URA

Key Dates

• January 3, 2025: Applications open for 2025-26 URA Scholars
• April 9, 2025: URCAD XXVIII
• May 2, 2025: The URA application deadline
• May 31, 2025: Final reports due for 2024-25 URA Scholars
• June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026: URA research period for new Scholars

URA Application

URA Faculty Recommendation Form

*Special information related to Covid-19:

There are many changes happening to student research as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and campus closure. The URA selection committee has some advice to encourage you to apply for a URA and start to plan your research, even if there are some unknowns for the summer and fall semesters.

1. Some research that was scheduled to start this summer may be delayed until the fall or spring semester- that’s ok!
2. The URA is good for the entire year, June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. You can complete the research at any point during that time frame.
3. Our expectations for a final product are fluid and relaxed. If the research plan doesn’t work out exactly as you proposed, that’s ok- it’s the nature of doing research.
4. Be creative in the ways you think about your project. You may have to focus instead on doing a thorough literature review, using a pre-formed data set to analyze, or looking at case studies, rather than collecting in-person data, or conducting research in a lab.
5. Methods such as lab benchwork, participant observations, focus groups, travel-related, in-person interviews, or other real-time collection methods may need some re-thinking. How can you collect data via online interviews, the internet, or other technological interventions?
6. Creative arts projects may incorporate some kind of online delivery method. We are hoping to be back on campus for URCAD, but consider how VoiceThread might be used to display your creative work. Be sure to visit URCAD Online, at urcad.umbc.edu to see what completed projects from this year’s URA Scholars look like.

Remember:
URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research, scholarship, or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Applications require a research proposal and mentor statement of support.

---

Entrepreneurship URAs

Entrepreneurship URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate researchers to support the commercialization of their ideas to solve a technical or social problem. These solutions can be new or improved products or services, address a social or “green” concern or promote ideas that generate artistic value. Students will collaborate with either a faculty member or a business mentor identified or approved by the Alex. Brown Center as they conduct their research. To be eligible for an ENTR URA students must be enrolled as a UMBC student for the duration of the work proposed. Preference will be given to students enrolled in the ENTR Minor who are serious about launching a business around their idea in the near future.

Entrepreneurship URA’s Application

** You must be logged in to myUMBC and logged out of all other gmail accounts in order access the URA application form. REFRESH browser (preferably google chrome).

---

To preview the list of questions from the application and prepare your responses before you fill out the online form, go to the forms page

---

2024-25 URA Workshops

Workshops will be announced when scheduled.

---

Forms

URA Scholars are required to enroll in a zero-credit PRAC through the Career Center and have your research experience documented on your transcript!

Employers and graduate admissions offices like to see practica recorded on your transcript because it indicates that your internship, co-op or research position was a significant learning experience, approved and vetted by the University. Applications and information on how to apply can be found at the Career Center.

---

The Undergraduate Research Awards program is funded by the Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The program began in 1995 – 1996 as an initiative of the Office of the Provost.