Undergraduate Research Committee

The Undergraduate Research Committee (URC) is responsible for promoting and expanding research opportunities to undergraduates and enhancing the undergraduate research experience at the university. For the 2011-2012 academic year, the committee will focus on exploring ways to integrate research into the curriculum while continuing to make opportunities and information more accessible to students. Members will also work to foster an interconnected undergraduate research community by working closely with programs and organizations on campus that support and facilitate undergraduate research. Another goal is to document students’ undergraduate research experiences through visual media as a way to illustrate the significance of research at the university and publicize Research Week. Other committee responsibilities include administering the $1,000 Undergraduate Research Grant, planning the annual Research Reception to honor excellence in undergraduate research, and hosting the university-wide Research Week, which is a celebration of undergraduate research and creative activity.

Geetika Jerath
Undergraduate Research co-chair

Majors: International Relations and Global Studies
Year: 1st
Hometown: Friendswood, TX
Contact: geetikajerath@utexas.edu

Chinmayee Venkatraman
Undergraduate Research co-chair

Majors: Plan II/International Relations and Global Studies/Pre-Medicine
Year: 1st
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Contact: cvenkatraman1@gmail.com

Issues Committee is Currently Focusing On

The Undergraduate Research Committee (URC) is looking at ways to possibly integrate undergraduate research into the curriculum through the inclusion of more inquiry-based courses. URC is also discussing the showing of student support in university research initiatives, emphasizing the need for teaching and research to be interdependent. URC will work to encourage student representation of undergraduate research within programs and organizations across campus. The committee aims to accurately represent the student voice in undergraduate research affairs, and in order to this, URC will look to communicate, partner, and collaborate with the College Councils through outreach efforts to better understand the needs, priorities, and values of students at the college level. The committee will continue to increase accessibility and promote undergraduate research opportunities here at UT Austin while maintaining undergraduate research a university priority.

Committee Legislation 2011-12

S.R. 1104 – In Support of Integrating Research and Inquiry-Based Courses into an Undergraduate Research Certificate Program

S.R. 1104 – Policy Briefing

S.R. 1104 – PowerPoint

Daily Texan article regarding S.R. 1104

Past Committee Legislation

Research Week

Research Week is a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate research and creative activity. Research Week, co-sponsored by the Senate of College Councils’ Undergraduate Research Committee and the School of Undergraduate Studies joins existing programs, events, and activities that showcase undergraduate research and creative activity. It also highlights the many research opportunities available to students. Undergraduate research is taking place in every college and school at UT, and a wealth of resources is available for undergraduates who choose to get involved in research. By coordinating a week-long event highlighting the work of these programs and students, the goal is to raise awareness of the many research opportunities available to undergraduates and to display the exciting research UT students and faculty are doing every day.

You can find more information, including a schedule of events, a participant list and ways to get involved at http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/researchweek/

Research Student Advisory Council

Link to Web page on the Office of Undergraduate Research Web site coming soon!

The Undergraduate Research Committee’s goal for the 2011-2012 academic year is to foster a more visible undergraduate research culture on campus by uniting research-based organizations and programs. The members of URC also realized the importance of increasing student input and representation within the Office of Undergraduate Research and wanted to establish a student advisory body.

Consisting of Senate’s Undergraduate Research Committee, members from research programs and organizations, and delegates from the College Councils, the Research Student Advisory Council (RSAC) will support and facilitate the effective communication of ideas, values, and knowledge regarding undergraduate research between the student representatives and the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Mission and Goals

To represent students within the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), serve as an advisory board to OUR, and provide feedback to the OUR coordinators
To raise awareness of research and its associated benefits through hosting programs and events as well as encourage relationships between students and faculty by connecting students to faculty research projects
To cultivate the exchange of ideas and resources regarding undergraduate research between the Office of Undergraduate Research, Senate’s Undergraduate Research Committee, the research-based organizations and programs across campus, and the College Councils
To allow participating organizations to share their ideas with each other, and in the process streamline and spread the advertisement of research opportunities

Research Reception

The Research Reception, hosted annually by the Undergraduate Research Committee (URC), honors excellence in undergraduate research by recognizing the awards and accomplishments of students from various research organizations and programs in addition to the Senate’s own research grant and research spotlight winners. The Reception unites students, faculty, administrators, and staff in this special celebration of undergraduate research and its impact on the university’s academic culture. This year’s Research Reception will take place on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the SAC Ballroom. The event will begin with a cocktail reception followed by the awards ceremony.

URC actively encourages students to engage in undergraduate research and strives to create a more vibrant and interconnected undergraduate research community. As part of this mission, the committee wants to award those students who have excelled in their participation in research by planning and hosting a Research Reception towards the end of the spring semester.

Undergraduate Research Grant

Each semester, the Senate of College Councils’ Undergraduate Research Committee administers a $1,000 undergraduate research grant. The grant seeks to encourage students to become actively involved in research early in their undergraduate careers by providing funding to a deserving applicant. One winner receives the $1,000 prize to be used towards the funding of his or her research.

Download the application and get more information here: http://utsenate.org/urg/. Eligible applicants include students assisting a faculty member with a research project, as well as students conducting independent or partnered research.

Undergraduate Researcher of the Month

Each month during the school year the Undergraduate Research Committee selects one outstanding student researcher from a particular college or school at the University to be spotlighted as the Undergraduate Researcher of the Month. Recipients display a commitment and passion toward research and clearly demonstrate the positive impact of their experience. Each Undergraduate Researcher of the Month is highlighted on UT Austin’s Know Web site by University Communications and participates in a Q&A about their individual research experience. Recipients of the award are also invited to a Senate General Assembly meeting to speak about their research and be recognized for their achievement. Click here to see past recipients of the Undergraduate Researcher of the Month award.

Committee Members’ Individual Initiatives

More information on each project or event coming soon!

Undergraduate Researcher for a Day (UR for a Day)
Expand the presentation of research opportunities and dissemination of information at freshman and transfer orientations
Ethics in Research Seminar during Research Week
UT Research Opportunities and Resources brochure
State-wide Research and Teaching Fair

Getting involved in Undergraduate Research

There are multiple ways to get involved in research:

1. Always start off by talking to a professor in the field of research you are interested in. They have the inside scoop concerning projects and can inform you of specific qualities and information needed for your specific interests.
2. Access Eureka! At http://www.utexas.edu/research/eureka/, a research database where students can browse and read up on various projects.
3. Attend an Undergraduate Research Information Session, hosted by the School of Undergraduate Studies. Access http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/ugr/students/sessions/register for more information.

Finally, a student should be excited and passionate when trying to find a research project, it may take you a while to find a professor and project that you are truly compatible with.