Breadcrumb
Before you start an application, carefully review the information in the Student Grants Guide and use the worksheets to prepare your responses in advance.
UROP Assistantships provide funding to students to partner with a faculty mentor to help on an existing project, so most of the information will come from your mentor.
$2,000
Summer
$1,000
Academic Year
Assistantship Proposal
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
Your proposal explains the 鈥渨hat,鈥� 鈥渨hy,鈥� 鈥渉ow,鈥� and 鈥渨hen鈥� of the research or creative work you plan in partnership with your faculty mentor鈥攁nd argues its' importance.听
Summary
- Context and Objectives
- Methodology and Strategy
- Learning Objectives
- Resources and Materials (Individual Grants Only)
- Timeline
University Compliance
In addition to the project proposal, you might need to complete additional steps to comply with university policy鈥攊f your project involves any of the following:
- Human Subjects
- Animal Subjects
- Work funded by the NSF and/or NIH
- Domestic and/or International Travel
UROP Prioritizes Learning Outcomes
You will also explain your 鈥渓earning goals,鈥� or what you expect to learn鈥攂eyond project outcomes.听听UROP prioritizes听learning objectives over project outcomes, even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project.
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
This is the first part of the proposal reviewers will see and serves as an introduction to the project. Your goal is to capture your reviewer鈥檚 attention and get them excited about your work.
Student Prompt
100 word maximum:听State the specific objectives/purpose of your mentor's project.听Explain the project's relevance and who stands to benefit.
Creative/Performance Projects: Tell us the objectives/purpose of your mentor's project,听explaining the points of curiosity from which you're starting, hypothesis or question you're exploring and the guiding principles of the work. Discuss where and when the final project will be exhibited, displayed or performed.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on the development of this proposal, noting the origin of the idea and its potential impact in the field.
Advice
Keep in mind that reviewers might not be familiar with your topic, so you will need to provide some background.听 But avoid spending too much time introducing the project, which your mentor can do in their comments. Be sure to make the purpose clear and consider starting with your 鈥渢hesis鈥� sentence (where you state the purpose).听 Even though you might not have developed the project, reviewers need to see that you understand the project鈥檚 goals.
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
This section follows the introduction provided in the 鈥渃ontext and objections鈥� portion and serves to explain what you will do to achieve the project goals.
Student Prompt
100 word maximum:听Note any experience, training and/or coursework required to conduct this project, and explain how you are preparing.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on your mentee's ability to perform this project, highlighting relevant coursework, experience with methods and/or materials, and other relevant certifications and qualifications.
Advice
Communicate clearly but avoid overly detailed and technical descriptions of methods.听 Make the overall strategy clear and highlight important skills and methodologies. Be sure to explain how you have the training and skills needed for the project or how you will learn them.听 You might have limited experience when applying for an Assistantship, but reviewers need to see how you will gain the skills needed.
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
This section follows the 鈥渕ethodology and strategy鈥� portion of the proposal and serves to highlight how participation in the project will help you achieve your professional goals.
Student Prompt
100 word maximum:听Describe how this project advances your personal, academic and/or professional goals, including how it fits within your degree plan.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Respond to your mentee's learning goals, commenting on 1) how you and/or an additional supervisor will support these objectives and 2) how this project will advance their academic and/or professional goals?
Advice
UROP prioritizes student learning objectives over project outcomes, so you should clearly state what you will learn and how you plan to apply what you learn.
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
This is the last section of the proposal and serves to highlight when you will do the activities outlined in the 鈥渕ethodology and strategy鈥� portion.
Student Prompt
150 word maximum:听Outline the major phases of your project, providing a timeline of activities.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Optional: Provide additional information about this project timeline.
Advice
Avoid overcrowding the timeline with details more suitable for other portions of the proposal. Be sure your timeline aligns to the grant term to which you are applying (summer or academic year).听Students submitting proposals for projects continuing into the academic year might have similar proposals in their applications, but the timelines should be distinct.
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
Working with
Human Subjects
Working with
Animal Subjects
Working on
NSF and/or NIH Projects
Projects Involving
Travel
听Navigate using the tabs at the top of the guide. 听
State your 鈥渢hesis鈥� first
Start with the purpose of your work to get reviewers鈥� attention.
Frame the 鈥渂igger picture鈥�
Place your project in the context of the field of study.
Highlight broader impacts
Be clear about the benefits of your project beyond impact in the field of study.
Answer the 鈥渟o what?鈥� question
Be sure reviewers understand why the project is needed.
Communicate urgency
Explain why the project is not only needed鈥攂ut needed now.
Avoid jargon/technical language
Use language accessible to reviewers who might not be familiar with the topic.
Leave out citation references
UROP accepts the mentor endorsement as verification of sources without citation.
Consult with the Writing Center
Consider consulting with the CU Boulder Writing Center as you draft your proposal.
The applications for UROP student and faculty grants are closed, but we'll reopen in late Fall 2024.
We听invite you to join the alert list to get an email when we open applications for the Summer 2025 and/or Academic Year 2025-26 cycle. Proposals will be due by听February 14, 2025. We encourage you to review our guides and prepare your materials in advance.