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Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs)

The Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) fund collaborative projects students undertake with Brown professors. The awards are named for the legendary dean who launched the program at Brown in the 1980s. UTRAs provide students with opportunities to work closely in research situations with faculty members, to participate integrally in the process of course development and revision, and thereby to experience first-hand the work of the college. These collaborative projects can benefit students in several important ways: by providing valuable academic training; allowing students to test their interest in pursuing an academic career; and contributing directly to research and curricular development.

There are four basic categories of award:

The Research Collaboration Award provides members of the faculty with research assistants to help them in research projects not necessarily connected with the operation of instructional courses. These projects should introduce qualified undergraduates to the methods and rewards of scholarly work. In making these appointments, preference will be given to students who have demonstrated a high level of motivation and interest in the field(s) represented in the project and who bring ideas and background that strengthen the probability of a collaborative partnership. Hence, merely slotting a student into a project is not sufficient.

The Teaching Collaboration Award provides members of the faculty with student collaborators for research that precedes the creation or restructuring of a course. Faculty sponsors have often found that undergraduates who have taken a particular course with them are especially pro-active and valuable in the revision or recasting of a course. In making these appointments, preference will be given to projects that clearly acknowledge and set forth the perspectives and contributions of both student and faculty in the process of curricular revision.

The Team UTRA Award supports small groups of two to four students to work with one or more faculty on research or curriculum development. The application should make clear why each member is included and what specific contributions each can make to the team so that the whole has the potential to be greater than the sum of its parts.

The International UTRA supports collaborative research or teaching projects according to the guidelines listed above when both the student and the faculty member will work together at an international site.