Information for Faculty Mentors

If you are willing to supervise an undergraduate, and are looking for students, please contact the URECA Office. We can post opportunities for supervised research and creative activity on our website with your permission (and remove the posting as soon as you choose), and/or refer students to you based on our one-on-one advising appointments. Please provide a brief description of the available project, and list any special course or scheduling requirements, as well as any skills interested students will need to have. 

URECA offers several summer programs that provide stipend support for students doing full-time faculty mentored research and/or creative activities; and offers mini awards to students presenting at off-campus conferences. Many of the programs provide professional development and presentation opportunities.

URECA can provide letters of support for faculty proposals or assist with general resources related to undergraduate research engagement/outreach.  

Highlight undergraduate research accomplishments of your mentees! Connect students with resources. Our Researchers of the Month are a great reflection of the work being done by faculty mentors in all departments and disciplines! If you have stellar students to nominate for the URECA feature, please contact Karen Kernan. Consider directing students to External Scholarships to learn more about national award opportunities (such as Goldwater Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, NSF-GRFP, etc).

If you are supervising students in independent work, please make sure they are aware of options to enroll in the appropriate Supervised Research course (e.g., independent study/internship courses 273, 287, 444, 484-489) in your section.  If students are doing their work in connection with a fellowship, grant, work study or for pay, and do not want to earn credit, they can be encouraged to register for zero credits. That way, their work gets recorded on their transcripts and your supervision of it is documented. Please also make sure that your trainees complete the relevant modules specified in RF guidelines for Responsible Conduct of Research and all Environmental Health & Safety requirements.

Incorporating Discussions About Research into Teaching

The following are suggestions for adding in discussions and activities that introduce research to undergraduates. 

Defining Research/Scholarship - make time to discuss your own research, your journey, what motivated your studies, your development as a scholar. 

Student Panel on Research -Networking with peers involved in research, hear first-hand experiences, clarify expectations. Invite your undergraduates or graduates to come and discuss. 

Faculty Features or Panels on Research - Invite faculty member(s) to talk about their research, opportunity for students to network, understand expectations when reaching out about lab openings and student responsibilities. 

How to Contact Faculty about Research -Many students are looking for opportunities to find a mentor. Potential activities include drafting letters of intent with time for feedback. 

Have URECA visit Your Class - We are happy to come and discuss opportunities for students in classes or workshops.