Unveiling the University Scholars Program at the University of Florida

The University Scholars Program (USP) at the University of Florida (UF) offers undergraduate students an unparalleled opportunity to engage in in-depth research and scholarly activities under the direct mentorship of UF faculty. This program serves as an exceptional capstone to the academic careers of UF students, providing valuable insight into how new knowledge is created and developed and how existing knowledge is focused on important problems. Designed to introduce students to the world of academic research, the USP fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the scholarly method.

Program Overview

The core purpose of the University Scholars Program is to immerse University of Florida undergraduate students in research. The program entails undertaking a full research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Through this program, CLAS University Scholars will gain valuable insights into how to perform research and create knowledge.

A competition is held each spring within participating colleges for the University Scholars awards. Only 200 students from all disciplines are selected through a competitive process to participate in this program. The University Scholars Program at the University of Florida is a campus-wide undergraduate research program funded by the Office of the Provost and coordinated by the University Honors Program. The goal of the program is to fund year-long student research projects with UF faculty in individual disciplines as well as some interdisciplinary work.

Beginning this year, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is sponsoring a single college-wide undergraduate research award, the CLAS University Scholars Program (USP). With the support of Beyond120 and the Center for Undergraduate research, the CLAS USP gives undergraduate students an opportunity to work one-on-one with a CLAS faculty member on a research project. Scholars can undertake a variety of scholarly projects, including those that draw from laboratory-based research, archival research, field work, and other methodologies.

UF undergraduate students work one-on-one with UF faculty on selected research projects to gain valuable experience and explore potential career opportunities. The program introduces undergraduate students at the University of Florida to the exciting world of academic research. In the program, students work one-on-one with UF faculty on selected research projects.

Financial Support

Each scholar will receive a $1,750 stipend disbursed in two phases. Selected students will receive $1750 stipend for the supervised research, disbursed in two payments (fall and spring). Each award is a student stipend in the total amount of $1,750 for supervised research, payable as two payments, $750 at the beginning of Fall and $1000 at the end of Spring. The USP awards that includes a $1,750 stipend. The program provides $1750 stipends to undergraduate students undertaking a full research project under the guidance of a faculty member.

The mentor will receive a stipend paid through the department fiscal contact to be used for the mentor’s professional development. The faculty mentor who hosts a student will receive $500 in support of the research project. Faculty mentors receive $500 that can be used for travel or research-related items. The funds can be used for the purchase of necessary reagents or supplies.

Eligibility and Requirements

To participate from the College of the Arts, you may not graduate before Spring 2026 and you must have a minimum 3.25 GPA. Research will take place during Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. If you plan to apply through another college, you must adhere to their requirements. Students with a minimum 3.50 cumulative undergraduate GPA align with Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Ph.D. graduate admissions standards. Preference may be given to students with Junior or Senior status. Must have at least one more year of undergraduate studies remaining.

Each spring semester, participating colleges and academic centers review applications. Students from all disciplines are selected through a competitive process to participate in this program.

Undergraduate students enrolled in the Latin American Studies Minor or Certificate can opt for research immersion opportunities and are eligible for paid research. University of Florida undergraduate students from any college who wish to conduct research with a faculty member in the College of Pharmacy are encouraged to apply to the University Scholars Program (USP).

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Finding a Research Mentor

The first step is to find a research mentor who will support your application. This can be any UF faculty member who will commit to sponsoring you on the proposed project. This can either be a project you have developed, or you may join an on-going research project and team. You do not have to restrict yourself to researchers in your home department, school, center, institute, or college. Find a research faculty and project of interest that is accepting University Scholars participants.

Interested students need to contact a faculty member with whom they would like to conduct research; a list of faculty research interests is found in a table appearing below.

College-Specific Requirements

Once you have identified a research mentor who will support your application, check out the USP requirements for the college of your mentor (links to the USP info for each college are here). The application will be submitted to the USP representative in the research mentor’s college, not in your home college. Each department and college sets their own due dates and it is your responsibility to know the applicable date and meet that deadline. All students must apply to the University Scholars Program through the college of your research mentor.

