Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program: A Comprehensive Guide

Boston University (BU) is committed to providing its undergraduate students with diverse research opportunities across various disciplines. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) stands as a testament to this commitment, serving as a University-wide initiative that connects students with faculty-mentored research projects. Beyond facilitating connections, UROP provides funding for research, covering travel expenses and offering student stipends. This article delves into the details of UROP and other research avenues available at Boston University, offering a comprehensive guide for students seeking to enrich their academic experience through research.

Understanding the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

UROP is designed to nurture curiosity, capture imagination, and cultivate relationships between faculty and students beyond the classroom, shaping independent, innovative, and collaborative leaders. Any full-time undergraduate student at Boston University is eligible to apply for UROP funding. The program provides financial support for faculty-mentored research projects. BU faculty members in all departments are eligible to mentor undergraduate research projects.

Application Information and Deadlines

UROP operates on a semesterly funding cycle. The spring application deadline is usually in December, and the summer application deadline is typically in March. For instance, the Fall 2013 application was due by noon on Wednesday, September 18th.

The application process usually requires a short letter of reference from a faculty member indicating their willingness to supervise the project.

Participation and Funding

Students receiving funding for the Fall semester typically dedicate 15-20 hours of research per week. The UROP program not only connects students with research opportunities but also provides funding for research, travel expenses, and student stipends.

UROP Co-curriculars

The UROP office hosts two co-curriculars: HUB CC280 Building a Research Community complements and enriches a student's UROP research experience by providing opportunities to foster interdisciplinary discourse with other researchers.

Annual UROP Symposium

The Annual UROP Symposium showcases the research conducted by students. For example, the 16th Annual UROP Symposium was held during Parent’s Weekend on Friday, October 18, 2013. This symposium featured posters by students who conducted UROP-sponsored research during the summer. Undergraduate students who have conducted research, whether supported by UROP or other sources, are welcome to participate. Symposium participants need to present their poster for one hour during the event.

Navigating Other Research Opportunities at BU

Besides UROP, Boston University offers various other avenues for undergraduate research, catering to different interests and fields of study.

Departmental Research Opportunities

Many departments across Boston University actively involve undergraduates in research. For instance, within the Psychology department, junior and senior majors can enroll in a Directed Study to conduct research under the supervision of a faculty member while receiving credit toward program requirements. A good way to get started is to browse the department’s list of laboratories or faculty listing and follow the links to individual lab sites, as labs have different processes for taking applications for undergraduate researchers.

The College of Engineering also provides numerous research opportunities. Many Boston University Engineering undergraduates work alongside faculty and graduate students at the cutting edge of research, often in paid positions. The College of Engineering SURF program encourages faculty to involve undergraduates in their research programs during the academic year by providing matching funds for undergraduate students who are working on faculty-sponsored research.

Directed Study

A Directed Study is a semester-long course in which a student pursues independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. A student may choose to undertake a Directed Study to pursue in depth an area covered more generally in a course or to explore a topic not normally covered in the curriculum. Students will work directly with a faculty member to create a Directed Study Proposal and complete an application, which must be approved by the CDS.

BU Spark!

BU Spark! is a technology incubator and experiential learning lab for computational and data-driven projects. Housed at the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Spark! helps students realize their potential by providing access to resources, knowledge, and expert networks to support students’ innovation and applied learning journeys. Spark! engages with external partners from industry to provide opportunities for students to build their technology and innovation skills.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

Boston University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program takes place over 10 weeks each summer. It involves full-time research with a BU faculty member. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at Boston University (BU) is designed to promote access to research experiences for talented undergraduate students. This includes students from BU and other institutions, especially ones with lesser access to first-class research opportunities for undergraduates. As such, one long-term goal of the NSF-REU program is to enhance and broaden training and participation in order to sustain the nation’s vibrant STEM workforce. The SURF/NSF-REU Program is open to non-BU students who are rising juniors or rising seniors, and wish to conduct research in the sciences or technology fields. The program consists of ten weeks of full-time research (early June - mid-August) in a Boston University lab, mentored by a BU faculty member. The application period for the Summer 2025 SURF program will run from December 2024 until April 1, 2025.

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Photonics

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is proud to host a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Photonics. If you are currently a sophomore or junior in any engineering, mathematics or natural science discipline, you can consider joining during the summer for an exciting ten-week research opportunity in the heart of Boston. Students will receive a stipend of $3,920, as well as free on-campus housing.

STARS Program

College of Engineering undergraduates engaged in a faculty-mentored, full-time research experience during the summer may apply for the STARS program. The goal of the STARS program is to promote faculty-mentored, full-time research experiences for College of Engineering undergraduates during the summer. STARS will receive a stipend and up to 12 weeks of summer housing in a BU residence hall. To be eligible for the STARS program, students must receive a weekly stipend of at least $300 from an engineering faculty mentor to participate in full-time research activities during the summer. Note that full-time research means that students may NOT enroll in summer courses. STARS participants may not take summer courses.

