Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (URFP)

APPLICATION PERIOD

• The application for URFP 2026 will open October 2025. Please check back early fall quarter for updates.
• The application can be accessed as a Survey on MyUCLA under the “Campus Life” tab.
• You may begin preparing your application in advance using the prompts below. All application materials are due by 11:59 PM. Any applications in progress after 11:59 PM on the deadline cannot be submitted.

APPLICATION PROMPTS

1. Personal Statement – Briefly describe how the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program will impact your short- and long-term goals. Include any special circumstances you feel are relevant to your application. This statement is meant to place your academic record into the context of your opportunities and obstacles. 3000 character limit, including spaces.
2. Research Proposal:
   1. Title – Provide a descriptive title for your proposed research project. 100 character limit, including spaces.
   2. Proposal – Describe the research project you plan to conduct during Winter and Spring 2026. Your proposal should include the following sections with section headers: introduction, hypothesis, materials & methods, expected results, and timeline. Literature citations (optional) should be listed in the section below. 1000-4000 characters, including spaces.
      • Introduction – provide sufficient background such that a scientifically-literate reader can understand and appreciate the context of the work being described
      • Hypothesis – describe the questions you will be addressing or that your project will test
      • Materials and Methods – describe the tasks you will be performing, including laboratory techniques and equipment you will be learning and applying to address your hypothesis. Explain the type of data you will be collecting, if applicable.
      • Expected Results – explain the predicted outcome based on your hypothesis and methods
      • Timeline – include a timeline for the project and what you plan to complete in Winter quarter vs. Spring quarter.
   3. Literature citations (optional) – List any literature references you cited in your research proposal. 1500-character limit, including spaces. Due to the Research Proposal’s character limit, we recommend using numerical in-text citations (e.g. “(1)”) if you choose to use in-text citations.

APPLICATION EVALUATIONS

Applications are evaluated after the application deadline only. There is no advantage to submitting an application early or disadvantage to submitting an application closer to the deadline.

Each application is evaluated by multiple members of our Selection Committee, which is comprised of UCLA faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and doctorate-level (MD, PhD, and MD-PhD) career research staff. Applications are evaluated solely on the quality of the written responses to the prompts in the section above.

Admission decisions will be shared with applicants before the winter campus closure. Applicants who are selected for the URFP will receive PTE numbers in early January to enroll in the required RES PRC 103 course.

ELIGIBILITY

Q: Can Freshman and Sophomores apply to the URFP? 

Yes, freshman and sophomores my apply to the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program. All undergraduate class levels are eligible to apply. 

Q: Which research questions are appropriate for the URFP? 

Any type of research (basic science, applied, clinical, translational, field, etc.) in the life sciences (including medicine), physical sciences, and engineering research disciplines are appropriate for this program. 

Q: Can I my major/minor requirements overlap with the URFP program requirements? 

Yes, the URFP is structured so that it may overlap with your regular coursework and degree requirements. Students who are completing the 198 or 199 series may apply to the URFP with their project. 

Q: This is my first quarter at UCLA and I don’t have an established GPA yet. Can I still apply to the URFP? 

Yes, you may apply to the URFP if you do not have an established UCLA GPA. If you are selected, your selection will be contingent on your Fall quarter GPA meeting the minimum GPA requirement. 

Q: Is computational research unfavorable compared to wet lab research? 

No, computational research has no advantage or disadvantage compared to wet lab research. 

Q: If I am involved in clinical research, am I eligible to apply? 

Yes, clinical, medical, and translational research projects are eligible for this program. 

Q: I am currently taking an SRP 99 course for my research. Does this satisfy the requirement that I must have a current research project with a UCLA faculty? 

Yes. 

Q: Can multiple students in the same lab apply with the same project/research proposal? 

Students in the same lab/group who are considering applying to the URFP are encouraged to work with their PI to structure their proposals in a way such that their projects are distinct enough from one another in one of the following dimensions: 

• • • Hypothesis 
    • Experimental approach (techniques and/or output measures) 
    • Project end-points 
    • Model species/organism/cell lines etc. 

Q: Can I apply to the URFP if I am an employee in my faculty mentor’s department and being paid as a student researcher? 

Student employees who are receiving compensation for their research are not eligible to participate in the URFP. 

APPLICATION

Q: Are the applications evaluated on a rolling-basis or only after the application deadline? 

Applications are only processed and evaluated after the application deadline. There is no advantage to applying early or disadvantage to applying closer to the deadline. 

