Why UROP?
As a prospective student, you may be wondering why should I join UROP?
Conducting research early in your undergraduate career can be one of the most meaningful experiences you will have at the University of Michigan because you will:
- learn through hands-on work outside the classroom
- develop research skills to use in classes, academic and professional pursuits
- learn how new ideas are created and proven
- identify academic and career interests
- develop a working relationship with a faculty mentor
- get a glimpse into graduate or professional school life
- learn what you like and don’t like to do
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) creates research partnerships between student and faculty researchers and scholars from all across campus. UROP can be YOUR entry into exciting research, scholarship, and creative activities. All you need is curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn OUTSIDE the classroom!
Undergraduate research can take many forms. UROP students can be found in museums, archives, and neighboring communities, as well in scientific laboratories. As a UROP student you might be reading historical texts, developing and administering a survey, analyzing survey data, shooting film footage in Detroit, building and testing equipment, or running experiments to extract DNA.
Most UROP students are working alongside faculty and research scientists on ongoing or new research projects. As you gain skills and spend time on a project you may have the opportunity to conduct an independent piece to a project. Many UROP students use this first research experience to develop an independent research project or an honors thesis topic to pursue their own research question; some even co-author research papers!
