UROP for Staff

As a member of academic staff, a UROP placement could enable you to run a pilot project for a research grant application or support a discrete section of an existing research project for which you are Principal Investigator, providing students the opportunity to develop their research skills and academic knowledge. It can also develop students who may wish to continue to research degrees under your supervision.

UROP placements are initiated by an application from a member of academic staff for placement funding.  Funding calls open just before Christmas and invite applications in February.  Supervisors devise six week research projects which are either stand-alone (such as feasibility or pilot studies) or part of a larger, ongoing research programme.   Funding provides a bursary payment of £1,260 to the student selected and a small contribution to research expenses.

 

What Supervisors Say About UROP

"Many colleagues in humanities think it difficult to engage undergraduates in proper research in fields that rely primarily on books and thoughts. I think I have proved, at least to myself, that they are wrong." Dr Amy Smith, Classics.

"Reading is a research intensive University and the UROP placement is an excellent opportunity for students to integrate with the research community and gain valuable experience - I like to make this point at Open Days."  Dr Jennie Litten-Brown, Agriculture.

"I was very pleased to receive funding for this project, which has proved to be very beneficial to my own research as well as to the development of the student's research skills. I am involved with student recruitment, both at an undergraduate and a postgraduate level, and I feel that the UROP scheme is extremely beneficial with respect to both. Over the course of the summer numerous undergraduate applicants visited the department and having current undergraduates around to talk to them and to tell them about the opportunities for summer research work was a great bonus."  Dr Stephen Langdon, Maths.