Q: Are letters of recommendation required? 

Letters of recommendation are not required (or accepted) for the URFP. 

Q: How are applicants evaluated? Is it based on experience, GPA, or how well written the proposal is? 

Applications are evaluated solely on the quality of the applicant’s personal statement and research proposal. 

Q: Where do I access the application? 

Beginning October 14, the URFP application will be available as a Survey on MyUCLA under the Campus Life tab. 

Q: Can I apply with a research project that has been ongoing for a while? 

Yes, students may apply with a project that has been ongoing and that they have been contributing to. Projects do not need to be 100% independent. 

Q: I cannot see the application on the MyUCLA Survey page. What should I do? 

If you do not see the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program application listed on the MyUCLA Surveys page during the application period, please email the Program Representative. Be sure to include your name and UID. 

PROGRAM

Q: Is the URFP scholarship supposed to be used for research supplies? 

No, the academic scholarship is paid through the Financial Aid Office and will be applied to your BruinBill (tuition and other quarterly fees). The scholarship is not meant to purchase supplies or equipment for your research project. 

Q: Aside from financial support, what other support does the URFP provide for participants? 

Students will receive academic and professional development by completing the RES PRC 103 course in Winter quarter. The purpose of the course is to complement the research skills you are learning in your labs/groups and deepen engagement in university research. The course covers topics including but not limited to: presenting your research (oral and poster presentations), writing personal statements, the graduate school application process, and career pathways in STEM. 

MISC. TOPICS

Q: What is the difference between URFP and URSP? 

The URFP is a two-quarter scholarship program (Winter and Spring). All students qualify for academic scholarships up to $3,000. Applications are accepted in the Fall. The program is better suited for students earlier on in the research projects.  

The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) is a three-quarter scholarship program (Fall, Winter, and Spring). The URSP awards scholarships up to $4,500 for juniors and up to $6,000 for seniors. Applications are accepted in the Spring. The program is restricted to Juniors and Seniors. 

Q: If I get accepted for URFP, can I apply for URSP for the next year? 

Yes, many students complete the URFP first then complete the URSP in the following years. 

Q: Can I participate in both the URFP and URSP in the same academic year? 

No, students who are already participating in the URSP cannot apply to the URFP in the same academic year. 

The two programs are structured in a way so that they form a pipeline for students. Students may apply to the URFP, then to the URSP in the following years. Students may also apply directly to the URSP without ever completing the URFP. Students cannot complete the URSP first then apply to the URFP. 

NOT SURE WHICH URC’S URFP/URSP TO APPLY TO?

Students engaged in interdisciplinary research that blurs the lines between HASS (humanities, arts, and social sciences) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) may have difficulty deciding which Undergraduate Research Center (URC-HASS or URC-Sciences) they should apply to for the URFP and URSP. Due to the specific eligibility criteria of each center and the large number of submissions our departments receive, we cannot transfer applications across centers. In short, your application will only be reviewed by the center you have submitted to.

Consider the experts who will be reviewing your application. For example, we would not want a materials chemist reviewing research applications focused on ethnographic studies of urban populations. Likewise, we would not want a cultural anthropologist reviewing research applications focused on single-cell RNA sequencing. To ensure that your application is reviewed fairly, make sure you apply to the center that best suits your research. We recommend that you consult with your faculty mentor about which center is most appropriate for your project.

Once you have made your decision, make sure you submit to the appropriate Survey application on myUCLA, to be delivered to your center of choice.

Below is a guideline to help determine the proper home for your project. If the following does not resolve your concerns or confusion, please email the respective center(s) for clarification.

1. Does your research application involve model organisms, i.e. rodents, flies, fish, worms?

If yes, submit to URC-Sciences. If no, continue with the next question.

2. Does your research application involve reagents, solutions, biological samples, or biological data?

If yes, submit to URC-Sciences. If no, continue with the next question.

3. Does your research application address questions about the mechanisms underlying diseases?

If yes, submit to URC-Sciences. If no, continue with the next question.

4. Does your research application involve quantitative modeling using mathematical, computational, physical, chemical, or biochemical approaches or strategies?

If yes, submit to URC-Sciences. If no, continue with the next question.

5. Does your research application use large or complex technology to collect and analyze data, such as fMRI, PET-Scan, microscopes, telescopes, cell sorters, material ovens, or others?

If no, please visit the URC-HASS’ website to determine if your application is better suited for their Center’s program.