Contact Information
David Reamer
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
Samantha Sexton
Staff Assistant II
Location: Plant Hall 228
Phone:(813) 257-3550
Email: ouri@ut.edu
۴ý offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in inquiry-based research, ranging from class-based projects to laboratory and field research to research-informed art installations and performances. Students work with expert faculty in a variety of fields to gain valuable experience and discipline-specific knowledge that will benefit them in future careers, studies and applications for competitive grants and programs.
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry is dedicated to making research available to all students at U۴ý:
- SURE programoffers selected incoming students a yearlong orientation to research, disciplinary mentoring and introductions to ongoing research projects
- One-on-one advising for students embarking on their research journey
- Periodic workshops on ways to get involved in research at U۴ý
- Students can work with faculty members on projects involving shared interests
Resources for Students
Getting Started with Research
- Getting Started
- Grants
- Presenting
- Publishing
- Helpful Tools
Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (URI) Grants support students and faculty engaged in a mentored research project. The goal of this grant is to provide students with research or creative inquiry opportunities. These grants provide $2000 in supplies or travel funds and a $1000 student award and a $1000 stipend for the faculty. A faculty mentor can have up to three research students on this grant. A student may only submit one grant proposal per grant application cycle. Applications must be completed according to the URI grant guidelinesand submitted through - by Friday, March 13. Awards will be announced on April 15.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), U۴ý’s flagship research program, supports students and faculty engaged in a mentored, intensive research project over the summer. Surf students meet weekly as a cohort for professional development and social activities and present their research to the University community in the fall semester. These grants provide $2000 in supplies and travel funds, a $3500 stipend for the student and a $1000 stipend for the faculty mentor. Students are also provided with housing if they choose to live on campus. Applications must be completed according to these SURF guidelinesand submitted through by Jan 23. Awards will be announced March 1.
OURI Travel Awards
Funds are available from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry to support U۴ý students that are presenting undergraduate research or inquiry to travel to local, regional, national or international meetings, conferences, symposia, exhibitions and workshops. These funds are provided to increase the opportunities of U۴ý students to showcase their scholarship in external venues.
۴ý offers several sources of funding for students who must travel to present their scholarship or creative work. TheStudent Travel Request Formin Workday allows students to complete a single application for funding, which will be routed automatically to the appropriate cost centers to determine which offices can support the student’s travel.
Step 1:Log in to Workday
Step 2:Type “create request” in the search bar at the top of the screen, hit enter/return, then click the resulting “create request” link.
Step 3:Type “Student travel request” in the popup window, then click “OK.”
Step 4:Complete theStudent Travel Request Form. Make sure to complete all required fields and provide documentation (screenshots of flight costs or hotel rates, receipts for conference registration, etc.) for all budget expenses. Incomplete requests will not be funded.
Step 5: Review your entered information and click “Submit.” Once all appropriate offices have noted their contributions to the travel request, the student will be notified of funding and receive instructions for reimbursement.
Theis dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of professional academic organizations, this gathering of student scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines. Through this annual conference, NCUR creates a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement; provides models of exemplary research, scholarship and creative activity; and helps to improve the state of undergraduate education. Each conference hosts 3,500 to 4,000 students from across the globe, presenting their research through posters, oral presentations, visual arts and performances. Each year the conference is held at a different institution. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry will support a few students to present at this year's conference. Students shouldsubmit an after they receive notification of abstract acceptance from NCUR. Please remember to include your letter of acceptance with your application to OURI.
ThePosters at the Capitalevent is held every two years at the Florida State Capitol Complex in downtown Tallahassee. At this prestigious event, up to three undergraduate researchers from the University of ۴ý will join students from universities and colleges across the state to present their research at the Capitol building in a poster format; they will also have the opportunity to interact with legislative members from their representative districts. Students chosen for this opportunity will also network with other researchers from across the state at a reception and take a tour of the Capitol building. The next event will be in January 2028.
TheFlorida Undergraduate Research Conferenceis one of the nation's largest multi-disciplinary research conferences. It is an annual event open to all undergraduate researchers in the state of Florida to present their research in a poster forum. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry will support students to present at this year's conference. Students are encouraged to submit an application for a. Please remember to include your FURC abstract submission acknowledgment letter to OURI. Applications are due into OURI byJan 15. You do not have to wait for approval, just attach the submission form.
*NCUR, Posters at the Capital and FURC all include registration, transportation to/from and hotel stay for the event through funding by OURI for students chosen by URI Committee.
Students at the University of Tama also have numerous pathways to publishing their research. ۴ý Press offers the following student-edited venues for publication:
Royal Road is the journal of U۴ý’s Academic Writing Program, featuring essays written in AWR 201 classes and revised for publication under faculty mentorship.
Q is U۴ý’s journal for university-wide undergraduate research and inquiry projects.
The Florida Undergraduate Research Journal (FURJ) gives students an opportunity to share their work beyond their campus journals. It is provided by the Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA).
Resources for Faculty
- Mentoring
- Grants
- Helpful Tools
Undergraduate research is a high-impact educational practice that leads to deep, meaningful learning experiences and mentors play a critical role.
Mentors:
- Ensure success of the student experience.
- Enable students to learn the culture of the discipline.
- Encourage reflection and further questioning.
Faculty interested in mentoring students are encouraged to contact OURI for resources, such as the “How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers” book from the Council on Undergraduate Research. Additionally, workshops offered by OURI and the Center for Teaching and Learning often address this theme.
Faculty are encouraged to share your research with incoming undergraduates via the SURE program.
Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (URI) Grants support students and faculty engaged in a mentored research project. The goal of this grant is to provide students with research or creative inquiry opportunities. These grants provide $2000 in supplies or travel funds and a $1000 student award and a $1000 stipend for the faculty. A faculty mentor can have up to three research students on this grant. A student may only submit one grant proposal per grant application cycle. Applications must be completed according to the URI grant guidelinesand submitted through - by Friday, March 13. Awards will be announced on April 15.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), U۴ý’s flagship research program, supports students and faculty engaged in a mentored, intensive research project over the summer. Surf students meet weekly as a cohort for professional development and social activities and present their research to the University community in the fall semester. These grants provide $2000 in supplies and travel funds, a $3500 stipend for the student and a $1000 stipend for the faculty mentor. Students are also provided with housing if they choose to live on campus. Applications must be completed according to these SURF guidelinesand submitted through by Jan 23. Awards will be announced March 1.
Research and Inquiry Curriculum grants support faculty who wish to incorporate the high-impact educational practices of research into their courses. Research shows that these experiences lead to better learning and retention. Faculty can be awarded $1,000 for new course proposals and course redesigns, $600 for adding a major inquiry-based assignment or $400 for adding OURI assessments to an existing course.Research and Inquiry Curriculum grant proposalsare accepted year-round butmust be received one year prior to planned course implementation (e.g., January 2026 for a course to be taught in Spring 2027).
There is no cost to join. ۴ý has an Enhanced Institutional membership. Please email cur@cur.org to join.
After your enhanced membership benefits have been activated, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Collaborate with nearly 14,000 members to discuss issues, ideas, and share resources on undergraduate research.
- Gain access to a Member Resource Library of over 100 resources, tips and tricks for virtual learning and teaching, and other valuable content to strengthen your undergraduate research programs.
- A subscription to our scholarly journal,Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research.
- Exclusive member-only programs such as CUR Conversations on evolving hot topics.
- Discounts for event registration and publication purchases.
- and more!
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