Undergraduate Research Opportunities (URO)
From Unofficial Guide to Engineering
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What is URO?
URO is a research program funded by College of Engineering. It provides engineers a chance to find out what graduate research is like. Professors from all of the listed departments open their projects to URO applicants. Students will work on a research project, possibly with other undergrads and graduate students, under the guidance of a professor. On another note, URO students do get a stipend of $250 a semester for participation as well as units with consent of the professor.
Getting Started
To get started, you should go to the URO homepage listed above to find out what projects are available this semester. Look at all the ones you are interested in and take into consideration the necessary time commitment and specific technical knowledge or courses that may be required. Although you are not limited on how many projects you can apply to, you are only allowed to work on one project during the semester. Apply only for the projects that you want to work on and can commit to. Applying for too many positions can bog down the reviewing process for other applicants.
Once you have selected the projects you want to apply to, try to familiarize yourself with the research involved. Check out their website, and even visit them during office hours to see how you like the professors. Taking these extra steps and showing interest in their projects will help your chances of being accepted into the position you are applying for.
Application Process
The application is due 1st week of instruction. You will need three things to apply for a URO project; they are a personal statement, a resume, and a transcript. You must write a personal statement for each project you wish to apply to. Tell the professor why you want to participate in his/her project and state why you are qualified for the position. The process is not very different from applying for a job; your resume should include all relevant information to the job you are applying for. Any skills that are even remotely related to the research project should be included. The transcript can printed from Bear Facts website.
Once you have submitted your application, you will usually be asked for an interview. Like all job interview you should dress presentably. Your professor will probably ask some questions to ascertain that you can fill the position you applied for. You can prepare by familiarizing yourself with the position and what might be needed to fill it.
You will usually find out in a week or two whether you have been accepted for the position. If you’ve been accepted by multiple professors, make a decision right away about which position to take. This way, the professors can take a runner-up for his/her project.
