw us bringing in a new associate director, supporting over 80 fellows, launching a new funding program, and a record-breaking FURF. We truly couldn't do this without the support of you all and we truly appreciate you.
In the upcoming semester, mark your calendars for deadlines for ICRU Fellowships, Excellence in Undergraduate Research awards, Distinguished Mentor awards, Research in the Capitol, and SURF. We have many exciting things in the works in addition to these events--so keep checking back to see what's going on!
Good luck on finals, enjoy the holiday season!
Best,
Tawny Tibbits
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research | | | | Distinguished Mentor Award The 2025 Distinguished Mentor Award is now accepting faculty nominations.
Students, do you have a mentor who stands out or goes above and beyond? Thank them for all of their time, dedication, and talents by nominating them for the Office of Undergraduate Research's Distinguished Mentor Award. This award will go to two outstanding recipients who work with undergraduate researchers, and the OUR will provide funding to continue their exceptional work with students.
Nominate A Mentor Here
Deadline: January 3, 2025
| | | Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award The 2025 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award is now accepting student nominations!
Faculty, do you have an outstanding student who works with you on a research or collaborative project? Thank them for their hard work and dedication by nominating them for the Office of Undergraduate Research's Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award. The OUR will select five of the nominees to present this award to, which comes with an OUR Fellowship and a travel scholarship to attend a research program or event.
Nominate A Student Here
Deadline: January 3, 2025 | | | Undergrads: Fund Your Research | | | | ICRU Fellowships Looking for funding? The OUR funds undergraduate researchers in any discipline to work with UI faculty and staff on research projects throughout the summer or academic year. ICRU Fellows receive stipends between $2,500-$3,000 and gain valuable research experience that will set them up for future careers.
Apply Here
Summer application deadline: March 14, 2025
Academic year application deadline: April 11, 2025 | | | Job Opportunities Page Are you looking for research labs that are actively looking to hire undergraduates? Check out our Open Research Positions page. There is a wide variety of departments and fields to choose from, and it is updated any time a new research position opens up. Choose from labs that offer compensation, credit hours, or volunteer hours.
Can't find a lab on the website? No worries! Visit the How to Start page on our website, or come visit us in Gilmore Hall. We can help you find opportunities, send out emails, and prepare for interviews. | | | Upcoming Presentation Opportunities | | | | Research in the Capitol Research in the Capitol (RIC)
Each year, 20 students from various universities (UI, ISU, and UNI) bring research posters to display at Iowa's Statehouse. Students use their posters as a backdrop to discuss their work with Iowa's legislators. This event also allows students to practice discussing their work with officials, outlining the community/global impact, educational benefits, and importance of their research. Research in the Capitol will be held on March 31, 2025. Applications are now open.
Apply Here | | | Spring Undergraduate Research Festival SURF 2025
The Office of Undergraduate Research's Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF) is 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 utilizing posters or other visual displays. SURF will be held on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025.
Register Here | | | Faculty/Mentor Resources and Information | | | | Course Tagging Attention all faculty!
If your course involves an undergraduate student conducting an investigation or research project that offers a new idea or creative contribution to the field, then it may be eligible for the undergraduate research tag. A course category is an optional identifier for courses that share a specific characteristic. Course tagging aims to help increase a courses presence on MyUI and increase the amount of students signing up for the course.
Click here to learn more and to fill out the tag request form. | | | Collaborative Research Projects As a new pilot program for the OUR, the Collaborative Research Project Program will fund faculty to work with 1-4 undergraduates on a single research or creative project together. This program will fund projects that are student-research-driven and will aim to improve student experiences while improving PI scholarship and research.
Apply Here
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. | | | Other News and Information | The Iowa Sciences Academy is seeking current sophomores and juniors involved in research to join the UI-MARC program during the academic year of 2025 - 2026. The UI-MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) is an NIH-funded program that supports students committed to pursuing a research-focused PhD or MD/PhD program in the biomedical sciences (not intended for clinical only careers). The fellowship is for June 1, 2025 - May 30, 2026, during a student's junior or senior year.
The Kumar Lab is searching for undergraduates for their lab who have an interest in cell biology or animal studies. Their studies are looking into the cellular signaling pathways involved in vascular disease. Applications are ongoing!
Radiation Biology and Physics Undergraduate Research Summer Program
Join the Radiation Biology and Physics Undergraduate Research Summer Program and participate in a 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a faculty member. Research opportunities are available in radiation therapy, redox biology, traditional and medical physics, engineering, medical imaging, immunology, and more.
Cancer Research Opportunities at Iowa
The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center invites applications from interested graduates. Applications are open NOW (closing February 1, 2025).
Looking for a Unique Educational Experience as you Prepare for Professional or Graduate School?
If you are participating in research, you may be an excellent candidate for the Undergraduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). Participating in this program is especially beneficial for students who are considering attending a health professions school or graduate school. Click here to learn more.
Follow OUR on Social Media
Want to see what we are up to? Follow us on social media to stay updated with all things research. We answer questions, send updates on what's happening, post about events, and talk about future opportunities. Check us out at: Instagram LinkedIn
Contact us:
Tawny Tibbits, OUR Director, tawny-tibbits@uiowa.edu
Liz Saathoff, OUR Associate Director, elizabeth-saathoff@uiowa.edu
Laura Kowalski-Bliss, OUR 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 | | | |
