The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of student scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines. Through this annual conference, NCUR creates a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement; provides models of exemplary research, scholarship, and creative activity; and helps to improve the state of undergraduate education. Each conference hosts 3,500 to 4,000 students from across the globe, presenting their research through posters, oral presentations, visual arts, and performances.
Students who have been accepted to NCUR and do not already have funding (via a grant, fellowship, etc.) are encouraged to apply for an OURI travel grant. Only students have been accepted to present at NCUR are eligible for travel funding, and priority may be given to students who have not previously presented their projects at a national conference.
Important considerations:
Students receiving this award must submit a brief report of their activities and refection on the experience to their faculty mentor and to OURI (OURI@ut.edu) within 30 days of the event.
Students who are selected for these awards and do not participate in the events will not be eligible for any funding from OURI in the future.
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) is pleased to accept proposals from departments and faculty to develop or redesign courses to focus on inquiry-based experiential education. These courses will ensure “students will be introduced to the tools and technologies of their disciplines” through “enhanced discipline-based courses” (Learning By Doing: Inquiry-Based Experiential Education, p. 17).
Research and Inquiry Curriculum grant information.
Please direct any questions to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI@ut.edu).
Applications for the 2025-2026 Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Grants must be written jointly by both the student(s) and faculty mentor(s), with the faculty member(s) responsible for submitting the application online through Submittable. This grant is intended to be a collaborative effort between students and faculty members from idea generation through project completion. Please note instructions denoting student(s) and faculty member(s) contributions on the application. Faculty from diverse disciplines will be reviewing these grant proposals, so please make sure that the application is written for review by individuals outside your discipline.
Approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is not required at the time of application, but all projects requiring interaction with human subjects must be approved by the IRB prior to participant research being initiated. Likewise, projects involving non-human vertebrate animals will require Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval before research can be initiated. Notification of IRB or IACUC approval must be provided to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) when granted in order for grant funds to be released.
Failure to follow the guidelines may prevent your application from being funded.
Please direct any questions to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI@ut.edu).
Applications for the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program must be written jointly by both the student and faculty mentor(s), with the faculty member responsible for submitting the application online through Submittable. This grant is intended to be a collaborative effort between students and faculty members from idea generation through project completion. Please note instructions denoting student and faculty member’s contributions on the application. Faculty from diverse disciplines will be reviewing these grant proposals, so please make sure that the application is written for review by individuals outside your discipline.
Approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is not required at the time of application, but all projects requiring interaction with human subjects must be approved by the IRB prior to participant research being initiated. Likewise, projects involving non-human vertebrate animals will require Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval before research can be initiated. Notification of IRB or IACUC approval must be provided to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) when granted in order for SURF funds to be released.
Failure to follow the guidelines may prevent your application from being funded.
Please direct any questions to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI@ut.edu).