The UROP program encourages undergraduate research by funding undergraduate students to work as Undergraduate Research Assistants (URAs) on a research project sponsored by a CS faculty member. Students appointed with UROP funding are expected to contribute under supervision to a program of departmental or interdepartmental research. Some UROP students work closely with their faculty advisors, often as party of larger research teams. Advanced research assistants may carry out independent research on projects they have defined, under the guidance of faculty.

Pay

URAs can be assigned to work 10 or 20 hours per week at a pay rate based on their class rank as set by UT Human Resource Services. URAs appointed to a 20-hour position are eligible for an out-of-state tuition waiver (PDF) for the semester in which they receive UROP funding.

Requirements

To hold a UROP position:

• You must be enrolled for 12 hours in a long semester (fall or spring) or 3 hours in the summer semester. You must be registered and your tuition paid for your appointment to be processed.
• Your combined UT employment and semester-hour course load may not exceed 40 hours a week in any semester or summer term.
• You must successfully pass a background check and you will be required to complete forms and submit documentation establishing your eligibility to work in the United States.

Application Process

Proposals in any CS research area are welcome. Proposals are accepted in late November and early May.  Watch the newsletter for exact dates.  Appointment as a URA is distinct from registration for an individual instruction course (either CS 370 or CS 379H), and you do not need to be enrolled in such a course to apply.

Before you can apply, you will need to find a faculty member with whom to work. Then, with advice from your faculty mentor, you will be able to create your application, which includes a short description of your proposed research (see below).

To complete the UROP Application, you need a UT EID and a faculty sponsor, and you must provide the following:

• A resume and list of previous work experience
• A list of your 5 highest-level CS courses (or equivalent) taken, including the grade assigned for each course
• A short description (no more than 5 pages) of your proposed research, including:
  • The role that research plays in your academic program and career goals
  • The impact of your particular work on other departmental research or if it is part of a larger research effort
  • Your qualification to do the research
  • If you are enrolled in CS 370 or CS 379H (not required), a description of your work in that course and how it relates to or is separate from your proposed UROP research

Application deadlines are announced mid-semester and are posted online, via departmental flyers, and through the weekly CS email newsletter.

More Information

If you have questions or concerns about UROP assignments, please contact tgrady [at] cs [dot] utexas [dot] edu (Tiffany Grady).