The University of Iowa is a research-intensive university that considers excellent undergraduate education the core of its mission. In Liberal Arts & Sciences, which awards 70 percent of the University's undergraduate degrees, we are committed to promoting the opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate in research.
Get involved in undergraduate research
Undergraduates benefit from the opportunity to study with research-active faculty members; to learn how research, scholarship, and artistic work are undertaken; and to participate in this creative work.
The university and college offer the following opportunities for faculty members to support undergraduate students working with them on research projects:
ICRU promotes undergraduate involvement in research and creative projects at the University of Iowa. We serve students, staff, and faculty and work to create opportunities, provide support, and share the knowledge that comes from these collaborative efforts.
The Iowa Sciences Academy (ISA) is home to a range of programs that support the success of undergraduate students interested in research and scientific communication. Through ISA programs, students have access to hands-on research, professional development, and scientific outreach opportunities.
The Dewey Stuit Fund in Liberal Arts and Sciences promotes the development of mentor-protégé relationships between undergraduate students and faculty members. Grants from the Dewey Stuit Fund may support: undergraduate student travel to disciplinary conferences, workshops, archives, or other sites, either to present their work or to advance their research or creative projects; equipment or supplies needed for an undergraduate research or creative project; departmental prizes for undergraduate research or creative efforts; mentoring activities such as faculty lunches or dinners with undergraduate students. Students working with faculty on research or creative projects may apply for funds to help support research-related costs or for travel to conferences where they will present or advance their research. Faculty may also apply on behalf of students. Faculty and departments may apply for funds to support mentoring activities or awards honoring undergraduate student research.
This fund, established by Iowa Hawkeyes head football coach Kirk Ferentz and his family, offers support for undergraduates who are registered for a research project, honors in the major, guided independent study, research-based capstone course, or for the BFA project during the semester of the award.
These scholarships enable students to pursue learning activities in international studies that are not available on the UI campus. Students develop proposals in close consultation with faculty members for well-conceived, small-scale research or fieldwork projects on international topics that require travel abroad. These scholarships are administered by the Office of International Programs.