Celebrating 40 Years of Opportunities
The University of Colorado Boulder has an expansive history of engaging undergraduates in the dynamic research and creative life of the campus dating to the creation of UROP in 1986.
Our campus hosts many programs for undergraduate research, but the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is the only program open to students and faculty in all fields of study. Housed in the Office of Undergraduate Education, UROP collaborates throughout the CU Boulder ecosystem, supporting student success in partnership with colleges, departments, programs and other units. We invite you to celebrate our 40-year history as the university marks it's 150th Anniversary in 2026.
Years of Opportunities
Reasons to UROP
Inclusive Engagement
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All Majors/Fields of Study
UROP is open to undergrads in all majors working in any field and creative practice.
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All GPAs & Classifications
UROP is open to all active, degree-seeking undergrads—regardless of GPA or classification.
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Year-Round Funding
UROP supports undergrads year-round with grants in the summer and aca. year.
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Pre-College Students
UROP provides resources and advice for pre-collegiate students to explore research.
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First-Year Students
UROP provides resources for first-year students considering engagement opportunities.
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Transfer Students
UROP provides resources for transfer students planning participation on short timelines.
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International Students
UROP provides resources for international students looking for accessible options for support.
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McNair Scholars Program
UROP partners with the McNair Scholars program to provide inclusive pathways to research.
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S-STEM Partnership
UROP partners with the S-STEM program to develop opportunities and pathways to engage.
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SMART Program Partnership
UROP partners with the SMART program to host dynamic presentation opportunities.
Student Testimonials
UROP was so helpful, and I truly couldn't have had this experience without their financial help. My research position was unpaid, so having funding from UROP gave me the opportunity to be able to carry out the project in another country—and enjoy my experience while there! - Sophie Castillo
I am so excited to have had this opportunity and really appreciate the doors it has opened for me. It’s not just about the research but also about networking with great minds in a field you are interested in—while bridging the gap between coursework and real-world applications. - Cassidy Bliss
My mentor was extremely helpful with engaging me throughout the semester and made sure that I was able to learn. His approach is more hands-off, which lets me learn as I did more things, but if there were more complex issues, he would offer advice. - Gianni Bonnici
Expansive Support
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Student Assistantships
UROP Assistantships support undergrads while developing skills working on their mentor's work.
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Individual Student Projects
UROP Individual Project Grants support student-driven, original research and creative projects.
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Team-Based Projects
UROP Team Project Grants provide funding for faculty-driven projects for groups of undergrads.
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Conference Travel Grants
UROP Individual Conference Grants support undergrads presenting their work.
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Group Conf. Travel Grants
UROP Group Conference Grants support groups of undergrads presenting at conferences.
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Open Opportunities
UROP offers "open opportunities" for undergrads to join faculty-driven projects.
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Sidewalk Symposium
UROP hosts the Sidewalk Symposium as a presentation opportunity with chalk art.
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UROP Review Board
UROP manages a diverse community of campus experts to review and score proposals.
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Broader Impacts Network
UROP participates in the campus Broader Impacts Network to support and expand engagement.
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Campus Programs
UROP coordinates with campus programs hosted by colleges, departments, & other units.
Mentor Testimonials
My lab has had the pleasure to work with multiple undergraduates throughout the summer—made possible by UROP funding. This was not only invaluable for the mentees to gain hands-on experience, but it also gave myself and others the opportunity to mentoring skills. - Aaron Whiteley
The Team Grant allowed the undergraduates to become independent in the laboratory and take ownership on several projects. These were their first experiences in a laboratory. Both undergraduates will receive co-authorship on conference presentations and manuscripts. - Michael Baratta
This is the second UROP project I've been able to supervise, and it was a fantastic opportunity. I can say without a doubt that the project would have been limited without UROP funding. I’m thankful and hope UROP is able to continue to support our students in this way. - Pat Clark
Comprehensive Resources
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Virtual Curiosity Lab Events
UROP hosts virtual information sessions and workshops throughout the calendar year.
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Self-Paced Resources
UROP provides self-paced resources for undergrads to get started with research.
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UROP Scholar's Guide
UROP provides resources for undergrads actively engaged in research and creative projects.
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UROP Mentoring Guide
UROP provides resources to support inclusive mentorship of undergrads.
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Advocate Training
UROP provides training opportunities for staff, faculty and others supporting undergrads.
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Campus Advisor Guide
UROP maintains a guide for campus staff supporting undergrad engagement.
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College Counselor Guide
UROP maintains a guide for secondary-level college counselors advising students.
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Community of Practice
UROP hosts a campus community of practice for practitioners in undergrad engagement.
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UROP LinkedIn Group
UROP hosts an active social media group on LinkedIn to share stories and resources.
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CUR Institutional Membership
UROP maintains campus institutional membership in the Council on Undergraduate Research.
Empowering Outcomes
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Award-Winning Mentorship
UROP issues Mentor Awards to recognize exemplary mentorship of undergrads.
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Campus Publications
UROP supports a variety of campus publications for undergrad research and creative work.
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Lightbulb Moment
UROP works with campus partners to showcase transformative undergrad experiences.
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Career-Ready Students
UROP supports career readiness with the development in-demand, transferable job skills.
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Student Self-Efficacy
UROP cultivates student self-efficacy by giving students ownership of their learning.
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Professional Networking
UROP helps undergrads build supportive professional networks on campus and beyond.
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Academic Identity
UROP develops disciplinary skills with applied learning that builds academic identity.
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Campus Belonging
UROP fosters belonging by engagement with the campus academic and creative community.
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AI-Resistant Skills
UROP develops critical thinking, problem solving and other skills difficult for AI to replace.
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Be
Boulder
UROP helps undergrads make the most of CU Boulder's research and creative community.