Required Documents

1) Download and complete the University Scholars Program Application Cover Sheet2) 1-Page Research Proposal: Describe your project, its significance, and the research activities you will do during your time in the University Scholars Program. If your project is collaborative or part of your faculty mentor’s research, explain your role in the larger project.3) Letter of Support from your Faculty Mentor

Items #1 and #2 should be combined into a single PDF. Complete the Center for Undergraduate Research Application. If the document is not editable, please try the application in another browser or contact Dr. Rawlinson for an editable version. Submit these documents to Dr.

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After you have been nominated for consideration for the program, submit this online form.

Proposals will be reviewed and final selections made by the College of the Arts Research Committee, so write for students and faculty members in diverse disciplines outside your own. Selection of the University Scholars within the College of Pharmacy will be determined by the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. Awardees will be selected by the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Research Committee and the Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies.

Program Expectations and Deliverables

Those students receiving a USP award MUST attend a mandatory orientation with the Center for Undergraduate Research in Spring 2025, April 8 at 1:00pm in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Each University Scholar is required to attend USP orientations. Orientation is a way for CUR staff to get to know the students and for the students to be able to have an open forum for questions. During this orientation all details of the program requirements will be covered.

Scholars are expected to complete their proposed creative/research project following all stated guidelines and requirements. Students must begin their research starting the Summer semester, and the exact start time and commitment should be discussed with the students’ mentors prior to submitting their application. The College of Veterinary Medicine requires that each student take 1-5 hrs of course work (e.g., VME4906 Problems in Veterinary Science) during the summer while working on their scholars’ project. Students must be in good standing to receive their second stipend payment.

University Scholars commit 8-10 hours per week on a research project under the guidance of UF faculty. Registration for research credit in the department of the faculty mentor is expected for each semester of the program.

Presentation and Publication Requirements

Participants must present the results of their projects at the annual research symposium, and are invited to submit papers to the UF Journal of Undergraduate Research. Scholars are required to present their research poster at the University of Florida Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. Present the results of the research at the University Scholars Undergraduate Research Symposium.

You will be sent directions on how to submit your abstract and the required format before the deadline, which will be announced by January 15, 2027. You must submit your abstract on time to be considered for the Spring Symposium. Every University Scholar is required to meet the publication requirement. Scholars must submit by 11:59 pm on April 1st or will be put into repayment.

The best option is to be a co-author with your advisor and/or research team on a paper submitted to a professional journal. Talk to your advisor early to determine if this is a possibility for you. To meet this requirement your research mentor must sign the form provided in the USP canvas site to verify that they will include you as a co-author in an article submitted to peer reviewed journal by the end of the calendar year (2026). This is also due with a hard deadline of April 1 at 11:59PM.

If you will not be a co-author on a professional publication by the end of the calendar year, you must submit a research paper to JUR in the required format, by the JUR deadline (April 1, 2026). No late papers or papers not in the required format will be accepted. You must follow all of JURs deadlines and format requirements. Papers that do not meet their submission guidelines will not be accepted. Submitting to JUR may preclude later submission to a professional journal but as each has their own regulations about previously submitted/published work, you and your research mentor will have to determine if there is a conflict. This is a good option to preserve your data for future publication or if you and your mentor determine that the project did not progress to the point of meriting a journal article. To meet this requirement, you will write a research paper in the required JUR format and submit it to the USP Canvas along with a form signed by your mentor. University Scholars performing research within the College of Pharmacy are also required to prepare and submit their final research paper to the university’s online Journal of Undergraduate Research.

Application Process and Deadlines

A competition is held each spring within participating colleges and centers for the University Scholars awards. Applications for the University Scholars Program for the Bob Graham Center for Public Service must be submitted by February 3, 2020 to Dr. Students must submit their application and supplemental materials by February 3, 2020. The College of Veterinary Medicine will accept applications/nominations for students up to but not later than February 23, 2024. Applications are due February 1. All materials should be turned in to the faculty mentor’s unit by February 3rd.

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