FAQ: Everything You Always
Wanted to Know about UR USF
Yes. For undergraduates, being at a Research I institution should mean more than just large lecture classes; rather, it represents the opportunity to work with scholars and researchers in the vanguard of their respective fields, an opportunity often reserved for graduate students. If you are not a USF undergraduate, you may contact us, and we will be happy to help you make a connection with other offices that may be able to assist you.
No. UR USF—Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of South Florida was founded to promote and facilitate interaction between the university’s outstanding research faculty and its undergraduates, both within and beyond the Honors College.
No. UR USF seeks to promote undergraduate research at all levels of the curriculum, in all colleges and disciplines of the university.
UR USF strongly encouragesfaculty to involve undergraduates in the Faculty Mentor's own research as well as to mentor students prepared to conduct research projects of their own. Faculty who work frequently with undergraduate researchers praise them for their curiosity, their energy and enthusiasm, and their willingness to take risks. Dr. Yavneh and Ms. Carlton are happy to work with both students and faculty looking to make a “match.” In addition, we can provide funding for student stipends, equipment, travel, theses expenses or other needs. Learn more about this by clicking Grants and Awards below.
In the summer of 2006, USF hosted NSF-sponsored REU's in behavioral sciences, engineering, and geology, which included students from all over the country, as well as from USF. In addition, UR USF sponsored summer REU's for USF students, to provide research training and opportunities in humanities, sociology and interdisciplinary hurricane studies. After completing the summer programs, students receive a stipend to continue their research with faculty members during the academic year. We invite interested faculty to submit proposals for interdisciplinary REU's for summer 2007.
In Fall 2005, the Department of Sociology piloted a project designed to integrate an optional field research experience into two of their 4000-level classes. The Undergraduate Research Experience is designed to allow one faculty member to mentor a relatively large number of students, allowing more students to be exposed to an actual research setting than would occur if undergraduate research were limited to more traditional one-on-one mentoring. This type of experience is also excellent training for a traditional research mentorship. Students interested in but not majoring in a particular discipline will be able to participate in this type of research opportunity.
Find out more about our symposium and other conferences of interest by clicking on Symposium & Conferences below.
In Spring 2007, UR USF will pilot a program to offer interdisciplinary freshman seminars to interested students. The first of these is focused on Environmental Engineering. These seminars, designed to stimulate critical thinking and scholarly inquiry, as well as to introduce research skills, will allow faculty to meet with a small group of students to explore a topic of mutual interest. All faculty are encouraged to design seminars in either their main area or an emerging area of their own research, and should feel free to explore topics they do not normally have a chance to teach. Proposals from faculty in all colleges and disciplines are due June 30, 2007.
In Fall 2005, all incoming freshmen (as well as all faculty and many of the staff) received a free copy of a book designed to encourage critical and independent thought, active learning and research. The 2007 freshman book is being selected. The book will be taught not only in University Experience and Freshman Composition classes, but also in a variety of courses in American Studies, Humanities, history, sociology, etc. Public lectures and activities surrounding the book will be organized and the author will be invited to campus. In 2005, we read Homer Hickam’s memoir, Rocket Boys.
We have many other programs such as the UGRB and CONJURE. Click Programs above for more information.
Faculty Mentorship: For faculty, working with undergraduates should likewise represent an opportunity to introduce potential new scholars to the true workings of their chosen discipline and offer mentorship to the best of those students, while furthering the faculty member’s own research agenda.
Undergraduate Research Advisory Board: Faculty and other researchers particularly interested in undergraduate research are invited to nominate themselves to the advisory board, composed of representatives from throughout the university. Please send a letter of interest and a cv to Dr. Yavneh.
