1. Beginning Researcher Support Program

Beginning Researcher Support Program

Beginning Researcher Support Program

The Beginning Researcher Support Program provides research opportunities for undergraduates who are engaging in formal research for the first time. While open to all undergraduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences who are engaging in research for the first time, freshmen, sophomores, and first-year transfer students are especially encouraged to apply for this support. The objective of the Beginning Researchers Support Program is to enable undergraduates to explore research experiences under the guidance of a faculty researcher.

Process

  1. Faculty submit project opportunities to CAS Director of Student Engagement. Proposals should include a brief description of the research project, specific skills and tasks the students will work on, student learning outcomes, hourly student pay, and hours per week information.
  2. CAS Director of Student Engagement posts list of available projects on the Beginning Researcher webpage (see link in red banner above).
  3. Students review project summaries and email faculty for projects they are interested in to set up a time to connect and learn more about the project (see guide to writing emails to faculty here). 
  4. Students submit applications indicating their top 2 preferred projects. Applications will include a resume, a cover letter for each of their top 2 projects, and an unofficial transcript.
  5. After the student application period closes, the CAS Director of Student Engagement will send applications to faculty for review.
  6. Faculty review applications and send final selections to CAS Student Engagement Coordinator.
  7. CAS Director of Student Engagement notifies students regardless of outcome and works with departments and HR to hire selected students onto projects.
  8. Selected students attend an onboarding orientation with CAS Director of Student Engagement prior to beginning research.
  9. Students and faculty conduct research over two terms receiving periodic check-ins and workshop training from CAS Director of Student Engagement.
  10. Students create and present a research poster at either the CAS Student Showcase in fall term, the Virtual Research Symposium in winter term, or the Spring Poster Symposium in spring term.

**Beginning in the 2025 cycle, the Beginning Researcher Support Program will run only once per year, during the Summer/Fall terms, with applications opening in the spring. Students and faculty seeking opportunities during the academic year are encouraged to apply to the URSA Engage program in fall term, with research taking place in winter and spring.

 

Timeline for Summer/Fall 2026 Program:

  • Friday, April 3, 2026: Faculty project proposals due
  • Monday, April 6, 2026: Student application opens
  • Friday, April 24, 2026 @ 5pm PST: Student application closes
  • April 27-May 8, 2026: Review of applications, faculty interviews of applicants
  • Monday, May 11, 2026: Student selection notification
  • May 11-22, 2026: Required 1-on-1 student orientations with CAS Student Engagement Coordinator
  • After research experience: Create and present a research poster at either the CAS Student Showcase in the fall term, the Virtual Research Symposium in winter term, or the Spring Poster Symposium in May

Funding

  • E.R. Jackman Friends and Alumni (ERJFA) funds this program and should be acknowledged in any publications or presentations that feature work supported by these funds. 
  • Projects are funded at the discretion of the Academic Programs Office and dependent on the number of proposals received, and available funding. 
  • Selected students are funded for $1000. Funds must be used for student wages only. Funds are transferred directly to a faculty/department account and students are provided an hourly wage based on hours worked. Unused funds must be returned at end of project cycle.  
  • Faculty cost share is not required for the Beginning Researcher program.

Eligibility

  • Students must be enrolled in a College of Agricultural Sciences undergraduate major while conducting a project.
  • All CAS undergraduate students (including Ecampus, LaGrande campus, and postbacc students) may apply, but preference will be given to freshmen, sophomores, first-year transfers, or other students who do not have previous research experience.
  • Students can only receive Beginning Researcher Support Program funding one time. 

For questions and information, contact:

Rachel Jones, CAS Director of Student Engagement
Email [email protected]
541-737-7410