UROP Individual Grants allow students to take ownership of part or all of a project with an original proposal.
Student Grant amounts vary based on grant type and term, according to the following guidelines; summer grants are larger to account for additional cost of living. Visit the Student Award Payment page for details.
Context and Objectives
100 word maximum: State the specific objectives/purpose of your project and, if applicable, of the larger project within which yours is embedded. Explain the project's relevance and who stands to benefit.
Creative/Performance Projects: Tell us the objectives, points of curiosity from which you're starting, hypothesis or question you're exploring and the guiding principles of the work. Discuss where and when the final project will be exhibited, displayed or performed.
100 word maximum: Situate your project within other work in the field by providing a summary of the work done and discuss the theoretical traditions influencing your project. Note what is original about your project and what contribution it makes to the field.
Creative/Performance Projects: Discuss what theoretical, aesthetic, and/or creative traditions influence your project. Include what contributions you're making to the field. Include your own creative/performance history and talk about how it's prepared you for this project.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on the development of this proposal, noting the origin of the idea and its potential impact in the field.
Methodology and Strategy
200 word maximum: Explain the method(s)/strategy used in this project, including justification for your approach. Also justify international travel, if your project requires it.
50 word maximum: Note any experience, training and/or coursework required to complete this project, and explain how you have prepared.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on your mentee's ability to perform this project, highlighting relevant coursework, experience with methods and/or materials, and other relevant certifications and qualifications.
Learning Objectives
100 word maximum: Describe how this project advances your personal, academic and/or professional goals, including how it fits within your degree plan.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Respond to your mentee's learning goals, commenting on 1) how you and/or an additional supervisor will support these objectives and 2) how this project will advance their academic and/or professional goals?
Resources and Materials
Departmental disbursements should be limited to project expenses your mentee would have difficulty paying from their stipend, such as lab supplies and testing fees. Travel and other project expenses should be paid by the student from the stipend payment. If this application is awarded, these funds will be disbursed in one payment to the speedtype listed.
75 word maximum: Indicate the resources and materials needed for your project, and explain how you plan to acquire and make use of them.
Mentor Endorsement Prompts
Should some of this grant be disbursed to a faculty/departmental account?
If Yes: (100 words maximum) Explain the need to transfer funds to a faculty/departmental account.
Timeline
150 word maximum: Outline the major phases of your project, providing a timeline of activities.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Optional: Provide additional information about this project timeline.
The application period for Summer 2021 and/or Academic Year 2021-22 term funding closed in mid-February 2021.
Proposals for Summer 2022 and Academic Year 2022-23 term funding will be due mid-February 2022.
Prepare your proposal with your mentor and submit your application, using the secure and accessible online forms linked on this site.
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When you submit your application, your mentor will receive an email with a unique link to access the Mentor Endorsement form.
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Your application is complete only after your mentor submits their endorsement; incomplete applications are not reviewed.
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Proposals are evaluated in a blind review process by members of the UROP Review Board after the application deadline.
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Decision notices are sent from urop@colorado.edu near the end of the spring term; UROP encourages you to add us as a "safe sender."
To be eligible for UROP funding, students must be full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates at the University of Colorado Boulder based on the following enrollment guidelines.
All students grants must be supervised by an eligible faculty mentor.
Faculty Eligibility
Tenured/tenure-track, research faculty and contract instructors at the University of Colorado Boulder are eligible to mentor Student Grants and apply for Faculty Grants.
Graduate students or post-docs may serve in a supervisory role on student grants, but the faculty mentor must provide some direct mentoring to the undergraduate.
Looking for a mentor?
Check out UROP's guides to Finding Mentors and Connecting with Faculty.
Additional guidelines may apply to students in the following circumstances.
Students may earn course credit for their project activities while receiving UROP funding in the following circumstances:
Students may not receive UROP funding for CUREs (course-embedded research)—that is, they are enrolled in a course with a research component.
Faculty interested in organizing a research team and/or supporting collaborative projects may consider applying for a UROP Team Grant.
Students graduating in the Fall Term (December) may apply for Academic Year Grants if they meet all other eligibility criteria and should be aware the following guidelines:
Students pursuing concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s degrees are eligible for UROP funding until they transition to “graduate status” and should be aware of upcoming changes in university policy that may affect their eligibility.
Starting Fall 2019, students in concurrent programs will graduate with their Bachelor’s degree once they complete their undergraduate degree requirements and will continue as graduate students to the completion of their Master’s degree. Up to twelve credit hours of graduate-level work taken as an undergraduate may count toward the Master’s degree. Students should consult with their departmental advisors about their program guidelines before applying for UROP funding.
Refer to the Graduate School's Guidelines for Concurrent Degree Programs for additional information.
Because UROP Grants are categorized as income, all student-athletes regardless of sport or scholarship status, may receive funding without financial aid implications. But student-athletes must report the award to CU Athletics.
We are committed to ensuring access to funding for ASSET/DACA students. Currently, ASSET/DACA students are not required to complete any additional paperwork to receive funding.
