The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) offers students the opportunity to assist faculty members with their actual research and/or creative projects.  This program allows students to learn about research practices and realities from faculty mentors without the burden of having to come up with an independent project.  However, the goal of the program to provide more than just a person to work the copy machine or clean test tubes.  Projects for this program should offer substantial experiences for the undergraduate with mentoring and inclusion in the research process seen as key elements.

Faculty members from across the University can request a research assistant for her/his project.  There are two ways for this hiring to happen:  First, we can run a search process to find an appropriate and qualified student.  The project will be advertised with a brief synopsis as well as specific expectations, requirements and/or prerequisites for the position.  If a student is interested, s/he may submit an application.  All hiring decisions will be made by the faculty member, and finalists will be interviewed.  Second, if a faculty member already has a student in mind, s/he may apply directly for funding for the person without the search process. 

In both scenarios, faculty proposals will undergo a formal review before the project is approved for funding.  

There are two deadlines per year: early fall for academic year projects and spring quarter for summer projects.  After the review of proposals, available projects will be posted to the web site with their own time line for student applications.  All Northwestern undergraduate students are eligible to participate in this program.