Departments, Faculty, and Students Are Encouraged to Get Involved in UR2PhD
By Julia Sepulveda, Senior Program Associate, CRA-E
UR2PhD makes it possible for undergraduate students to engage in research in a supportive learning environment. Unlike traditional undergraduate research experiences, UR2PhD focuses on providing groups of first-time researchers an opportunity to learn more about what research is and how they can build essential skills. UR2PhD flips the script by enabling students to receive instruction and support not just from their faculty mentors but also from CRA and their local CS community.
UR2PhD offers students, faculty, and departments an opportunity to create a pipeline of researchers, so that over time, there is a clear, accessible way for new students to get involved in research. In 2025, UR2PhD will re-offer its two courses and workshop series. The undergraduate research methods course will provide first time researchers working in groups of 2-4 the instruction they need to learn what research is and how to build foundational skills. The graduate student mentor training course will provide current undergraduate research mentors an opportunity to develop professionally while encouraging them to reflect on their goals and experiences. And the two workshop series will enable students to learn more about computing research and graduate school applications.
Get involved this coming spring!
Departments are eligible to apply for institutional partnerships
Institutional partners are schools, or departments, that work with the UR2PhD program to amplify and diversify the existing research infrastructure at their institution. Institutional partners designate a local coordinator to recruit faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to participate in the UR2PhD program. They also work to make matches that will result in a positive group experience.
Students at institutional partner schools receive priority admission for the program activities. Institutional partner applications for the spring 2025 term are open on a rolling basis. Given that the program takes some time to set-up, we encourage applying as early as possible.
Faculty are encouraged to mentor undergraduates and begin creating a pipeline of researchers with the support from graduate students
If you are not at an institutional partner school, but would like to serve as a mentor for a group of 2-4 first-time researchers, we recommend scoping a 1-2 semester long project that students can participate in. Once you’ve scoped a project and selected a group of researchers, those researchers can directly apply to the UR2PhD program.
Graduate student mentors of undergraduate researchers can apply to participate in the mentor training course for the spring semester
If you are not at an institutional partner school, but would like to learn more about how to provide culturally-responsive mentorship, we recommend applying for the graduate student mentor training program.
Undergraduate students working in groups of 2-4 can apply to participate in the research methods course – or participate in the online workshops
If you are not at an institutional partner school, but would like to receive foundational research training, we recommend applying for the research methods course. Eligibility for the course is limited to students working in groups of 2-4 who can participate in the synchronous sessions at the same time as their groupmates.
In addition to the course, UR2PhD also offers two workshop series: the Computing Research Engagement and Awareness Series and the Graduate School Application Series. Registration is open to all North American undergraduates.
To learn more about UR2PhD, visit cra.org/ur2phd
