UR2PhD is building capacity in computer science to advance the representation of women and gender-marginalized students, especially those who identify as Black, Latinx, and Native/Indigenous.
The Undergraduate Research to PhD program (“UR2PhD”, pronounced ‘you are to PhD’) engages undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty mentors, universities and colleges, and non-profits to increase the quantity and quality of mentored research experiences while sustaining student interest in research.
Learn more about why and how you can be a part of UR2PhD
To explore tailored information for you, select the category that best describes you.
Program Features
The UR2PhD program is comprised of four primary, virtual activities.
Undergraduateresearch trainingcourse
Equips undergraduates with fundamental research skills to support the start of their work with a research mentor.
Graduate student mentor training program
Provides graduate students with theoretical and practical support for building professional skills.
Research engagement and awareness workshops
Increase student understanding of research, research careers, and pathways.
Graduate schoolapplication workshops
Prepare students for applying to master’s and doctoral computing programs.
UR2PhD especially encourages participation from Black, Native, and/or Latinx women and gender-marginalized folks.
Please note: workshops are open to any student interested in exploring computing research and/or interested in learning more about graduate school applications. Courses are space-limited and follow an application processs. To learn more about how to apply, please go to the undergraduate and/or graduate student pages.
Program Objectives
UR2PhD aims to increase the percentage of women and other gender-marginalized students, especially those that also identify as Black, Latinx, and Indigenous/Native, entering computing doctoral programs by at least 15 percent per year, with higher increases for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The program is open to students of all backgrounds, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.
To achieve its goals, the UR2PhD program will specifically focus on increasing the number of undergraduate research opportunities for women and closing the gap between a first research experience and a successful PhD application.
Upcoming Deadlines
Institutional Partnerships:
- Institutional Partner Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- If you plan to participate in the summer, please apply by April 30
- If you plan to participate in the fall, please apply by August 15
- If you plan to participate in the spring of 2026, please apply by December 01
Graduate Student Mentor Training Course:
- Graduate Student Mentor Training Course Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- If you plan to participate in the summer, please apply by May 11
- If you plan to participate in the fall, please apply by September 3
Undergraduate Research Training Course:
- Undergraduate Research Training Course Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- If you plan to participate in the summer, please apply by May 26
- If you plan to participate in the fall, please apply by September 15
Graduate Student Continuing Mentor Funding:
- Continuing Graduate Student Mentor Funding Application
- If you plan to apply for spring funding, please apply by March 1
- If you plan to apply for summer funding, please apply by June 1
- If you plan to apply for fall funding, please apply by October 1
REU and Technical Conference Travel Funding:
- REU Funding for Students Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- REU Funding for Mentors Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- Technical Conference Travel Funding Application (Learn more about this opportunity)
- If you plan to apply for funding, please apply ASAP. Funding applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
FUNDING | The Computing Research Association received a $5 million grant from a philanthropic partner to support the UR2PhD program.
UR2PhD: Undergraduate Research Methods Course by Computing Research Association’s UR2PhD Program. This work, “UR2PhD Undergraduate Research Methods Course”, is adapted from “Early Research Scholars Program” by Christine Alvarado, UC San Diego, used under CC BY 4.0. “UR2PhD Undergraduate Research Scholars” is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the Computing Research Association’s UR2PhD Program and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
UR2PhD: Graduate Student Mentor Training Course by Computing Research Association’s UR2PhD Program is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