International students may apply for UROP Grants if they meet all other eligibility criteria, and should be aware the following guidelines:
Financial and Tax Information
Social Security Number (SSN)
Students may not receive concurrent funding from CU Boulder's Biological Sciences Initiative (BSI) but may withdraw accepted UROP grants to participate in BSI.
May to August
Summer term proposal timelines should span most of the award period (from the end of the Spring term to the beginning of the Fall term) and come to a distinct, if not final, conclusion by the end of the term.
August to May
Academic Year term proposal timelines should span most of the award period (from the beginning of the Fall term to the end of the Spring term) and come to a distinct, if not final, conclusion by the end of the term.
UROP does not offer fall or spring-only grants, but students graduating in December may apply for fall-only funding.
Applicants may submit proposals for more than one grant term, but they must submit separate applications for each—and can only accept one grant per term.
Applicants may also submit similar proposals for different grant terms but should ensure timelines fit the term.
Applicants may submit proposals for continuing projects that extend beyond the grant term, but all proposals should come to a distinct, if not final, conclusion by the end of the term.
Proposals for continuing projects are awarded separately.
There is no limit on the total number of UROP grants applicants may receive, but students may not receive concurrent funding from CU Boulder's Biological Sciences Initiative (BSI).
Students may withdraw from UROP to join BSI.
Proposals are evaluated in a double-blind review process conducted by members of the UROP Review Board based on these criteria to help ensure applicants receive fair and informed evaluations of their proposed projects and conform to the highest ethical standards.
UROP encourages faculty to serve on the UROP Review Board to evaluate proposals, learn more about the process and help ensure timely decisions—even if they plan to mentor or apply for funding. Reviewers have the option to recuse themselves from proposals that present a conflict of interest.
Proposals are evaluated by one of six UROP Review Board sub-committees based on the following project categories (selected at the time of application).
Check out the Grant Directory for examples.
Proposals must not contain the student, faculty mentor, or additional supervisor's personal information (name and gender) to help ensure the integrity of blind review. Applicant information will be separated in the review process.
Make the following substitutions in your proposal:
The project proposal achieves meaningful learning outcomes in the award period without interfering with regular coursework and extracurricular obligations, including a timeline of activities.
The project proposal advances the student’s academic goals and/or professional aspirations.
Individual Grants only:
The project proposal makes thoughtful, efficient use of available resources.
The proposal demonstrates originality of thought and creativity in approach and project design.
UROP funding may not be used to support domestic or international travel due to the University of Colorado Boulder's ongoing travel restriction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—even if an exception has been granted by the university.
Refer to the university's official travel policy page for details and updates.
Additional Prompts
Yes/No: Have you completed training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR)?
Mentor (100 words maximum): Explain how you will support your mentee's plans to work on an NSF and/or NIH-funded project.
100 words maximum: Explain your plan to ensure all students complete the RCR training requirements for working on NSF and/or NIH-funded research.
Students participating in projects with NSF or NIH funding must complete appropriate training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) as “the practice of scientific investigation with integrity.
RCR involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research. The goal of RCR education at CU Boulder is to inform all individuals engaged in the research process about the key issues, current standards, and best ethical practices.
Students, if you have questions about training in the responsible conduct of research, talk to you mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the RCR website.
Additional Prompts
Yes/No: Have you completed training in human subject research (IRB)?
Mentor (100 words maximum): Explain how you will support your mentee's plans to work with human subjects.
Yes/No: Have you completed training in human subject research (IRB)?
Yes/No: Has your project been approved by the IRB?
Mentor (100 words maximum): Explain how you will support your mentee's plans to work with human subjects.
Yes/No: Has your project been approved by the IRB?
Projects involving human subjects may require approval by the IRB and involve additional steps in the application and award process.
The Institutional Review Board at CU Boulder is responsible for the review of all human subject research when conducted by the university's faculty, staff, students or other affiliates and agents. All personnel conducting research with human subjects must be appropriately qualified and trained.
The IRB website provides an interactive decision tool to help you decide if your project requires IRB review.
Students, if you have questions about the IRB and human subject research training, talk to you mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the IRB website.
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course is separate from the human research courses and does not satisfy IRB requirements.
Additional Prompts
Yes/No: Have you completed training the care and use of animals (IACUC)?
Mentor (100 words maximum): Explain how you will support your mentee's plans to work with animal subjects.
Yes/No: Have you completed training the care and use of animals (IACUC)?
Yes/No: Has your project been approved by the IACUC?
Mentor (100 words maximum): Explain how you will support your mentee's plans to work with animal subjects.
Yes/No: Has your project been approved by the IACUC?
Projects involving animal subjects may require approval by the IACUC and involve additional steps in the application and award process.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) consists of scientists, non-scientists and community members with the goal of facilitating ethically responsible non-human animal research.
All personnel conducting research with vertebrate animals must be appropriately qualified and trained before working with animals. Visit the IACUC website to learn more about the requirements for conducting animal research.
The IACUC website includes a detailed guide to “Getting Started” that outlines the requirements for conducting animal research.
Students, if you have questions about the IACUC and animal subject research training, talk to your mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the IACUC website.
