Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program

What is a URCA Assistant?

URCA Assistants work on faculty-led research or creative activities.  The Assistants will work approximately 9 hours per week under the direct guidance of a faculty member on projects directly related to research or creative activities.  Assistant positions are for one semester and can be renewed. Up to 80 Assistants per semester will receive an $800 award for their participation. Faculty submit their research or creative activity proposals to the URCA Program and are approved for a URCA Assistant.  Once approved, students apply directly to the faculty member and are selected by that faculty member.

Assistants:

• Work on faculty-led research or creative activity for approximately 9 hours each week
• Gain an introductory experience of research or creative activities in a specific field

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work closely with faculty mentor
• Opportunity to explore different areas of research or creative activities
• Possible opportunity to earn 3 hours of course credit for research participation (this is up to the individual faculty mentors; some positions may be for credit, some may not)
• Possible opportunity to earn $800 award per semester of participation (up to 80 research assistant positions per semesters will be funded in this manner)

The following are requirements of all URCA Assistants in the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Program at SIUE:

• Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or above
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student at SIUE (minimum of 12 credit hours) for entire length of participation in the URCA Program
• Must maintain satisfactory progress as defined by the faculty mentor

   For more information on the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program, contact Dr. Laura Pawlow at (618) 650-2608 or lpawlow@siue.edu.