Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

My Research Journey

What is a research university?

Research Awards By Sponsor Type

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Direct Federal Sponsors

UCSB as Research University

Mission Statement

“The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Teaching and research go hand-in-hand at UC Santa Barbara. Our students are full participants in an educational journey of discovery that stimulates independent thought, critical reasoning, and creativity [...]”

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What is research?

An inquiry, investigation, or pursuit conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original, intellectual, or creative contribution to a discipline, area, question, challenge, or theme

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/UCSBURA

What are your options �for research?

Assist a faculty member or graduate student on an existing project

Design and conduct an independent project, under the supervision of an advisor or as part of a team

Work on a project that merges your own interests with those of a faculty member or graduate student

Volunteer with

a professor or grad student

• Learn about what research is
• Decide if type of research is a good fit for you
• Get to know a professor on a different level than the classroom interaction
• Earn academic credit

Why do research?

Benefits for you

• Learn collaboration skills with peers and faculty
• Learn about issues and methods while applying concepts learned in your courses
• Sharpen problem-solving, reading, writing and speaking skills
• Grow as a critical, analytical and independent thinker
• Find out if research is for you
• Build your resume

Benefits for

Professors

• Professors and graduate students like working with students!
• They learn with you. Most faculty and graduate students could not get their research done without you
• Faculty and graduate students get credit towards their merit working with you!

@UCSBURCA

/UCSBURCA

UCSB_URCA

Undergraduate Research Initiatives

Undergraduate Research Initiatives

FRAP

• Faculty Research Assistance Program
• Earn academic credit as a research assistant
• Start building a professional relationship with professors

Who should apply?

• Anyone in the College of Letters & Science
• Students who want to get involved with research
• Students who are already involved in research, but want to do more

URCA

• Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Grant (URCA)
• Up to $750 towards independent research and/or creative activities
• Funds cover expenses, including research-related domestic travel
• To qualify, a student must meet general requirements and submit a complete application by the deadline

Transfer Student Research Award

• TSRA provides support for transfer students to engage in research activities
• Two sets of grants
• Graduating seniors for research projects to be completed by June
• Juniors/rising seniors for research projects to be completed by December of the following year.

Requirements

• Good academic standing
• Be engaged (or plan to be engaged) in a research or creative project
• Have faculty mentor to supervise project and provide letter of support

URCA Week

Digital Colloquium

https://urca.ucsb.edu/colloquium

Undergraduate �Colloquium Unbound

• Present research using any medium other than a poster presentation.
• Select presentations will be displayed throughout the UCSB Library

Undergraduate �Research Slam

• Present your research or creative activity in 3 minutes!
• Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place!

What can you do

to get involved?

Go to class.

Professors: Get to know them.

TAs: Get to know �them, too.

Be and stay curious.

Explore your interests.

Anita Stahl, PhD

Director, URCA

anita@ucsb.edu

urca@ltsc.ucsb.edu

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Nectir #urca

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