UROP Student Funding Recap: 2024

UROP continued to support undergraduate research and creative work across the UHM campus in AY24 through its three student-funding opportunities.

Entering Research and Creative Work

UROP’s Entering Research and Creative Work (ERC) opportunity provides funding for early-career undergraduate students to obtain mentorship and training in research or creative practice. Students receive stipends for a semester or an entire academic year to work closely alongside a mentor on a new or existing project; their work may involve everything from conducting literature reviews, to learning to use specific tools or techniques, to contributing to research design and execution.

In Fall 2024, UROP received 21 applications from 21 students for the ERC opportunity, representing a total request of $54,000. These numbers amount to a tie for the second highest number of applicants in the past 5 application cycles. Seventeen of these applications were approved for funding in the amount of $42,000.

Project Funding

UROP’s Project funding opportunity supports mentored undergraduate research and creative projects in all disciplines, covering such expenses as materials and supplies, travel, outsourcing, and project time.

In Fall 2024, UROP received 97 proposals from 158 students (72 students as individual applicants and 86 students from 25 groups) for Project funding, representing a total request of $544,000. These numbers amount to the second-highest number of applicants and fifth-highest number of proposals in the past 27 application cycles. Ultimately, 47 applications from 65 students (43 students as individual awardees and 21 students from 6 groups) were approved for funding in the amount of $230,000.

Presentation Funding

Presentation funding from UROP enables students to share their research and creative work at formal venues—such as conferences, meetings, and performances—locally, domestically, and internationally.

In Summer 2024, UROP received 8 applications from 12 students for Presentation funding, representing a total request of $19,533.76. Seven applications were approved for funding in the amount of $16,633.76. Presentation funding enabled students to present their research at such venues as the 2024 University Rover Challenge in Hanksville, Utah; The Society of Marine Mammalogy (SMM) in Australia; The American Fisheries Society in Honolulu, Hawaii; and the Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Perth, Australia.