Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)

Please assemble your application materials in the following order:

• Personal Statement that answers the following questions (maximum of one single-spaced page):
  • What motivates your interest in this field of study?
  • What are your current academic and/or career goals?
  • How does participating in this summer research program support those goals?
  • What skills or knowledge do you hope to gain?
• Project description and overview of student project responsibilities that answers the following questions (maximum of two single-spaced pages):
  • The central question, problem, or creative objective of the project and its significance
  • How the project connects to your faculty mentor’s broader research or creative work (if applicable)
  • Your specific responsibilities and role in the project
  • The methods, approaches, or tools you will use
• A brief timeline identifying major goals, tasks, and anticipated outcomes across the program
• IRB or IACUC application status (if applicable)
• Description of prior, current or pending research funding support (if applicable)
  • Please list any research funding you have personally received in the past, are currently receiving, or have applied for. Only funding awarded directly to you as the applicant should be included (do not list funding received by your faculty mentor or other students). Applicants are expected to provide complete and accurate information regarding funding support.
• Advising report (found on Buckeyelink, used to verify enrollment and graduation)
• Name of your faculty research mentor and letter of recommendation
  • Note: Please have your faculty mentor email the letter of recommendation to OSAS-URAP@osu.edu by the application deadline. Applications will be considered incomplete until this letter is received.

A faculty mentor's guidance is a critical part of this experience, and we appreciate your willingness to support undergraduate research. The faculty mentor’s role primarily involves guiding the student’s research project, meeting to discuss progress, and reviewing the weekly work summaries that students provide throughout the program.

As part of the application materials, faculty mentors are required to submit a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should address the following areas:

• The student’s preparedness and potential to successfully complete the proposed research or creative project, including specific qualities, skills, experiences, or strengths that make them well suited for this work.
• Evidence or examples demonstrating the student’s ability to carry out the project, such as prior coursework, research experience, technical skills, initiative, problem-solving abilities, creativity, or professionalism.
• Why funding from our office is important to the student’s ability to complete the project and how the support would enhance the overall research or creative experience.
• How participation in the program and its associated opportunities — such as the URAP curriculum, professional development programming, networking, and engagement with a community of researchers — would benefit the student academically, professionally, and personally.
• The student’s future goals (e.g., graduate or professional school, careers in industry, nonprofit work, public service, etc.) and how participation in the program would support those aspirations.
• Any additional information the faculty mentor believes would help the review committee better understand the student’s potential, commitment, and fit for the program.

Please email your letter of recommendation to OSAS-URAP@osu.edu by the application deadline. Applications will be considered incomplete until this letter is received.