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The University of Texas at Austin

Resources & Other Ways to Get Involved

Students who are interested in research in COLA are encouraged to begin with URAP. Here, you’ll find other opportunities that offer different ways to get involved and build research experience, including programs, courses, labs, funding sources, awards, and events. 

Other Ways to Get Involved in Research

  • Centralized Research Opportunities

    Opportunities coordinated internally by the COLA Undergraduate Research team.

    Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (Summer URAP)

    Are you interested in engaging in research with faculty? Will you be spending this Summer in a community in Texas? If you answered yes to both of these questions, consider applying to the COLA Summer URAP! We are looking for students to participate in a program that combines meaningful engagement in faculty-led research on issues of central relevance to Texas communities with structured scaffolding and support for students’ research and professional development.

    In the program, apprentices will: 

    1. Engage in research training by successfully completing a one-credit Introduction to Research course during the May Term. 
    2. Contribute to faculty research by devoting approximately eight hours per week for eight weeks during the Summer to faculty-led projects focused on issues relevant to Texas communities, and completing all associated research assignments. 
    3. Complete a community-based apprenticeship by devoting approximately 32 hours per week to a placement with a local organization in the student’s city or town, complementing the research experience while strengthening students’ professional competencies and career readiness.
    4. Participate in a weekly online seminar that brings together Summer program participants from across the state, featuring presentations by faculty and opportunities to discuss research interests and experiences throughout the program. 
    5. Engage in ongoing conversations throughout the year with faculty mentors and program alumni about successfully applying research skills and capacities to careers in research and other professional fields. 
    6. Optional: Summer participants may apply to continue conducting research with faculty during the following academic year.

     

    Additional program information:

    • Program dates are May 5–May 28 (May Term) and June 2–July 24 (Summer program).  
    • Students will receive a $5,600 stipend for their successful completion of all research apprenticeship activities.  
    • Apprentices are prohibited from other employment or additional coursework during the 8-week summer program. 

     

    Applications for Summer 2026 are closed as of February 23.

  • Decentralized Research Opportunities

    Formal opportunities run by individual departments or faculty, plus partner programs and external opportunities.

    J.J. Pickle Research Fellowship | Dept. of Government
    A year-long immersive experience in political science research, data analysis, and original project development while serving as research assistants to faculty or doctoral scholars. 

    Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF)
    This fellowship supports promising students in the humanities and related fields through mentoring, research training, and cohort‑based activities that help prepare them for doctoral study and careers in the professoriate.

  • Course-Based Research Opportunities

    Several departments in COLA offer structured research or independent-study courses that allow you to work with faculty while earning academic credit. Options vary by department, so students are encouraged to reach out to their departmental advisors for specific offerings and information.

    Examples

  • Research Labs Across COLA

    Many research labs, centers, and institutes across COLA welcome undergraduate involvement. These groups work on a wide range of topics, from public policy and demography to language and the humanities, and beyond. Many of these centers are ongoing partners of URAP, so we encourage students looking to get involved with these research projects to pursue URAP.

    Featured Labs

     

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  • Other Ways to Get Involved in Research 

    Centralized Research Opportunities

    Opportunities coordinated internally by the COLA Undergraduate Research team.

    Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (Summer URAP)
    Are you interested in engaging in research with faculty? Will you be spending this Summer in a community in Texas? If you answered yes to both of these questions, consider applying to the COLA Summer URAP! We are looking for students to participate in a program that combines meaningful engagement in faculty-led research on issues of central relevance to Texas communities with structured scaffolding and support for students’ research and professional development.

    In the program, apprentices will: 

    1. Engage in research training by successfully completing a onecredit Introduction to Research course during the May Term. 
    2. Contribute to faculty research by devoting approximately 8 hours per week for 8 weeks during the summer to faculty-led projects focused on issues relevant to Texas communities, and completing all associated research assignments. 
    3. Participate in a weekly online seminar that brings together summer program participants from across the state, featuring presentations by faculty and opportunities to discuss research interests and experiences throughout the program. 
    4. Complete a community-based apprenticeship by devoting approximately 32 hours per week to an apprenticeship with a local organization in the student’s city or town. 
    5. Engage in ongoing conversations throughout the year with faculty mentors and program alumni about successfully applying research skills and capacities to careers in research and other professional fields. 
    6. Optional: Summer participants may apply to continue conducting research with faculty during the following academic year.

     

    Additional program information:

    • Program dates are May 5–May 28 (May Term) and June 2–July 24 (Summer program).  
    • Students will receive a $5,600 stipend for their successful completion of all research apprenticeship activities.  
    • Apprentices are prohibited from other employment or additional coursework during the 8-week summer program. 

     

    Apply here: Summer URAP 2026 Application (Applications are due by 5 PM on February 23, 2026) 

     

    Decentralized Research Opportunities

    Formal opportunities run by individual departments or faculty, plus partner programs and external opportunities.

    J.J. Pickle Research Fellowship | Dept. of Government
    A year-long immersive experience in political science research, data analysis, and original project development while serving as research assistants to faculty or doctoral scholars. 

    Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF)
    This fellowship supports promising students in the humanities and related fields through mentoring, research training, and cohort‑based activities that help prepare them for doctoral study and careers in the professoriate.

