Submit your project for UROP

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP), which offers undergraduate students the chance to gain hands-on research experience, is now accepting applications from staff.

Colleagues are invited to submit proposals for collaborative research projects between academic departments and undergraduate students, to take place during the 2024 summer vacation. 

The programme provides undergraduates with an opportunity to gain research experience through a paid six-week project.

For researchers, it is equally rewarding – collaborating with undergraduates can produce a fresh perspective on research and can help develop students into promising candidates for postgraduate research.

The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Friday 15 December 2023.

“An excellent opportunity”

Emma Street (Associate Professor in Real Estate & Planning) and Alice Pollitt (Associate Professor in Biomedical Sciences) took part in the scheme in 2022, recruiting students to work on projects around local cycling infrastructure and the human platelets respectively. Here’s what they had to say about their experiences:

Emma Street: “My UROP student researcher was a real self-starter. With me, she undertook a range of research activities including a survey, interviews, literature review and co-design with local stakeholders; some of which she'd never done before, but you'd never know it.

Alice Pollitt: “The UROP project was an excellent opportunity for our student to integrate into a research environment. He was able to enhance his presentation skills, giving an overview presentation to the rest of the Reading Platelet Group. The project itself enabled us to begin to explore a new research application of our approach.” 

Who can supervise a UROP project

Staff can apply to be a Principal Investigator on UROP projects. To qualify, you must be a permanent member of staff, or on a fixed-term contract running past November 2024, as students will need support up until this time. PDRAs can apply to be Principal Investigators if their supervisor is listed as a Co-Investigator, and PhD students may co-supervise projects only.

Visit the UROP website for further details, or email urop@reading.ac.uk for advice on applications or information on the scheme.

Information session for staff

An information webinar will take place on Wednesday 1 November 2023 from 13:00-14:00 to provide an informal opportunity to find out more about the scheme and how to apply.

Sign up using this online form.

UROP Showcase event

A showcase of UROP projects completed over the summer will be held on Wednesday 15 November 2023 from 13:00-15:30 in the Meadow Suite in Park House, Whiteknights campus.

Attendees will have the chance to speak to student researchers from 2023.

There is no need to book, just turn up on the day.