Applications are open for the 2025-26 CURA program
The UIC Undergraduate Research Hub is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025-26 Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award (CURA) program.
Faculty interested in sponsoring an undergraduate student as a student research assistant through the program are asked to complete an eligibility inquiry form to determine if the student qualifies for the program (to determine if the student has demonstrated financial need).
The Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award is administered by the UIC Undergraduate Research Hub to support undergraduate involvement in research and other creative and scholarly activities across campus. The program is intended to both help UIC faculty members complete research, scholarship or creative production and to provide a rich, rewarding educational experience for the student research employee.
The program supports faculty who work with students who have demonstrated financial need, as determined by criteria established by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. The program affords an opportunity to hire an undergraduate student researcher at no cost to faculty or the sponsoring department. Faculty members will be notified as to whether a student qualifies for the program after completing the eligibility inquiry form. For students who qualify, a team member from the Undergraduate Research Hub will email a link to an online application for the program, which the faculty member completes on behalf of the student.
Awards are available for one semester or the entire academic year (accepted participants will also be eligible to apply for additional summer research funding). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis in the order in which they are received. The program is not intended to be combined with other major campus-based research funding programs such as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative or Honors College research grants, other than to the extent that such awards will meet additional expenses not met by the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award.
As part of our commitment to supporting students and faculty involved in the program, throughout the 2025-26 academic year, the Undergraduate Research Hub will offer:
- A series of research and career skill-building workshops for students on topics such as research design and communication and graduate school preparation.
- Opportunities to apply for travel awards from our office to support students presenting their research at academic or professional conferences.
If you have additional questions, please email us at our@uic.edu. Thank you for your participation in the high-impact practice of undergraduate research and your continued work toward enhancing the educational experiences for our UIC students.