College of Nursing Undergraduate Research Scholar Program

Beginning with graduation in December 2006, it will be possible for University of Utah students to earn the designation Undergraduate Research Scholar, which will appear in the Awards section of their transcripts. To receive this designation a student must:

• engage in a minimum of 2 semesters of research or creative work with a faculty mentor who holds a recognized faculty rank at the University of Utah
• be a participant in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) or other recognized university research program OR have a letter from the faculty mentor signed by both the mentor and the mentor's department chair
• present at the UROP Symposium, or at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) or at a professional conference
• publish in the Undergraduate Research Abstracts Journal or in a professional journal

Mission of the College of Nursing Undergraduate Research Scholar Program

To promote research in nursing and gerontology among undergraduate students through faculty mentoring and to support those students working towards the Undergraduate Research Scholar designation.

What's in it for me?

• Gain exposure to careers involving clinical research.
• Develop practical skills in writing research proposals, designing research studies, recruiting study participants, collecting data, and reporting the results.
• Obtain experiences that can prepare you for graduate school, including entry to a BS-PhD program in nursing.
• Help advance the state of science and knowledge in healthcare though conducting clinical research.

Funding Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
UROP provides undergraduate students and faculty members the opportunity to work together on research or creative projects. UROP provides assistantships up to $1200 for any first-time UROP student who assists with a faculty member's research or creative project, or who carries out a project of her/his own under the supervision of a faculty member. Students may apply for a UROP assistantship for any semester (summer included), and are eligible to apply for a one semester renewal of their assistantship. Renewals for any semester may be funded up to $600.

Details about eligibility, proposal requirements, and deadlines can be found on the UROP website: http://www.ugs.utah.edu/urop/

The coordinator of the CON Undergraduate Research Scholar Program will also ensure that the student’s project meets the criteria for UROP and can also assist with UROP applications.

College of Nursing Undergraduate Research Stipend
The College of Nursing Office of Research will provide a stipend for one undergraduate student per academic year. Preference will go to students in the RN-BSN program or any other student enrolled in courses at the College of Nursing who do not qualify for UROP funding because of their part-time status. Funding levels, proposal review criteria, and deadlines are the same as UROP. Proposals for the College of Nursing Undergraduate Research Stipend will be reviewed by the College of Nursing Research Committee and the Program Coordinator.

If this stipend is not awarded to a part-time student at the College of Nursing, then full-time students who applied for, but did not receive an UROP assistantship, may be considered.

How to get involved

Interested students should contact the Coordinator of the College of Nursing Undergraduate Research Scholar Program who will work with the student to find an appropriate faculty mentor and project.

Program Coordinator: Alexa Doig RN, PhD
Room 569, College of Nursing
Email: alexa.doig@nurs.utah.edu
Phone: 801-581-4381