Research Presentation Awards

The Office of Undergraduate Research regrets to inform you that funding for the academic year 2024-25 has been fully disbursed and we are no longer accepting applications. The funding portal will reopen on June 15, 2025 for conferences after July 1, 2025. The average award in the academic year 2025-26 will be $1500.

Please also apply for support through the College Supplemental Fund. Tip: indicate as many departments and programs as are applicable to your research and career goals. This will help you reach the maximum number of potential funding sources.

We also encourage students to check for funding through the conference itself. Many conferences offer student discounts and/or travel awards.

Research Presentation Awards (i.e., conference funding) are given to University of Rochester undergraduate students who are presenting their research at academic conferences. The award can be used to fund conference registration, travel, lodging, and/or food expenses.

Applicants must submit an itemized budget of expected expenses. Students can receive ONE award per academic year. This award program is intended to be a cost-sharing award; that is, we would like to see the traveling student, mentor, and/or host department sharing the cost. Please talk to your research mentor and department coordinator about possible travel funds.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

  • be a currently enrolled UR undergraduate student in a degree-granting program;
  • be in good academic standing;
  • have been accepted for presentation at an academic conference.

In addition, both the research project itself and the presentation of that research must take place while you are a matriculated undergraduate student at the UR.

Applying

Before applying for funding through the Office of Undergraduate Research, you are expected to have already requested funding from your department/advisor. We encourage students to check for funding through the conference itself; many conferences offer student discounts and/or travel awards. If you are a senior, you cannot apply for funding for any conference that takes place after graduation. Again, all research and travel must be undertaken while you are still a University of Rochester undergraduate.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please submit your application at least two weeks in advance of your presentation.

You must submit a Research Presentation Award Application (Reopens June 15, 2025) that includes the following:

  • Brief explanation about why this would be an enriching opportunity for you
  • Abstract of your presentation
  • Link to the conference website
  • Complete budget that includes a summary of your department's/advisor's share of the cost of this experience
  • Your resume
  • A letter of support from your research advisor or faculty member, submitted separately by your recommender (An invitation to submit the letter of support will be sent automatically upon student submission of the RPA application.)