University of Utah Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)

Opportunity Description:

The purpose of SPUR is to provide undergraduate students with an intensive 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. The program provides opportunities to gain research experience in a variety of disciplines.

SPUR emphasizes a collaborative research experience under the supervision of a University of Utah faculty member. At the time of application, students will indicate to which available projects they are applying. Final student placement will be determined by the Selection Committee. Details regarding expectations and/or requirements of the research are negotiated between the student and the faculty mentor, following program guidelines.

SPUR 2022 will begin on May 25, 2022 and end on August 4, 2022. 

For information on the projects available in 2022, see this page.

Primary Responsibilities: 

The expectations of the program are as follows:

• Time Commitment: This is a full-time program. Student participants are expected to spend 35-40 hours per week on research and program-related activities for the entire duration of the program (May 25-August 4, 2022). Details regarding expectations and/or requirements of the research will be negotiated between the student and faculty mentor.
• Bi-Weekly Meetings: Student participants are expected to attend regular meetings in which they will practice presenting their research and participate in professional development activities.
• Program Events: Students are expected to attend all required program meetings and events, including: orientation, opening luncheon, Grad School Mini-Expo, individual meeting with program coordinator, closing luncheon.
• Undergraduate Research Education Series: Student participants are required to attend weekly research and professional development events.
• Final Presentation: Student participants are required to present their work (poster format) at the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium held on Thursday, August 4, 2022.
• Journal Submission: Student participants are required to submit a one-page summary of their experience to the University of Utah Undergraduate Research Journal upon completion of the program.
• Final Report: Student participants are required to submit a final report that details their SPUR experience. This is collected via survey format.
• All-Programs Socials (optional): If their schedules allow, student participants are encouraged to attend socials that are planned by other formal summer UR programs on campus.
• UROP Proposal (optional): If eligible, University of Utah student participants are encouraged to prepare UROP proposals to allow them to continue their research in the Fall (or other future) semester. Support for UROP proposal preparation will be provided.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

Admission to the program is competitive. Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• be a matriculated, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the Fall 2022 semester (beginning or continuing college career in Fall 2022 and not graduating before December 2022; concurrent enrollment while in high school does not meet this eligibility requirement). Applicants do not need to be a University of Utah student.
• eligible to work in the United States:
  • If you are a University of Utah Dreamer (with or without DACA), you are eligible to participate. U Dreamers with DACA will be hired and paid through U payroll. U Dreamers without DACA who graduated from a Utah high school will be compensated via a different mechanism.
  • If you are a Dreamer from a different institution: If you have DACA, you are eligible to participate and will be hired and paid though U payroll. If you do not have DACA, you are able to participate and gain research experience, but we do not currently have a mechanism that allows us to compensate you. For more information, please contact Megan Shannahan at megan.shannahan@utah.edu or 801-581-2478.
  • If you are an international student or scholar, you must either a) be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Utah, OR b) possess documentation that establishes your eligibility to work in the United States (if you hold US citizenship, it is likely you have these documents). Click here to view list of acceptable documents.
• able to commit to approximately 35-40 hours per week of employment at the University of Utah for the entire duration of the program (May 25-August 4, 2022)
• at least 18 years old by May 23, 2022 (required if you wish to use on-campus housing; preferred if you will not be using on-campus housing)
• For HAPPIEST projects (Collingwood, Kirchhoff, Mendoza, VanDerslice): Applicants MUST be University of Utah students from underrepresented groups as defined by the National Institutes of Health (Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinxs, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders).

Application Process: 

The application procedure is as follows:

1. Review list of available projects. Think about which projects you would like to officially apply to through the application form.
2. Complete the online application form and submit by the application deadline (the form must be completed in one sitting - you cannot save your progress and return to it later). The application form includes the following sections:
   • Your contact information
   • Optional demographic information
   • Academic information
   • Personal statement: In approximately 500 words or less (3,500 characters), please describe your reason for applying to SPUR (for example, how your participation in SPUR would contribute to your educational/professional goals), what you hope to gain from this program, the research you are interested in conducting (should be related to project choices), any technical skills you possess, and any previous research experience.
   • Project list: indicate up to three available projects to which you are applying
   • Resume/CV (Uploaded via the form. Must be .pdf.)
   • Transcript (Uploaded via the form. May be either official or unofficial. Make sure the institution name appears on the transcript. If you have not completed any college work, please upload your high school transcripts. Must be a .pdf.)
   • Two letters of recommendation (Uploaded by recommenders by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 (a link is sent to them via email once you submit your application)). Preferably, letters of recommendation are written by faculty members who can attest to your suitability for research, motivation, and classroom performance. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure the recommenders receive the link and submit their letters on time.
   • Application conditions
   • Application certification
3. Once the application is submitted, you should receive a confirmation email to the email address provided in the form. If you do not receive the email within a few minutes, and it is not in your junk/spam folder, please email our@utah.edu to confirm that we have record of the correct email address.

The deadline to submit an application is 11:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Your application is not considered complete until both letters of recommendation have been submitted (deadline for letters is 11:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, February 2, 2022). Accepted and waitlisted applicants will receive notification of the Selection Committee's decision via email in early to mid-March. Final notifications will be sent to remaining applicants at the beginning of April.

Application Deadline: