Assistantships

Applying

Student Grants

These grants provide funding to students to partner with a faculty mentor to help on an existing project.

Project Proposal

Your proposal explains the “what,” “why,” “how,” and “when” of the research or creative work you plan in partnership with your faculty mentor—and argues its' importance. You will also explain your “learning goals,” or what you expect to learn—beyond project outcomes. UROP prioritizes learning objectives over project outcomes, even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project. In addition to the project proposal, you might need to complete additional steps if your project involves any of the following:

Proposal Prompts

This is the first part of the proposal reviewers will see and serves as an introduction to the project. Your goal is to capture your reviewer’s attention and get them excited about your work.

Student Prompt

100 word maximum: State the specific objectives/purpose of your mentor's project. Explain the project's relevance and who stands to benefit.

Creative/Performance Projects: Tell us the objectives/purpose of your mentor's project, explaining the points of curiosity from which you're starting, hypothesis or question you're exploring and the guiding principles of the work. Discuss where and when the final project will be exhibited, displayed or performed.

Mentor Endorsement Prompt

100 words maximum: Comment on the development of this proposal, noting the origin of the idea and its potential impact in the field.

Section Advice

Keep in mind that reviewers might not be familiar with your topic, so you will need to provide some background. But avoid spending too much time introducing the project, which your mentor can do in their comments. Be sure to make the purpose clear and consider starting with your “thesis” sentence (where you state the purpose). Even though you might not have developed the project, reviewers need to see that you understand the project’s goals.

This section follows the introduction provided in the “context and objections” portion and serves to explain what you will do to achieve the project goals.

Student Prompt

100 word maximum: Note any experience, training and/or coursework required to conduct this project, and explain how you are preparing.

Mentor Endorsement Prompt

100 words maximum: Comment on your mentee's ability to perform this project, highlighting relevant coursework, experience with methods and/or materials, and other relevant certifications and qualifications.

Section Advice

Communicate clearly but avoid overly detailed and technical descriptions of methods. Make the overall strategy clear and highlight important skills and methodologies. Be sure to explain how you have the training and skills needed for the project or how you will learn them. You might have limited experience when applying for an Assistantship, but reviewers need to see how you will gain the skills needed.

This section follows the “methodology and strategy” portion of the proposal and serves to highlight how participation in the project will help you achieve your professional goals.

Student Prompt

100 word maximum: Describe how this project advances your personal, academic and/or professional goals, including how it fits within your degree plan.

Mentor Endorsement Prompt

100 words maximum: Respond to your mentee's learning goals, commenting on 1) how you and/or an additional supervisor will support these objectives and 2) how this project will advance their academic and/or professional goals?

Section Advice

UROP prioritizes student learning objectives over project outcomes, so you should clearly state what you will learn and how you plan to apply what you learn.

This is the last section of the proposal and serves to highlight when you will do the activities outlined in the “methodology and strategy” portion.

Student Prompt

150 word maximum: Outline the major phases of your project, providing a timeline of activities.

Mentor Endorsement Prompt

Optional: Provide additional information about this project timeline.

Section Advice

Avoid overcrowding the timeline with details more suitable for other portions of the proposal. Be sure your timeline aligns to the grant term to which you are applying (summer or academic year). Students submitting proposals for projects continuing into the academic year might have similar proposals in their applications, but the timelines should be distinct.

Student Grants Guide

UROP Deadline

February 14, 2025

Mentor Endorsements are due the following Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

State your “thesis” first.

Start with the purpose of your work to get reviewers’ attention.

Frame the “bigger picture.”

Place your project in the context of the field of study.

Highlight broader impacts.

Be clear about the benefits of your project beyond impact in the field of study.

Answer “So what?”

Be sure reviewers understand why the project is needed.

Communicate urgency.

Explain why the project is not only needed—but needed now.

Avoid jargon.

Use language accessible to reviewers who might not be familiar with the topic.

Leave out citations.

UROP accepts the mentor endorsement as verification of sources without citation.

Visit the Writing Center.

Consider consulting with the ֱ Boulder Writing Center as you draft your proposal.

The UROP office is closed for Winter Break, but we'll return to normal operations on Monday, January 6, 2025.

If you have questions, check out our FAQ page.