UR2PhD Offers Training and Funding to Support Undergraduate Research—Get Your Department Involved as an Institutional Partner
By Julia Sepulveda, Senior Program Associate, CRA-E
The UR2PhD program is a virtual, synchronous initiative designed to enhance and expand mentored undergraduate research experiences, with the goal of increasing the number of women and gender-marginalized students pursuing doctoral studies in computing.
By providing programming, funding, and resources, UR2PhD makes undergraduate research opportunities more accessible and sustainable for students and institutions. Schools looking to expand research engagement can benefit significantly from partnering with UR2PhD.
What Is an Institutional Partner?
Institutional partners are colleges, universities, or departments committed to broadening and diversifying undergraduate research opportunities. These partners help build a pipeline of trained researchers, encouraging them to consider graduate studies.
As a partner, institutions work to generate interest among faculty, undergraduate students, and graduate mentors (if applicable). A local coordinator at each school facilitates student-mentor matching based on availability, research interests, and relevant skills. These matched participants then enroll in one of UR2PhD’s two core courses:
- Undergraduate Research Training Course – Prepares students for research involvement.
- Graduate Student Mentor Training Course – Equips graduate mentors with effective research mentoring strategies.
Why Participate as an Institutional Partner Instead of an Individual Faculty Mentor?
Partner institutions receive priority access to UR2PhD programming and can drive change at scale by engaging multiple students and mentors. Additionally, local coordinators can earn up to $10,000 for leading recruitment, engagement, and program participation efforts.
By structuring support at the institutional level, UR2PhD reduces barriers to entry for students who may not have the social capital or resources to access research opportunities independently.
Beyond the Courses: Additional Research Support
UR2PhD goes beyond training by providing funding and resources to sustain research engagement:
- Participants who complete UR2PhD courses can apply for funding opportunities, including REU funding and technical travel assistance.
- Mentors receive support through resources such as undergraduate research scoping guides, templates for supplemental funding applications, and REU mentor funding.
How to Apply
To become an institutional partner, a faculty member must submit an application, which includes details about the school’s existing research landscape and a letter of departmental support.
- For summer participation, apply by April 30, 2025.
- For fall participation, apply by August 15, 2025.
Learn More About UR2PhD
UR2PhD offers a range of activities and resources designed to support institutions, faculty, and students. To explore how your department can benefit, visit cra.org/ur2phd.
Schools do not need to be institutional partners to take advantage of UR2PhD programming, but joining as a partner maximizes impact. If you’d like to discuss ways to advocate for undergraduate research at your institution, contact the UR2PhD team at ur2phd@cra.org.
