During a government shutdown, agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) generally pause new grant awards, proposal reviews, and program launches. Institutions with existing federal research awards may still be able to draw down previously obligated funds, but technical assistance, progress reviews, and application processing are typically suspended.
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), most federal research staff and grant managers are classified as nonessential and furloughed, resulting in delays that can extend well beyond the shutdown itself. Past shutdowns have led to cancellations of reserved time on national lab instruments, closures of field research sites on federal lands, etc.
The impact on undergraduate research is not yet clear, but students applying for NSF, NIH or other federally supported programs might experience delays in response times to email and program timelines might change. UROP advises students involved in projects to stay in communication with project mentors and be attentive to program websites for updates.
Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s administration is working to minimize disruptions to research and other grant-supported activities. In the unlikely event that students with UROP funding experience changes in their ability to accomplish project goals, such as the availability of mentors and/or resources, UROP will not withdraw previously awarded funding.
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FAQ
Eligibility
No. There is no minimum GPA requirement to receive UROP funding.
Yes. UROP Grants are not intended to support "general" coursework, even if it is research/inquiry-based, but funding may support students doing research or creative projects outside the classroom while they’re enrolled in Independent Study/Honors Thesis courses with section numbers in the 800-900s.
No.ÌýStudents should apply for a to attend a conference or exhibit/perform their creative work.
No. UROP funds are for faculty-mentored academic research, scholarly or creative projects only.
There are opportunities for research and development outside of UROP and the Boulder campus.
Due to a range of variables (e.g. the number of proposals submitted in each grant term, the ratio of grant types submitted, etc.) as well as variations between review cycles and budgetary allocations across fiscal years, the award rate fluctuates and complicates generalized estimations about one’s chances of receiving an award. ÌýWe encourage you to see UROP as an achievable goal that requires planning and attention to detail. ÌýThough competition has increased and the award rate has declined in recent cycles, UROP still funds the majority of students and faculty who apply.
No. Only completed applications will be reviewed. ÌýPlease make arrangements to get all of the sections of the application submitted on time.
Payment
| Applicant | Grant Type | Term | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| ÌýStudent | ÌýConference Travel | ÌýRolling Timeline | Up to $500 |
| ÌýStudent | ÌýAssistantship | ÌýAcademic Year (Fall & Spring) | $1,000 |
| ÌýStudent | ÌýIndividual Grant | ÌýAcademic Year (Fall & Spring) | $1,500 |
| ÌýStudent | ÌýAssistantship | ÌýSummer | $2,000 |
| ÌýStudent | ÌýIndividual Grant | ÌýSummer | $3,000 |
| ÌýFaculty | ÌýTeam Grant (Groups of 2+ Students) | ÌýAcademic Year /ÌýÌýÌýSummer | $4,000 |
| ÌýFaculty | ÌýGroup Conference Travel (2+ Students) | ÌýRolling Timeline | Up to $5,000 |
Refer to the payment pages for information about the process.
Student grant funding is paid as a stipend using the university's payroll system (job code 3205).ÌýÌýAlthoughÌýstudents need an employee identification number (EID) and payments are made through the payroll system, UROP funding is not considered payroll wages or employee compensation.ÌýUROP funding is considered "Other Financial Aid" (OFA) according to the university's policy on paying students and all award information will be reported to the Office of Financial Aid.
Refer to the Payroll Enrollment page for instructions.
Payments to recipients who are U.S. citizens are not typically subject to federal and state income tax withholding and payroll taxes (i.e., FICA and Medicare taxes). The university has no tax reporting requirement for these payments (no W-2), butÌýis required to report payments on the federal form 1042-S.ÌýGrants, scholarships and awards received as OFA may need to be reported on tax returns if the amount exceeds qualified educational expenses as defined by . Grants and scholarships are listed on a 1098-T. Students are responsible for accurately reporting their income.
More Questions
Faculty can learn about the review process and sign-up to evaluate proposals on the UROP Review Board page.
Students can learn about the nomination process on the Mentor Award page.
Venture Partners creates and implements an IP strategy for your research and creative works so you can understand your IP rights and obligations as you work with various collaborators, research sponsors and industry partners.
Contact us as early as possible if you don't think you will meet the completion date.