     

    Course-Based Research Opportunities

    Several departments in COLA offer structured research or independent-study courses that allow you to work with faculty while earning academic credit. Options vary by department, so students are encouraged to reach out to their departmental advisors for specific offerings and information.

    Examples include:

     

    Research Labs Across COLA

    Many research labs, centers, and institutes across COLA welcome undergraduate involvement. These groups work on a wide range of topics, from public policy and demography to language and the humanities, and beyond. Many of these centers are ongoing partners of URAP, so we encourage students looking to get involved with these research projects to pursue URAP.

    Featured Labs:

     

  • Resources

    Funding & Scholarships

    Students may choose to apply for research funding to cover project costs such as data collection, materials, software, travel, or other research‑related expenses. COLA students can apply for a variety of internal and external awards to support their work.

    Examples of Research Funding Opportunities:

    Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Award
    Provides up to $1,000 to support research projects proposed by full-time COLA undergraduates and supervised by a UT Austin faculty or research staff member. 

    Undergraduate Research Fellowship 
    Offers up to $1,000 for research projects proposed by full-time UT Austin undergraduates in any department, carried out under the supervision of a faculty or research staff member.

     

    Events & Conferences

    There are numerous internal and external opportunities for students to learn more about research, present their projects, meet fellow researchers and involved faculty, and engage in the broader research community.

    Upcoming Opportunities:

    Capital of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference (CTURC)
    An annual, student-organized event that brings together undergraduate researchers from across Texas and neighboring states to present their original work, receive feedback, and engage in an interdisciplinary community that celebrates and promotes undergraduate research. This year's CTURC will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Abstracts are due by Friday, February 6, 2026.

    Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Fair
    Every Spring and Fall semester, the COLA Undergraduate Research Fair connects students with various COLA research groups, labs, and programs, offering a chance to explore opportunities, talk directly with research leaders, and engage with the research community. This year's fair will be held during Liberal Arts Week on Monday, March 23, 2026.

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    Tips & Tools for Finding a Research Mentor

    Many students aren’t sure where to begin when searching for a research mentor—and that’s okay! These tips can help you take the first steps with confidence.

    • Identify faculty whose research aligns with your interests by reflecting on classes you’ve taken or browsing departmental faculty pages.
    • Contact faculty directly to express your interest, enthusiasm, and curiosity about their research, and ask if they work with undergraduate researchers.
    • Explore programs like URAP that provide structured pathways and support for working with a faculty mentor.
    • Stay open to learning about different fields or methods—sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected places!
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Resources

  • Funding, Scholarships, & Awards

    Research Funding Opportunities

    Students may choose to apply for research funding to cover project costs such as data collection, materials, software, travel, or other research‑related expenses. COLA students can apply for a variety of internal and external awards to support their work. Examples of current active awards are below.

     

    Undergraduate Research Awards

    The COLA Undergraduate Research team also offers two annual awards for students participating in research experiences like URAP. These funds are designed either to support ongoing research projects or to recognize outstanding research accomplishments.

    • Rising Researcher Award
      Each year, at least three $1,000 awards are given to nominated undergraduates who have excelled in one of our core COLA undergraduate research programs: Cohort URAP and Individual URAP. Recipients are selected based on their contributions to their research group, their potential for continued research, and their fit with their faculty mentor. Award funds are provided as hourly pay for students to continue their research project. Check out the 2025 Rising Researchers.
       
    • Faculty-Undergraduate Collaborative Research Award
      This award honors Liberal Arts undergraduates who have made substantive, meaningful contributions to collaborative scholarly or creative projects conducted with a faculty mentor. Eligible projects include any jointly-produced scholarly or creative output, such as co‑authored journal articles, book chapters, conference presentations, exhibitions, museum projects, creative works, digital humanities products, public‑facing scholarship, or other forms of professional dissemination. One $1,500 award is given annually, with $1,000 going to the student and $500 to the faculty mentor.
  • Events & Conferences

    There are numerous internal and external opportunities for students to learn more about research, present their projects, meet fellow researchers and involved faculty, and engage in the broader research community.

    Upcoming Opportunities

    • Capital of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference (CTURC)
      An annual, student-organized event that brings together undergraduate researchers from across Texas and neighboring states to present their original work, receive feedback, and engage in an interdisciplinary community that celebrates and promotes undergraduate research. This year's CTURC will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
       
    • Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Fair
      Every Spring and Fall semester, the COLA Undergraduate Research Fair connects students with various COLA research groups, labs, and programs, offering a chance to explore opportunities, talk directly with research leaders, and engage with the research community. This year's fair will be held during Liberal Arts Week on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
  • Tips & Tools for Finding a Research Mentor

    Many students aren’t sure where to begin when searching for a research mentor—and that’s okay! These tips can help you take the first steps with confidence.

    • Identify faculty whose research aligns with your interests by reflecting on classes you’ve taken or browsing departmental faculty pages.
    • Reach out to faculty to express your interest, enthusiasm, and curiosity about their research, and ask if they work with undergraduate researchers. Speaking with them in person is often a stronger way to connect than an email.
    • Explore programs like URAP that provide structured pathways and support for working with a faculty mentor.
    • Stay open to learning about different fields or methods—sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected places!
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