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BUSAT

BUSAT is a student-driven, grassroots scientific spaceflight hardware development program. BUSAT’s primary goal is education and training. This is accomplished by providing students with the resources and responsibilities normally reserved for a professional environment. BUSAT’s current mission is to develop a modular, scalable, scientific spacecraft bus that will enable scientific research at the university and amateur resource levels.

iGEM

The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) is the premiere undergraduate synthetic biology competition. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these parts and new parts of their own design to build biological systems and operate them in living cells. iGEM at Boston University is a multi-disciplinary effort consisting of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Engineering students, in partnership with STEM Pathways. The focus is on connecting software design flows based on computer science concepts to physical DNA assembly in the laboratory environment. iGEM recruitment begins in the spring semester.

Finding Specific Research Opportunities

Faculty and Lab Websites

A practical approach to finding research opportunities involves exploring the websites of individual faculty members and their respective labs. These websites often contain information about ongoing research projects and application processes for undergraduate researchers. Many laboratories recruit volunteer research assistants. These positions can be open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In certain cases, labs may be able to offer Work Study or other paid part-time positions.

Departmental Listings

Many departments maintain lists of laboratories or faculty, which serve as a starting point for students seeking research opportunities. For example, the Psychology department encourages students to browse its list of laboratories or faculty listing and follow the links to individual lab sites.

ECE Undergraduate Research Fair

The ECE department encourages undergraduates to attend the annual ECE Undergraduate Research Fair in January to connect with hiring faculty and learn about the available positions.

CDS Core Faculty Office Hours

Each semester, CDS core faculty will hold dedicated office hours to discuss the area of their research. It is a great way to get to know the faculty, discover new domains and learn how to best pursue them.

Posting a Research Opportunity

Your project can be listed as a volunteer effort (for students who are seeking initial, practical, hands-on experiences), as a project for credit (e.g., independent study), or as a paid opportunity.

Financial Support for Research

UROP Funding

UROP provides funding to support undergraduate research projects, covering research expenses, travel costs, and student stipends.

Work Study and Paid Positions

Some labs may offer Work Study or other paid part-time positions for undergraduate research assistants.

College of Engineering SURF Program

The College of Engineering SURF program provides matching funds for undergraduate students who are working on faculty-sponsored research.

STARS Program Stipend

To be eligible for the STARS program, students must receive a weekly stipend of at least $300 from an engineering faculty mentor to participate in full-time research activities during the summer.

Presidential Scholars Program

The Presidential Scholars program is a merit award given to students at the time of admission to Boston University. Presidential Scholars receive a package of benefits, including a $25,000 scholarship to Boston University. Additionally, students receive funding for up to 10 hours of research per week for one semester during the time period ranging from Spring of their first year through fall of their Junior year at Boston University. These scholarship recipients are also eligible for research funding for up to 10 hours of research a week for one semester. Students wishing to utilize this benefit must complete the Presidential Scholars form here and submit to the Dean’s Office for approval.

Examples of Undergraduate Research

Ariyana Bonab (CAS Astrophysics) studies white dwarf stars in a research group led by JJ Hermes, a BU College of Arts & Sciences Assistant Professor of Astronomy. In her UROP funded research project, Bonab has looked at over 54,000 images of white dwarfs, and is trying to determine the composition of each one.

Geological Studies major Anne Haws ’18 spent a week conducting field research in Italy as part of a collaborative NSF project focused on understanding ancient subduction zone processes.

Undergraduate researchers Christopher Latour ’18, and Chester J.J. Wrobel ’17 co-authored a report with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Abhishek Chatterjee on their lab’s efforts to create a new method to engineer and monitor protein functions.

With funding from a Department of Defense grant, biology major Benjamin Posorske ’20 is conducting platelet and stem cell research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Benefits of Undergraduate Research

Participating in research as an undergraduate offers numerous benefits, enriching the student's academic experience and preparing them for future endeavors.

Skill Development

Undergraduate research provides opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Students also gain hands-on experience in their field of study, enhancing their understanding of research methodologies and techniques.

Mentorship and Networking

Working closely with faculty mentors allows students to build valuable relationships and receive guidance on their academic and career paths. Research experiences also provide opportunities to network with other researchers and professionals in the field.

Enhanced Career Prospects

Undergraduate research experiences can significantly enhance a student's resume and make them more competitive for graduate school and job opportunities. Research experience demonstrates a student's ability to think critically, work independently, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

Personal Growth

Engaging in research can be a transformative experience, fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning. Students often discover new interests and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their potential.

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