Award Deadlines

The CUR Biology Division Mentor Awards honor biology mentors for their long-term efforts in supervising undergraduate research students. Individuals may be self-nominated or be nominated by CUR institutional or Institutional-Enhanced members, individual CUR members of the Biology Division, or the mentor’s research students. Faculty mentoring interdisciplinary projects are eligible as long as such projects involve a major biological component. Awards will be made in three categories: Early Career, Mid-Career, and Advanced Career.

Each year, the Social Sciences Division (SSD) of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) awards a competitive ‘Faculty Excellence in Mentoring of Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences’ award. This award recognizes an outstanding mentor of undergraduate research in the social sciences for their role in 1) supporting, 2) encouraging, 3) promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and teaching environment for undergraduate students, and 4) contributing to their students’ professional and personal development inside and outside of the classroom.

The Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award was established to recognize original and insightful research work by a young investigator working with undergraduates that has had significant impact in chemistry and the STEM careers of students involved.

This award recognizes outstanding doctoral students, early first-year faculty, or lecturers of undergraduate research in the social sciences for their role in 1) supporting, 2) encouraging, 3) promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and teaching environment for undergraduate students, and 4) contributing to their students’ professional and personal development inside and outside of the classroom.

The Biology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is pleased to announce a limited number of research supply grants, up to $500 each, to members of the Biology Division. These grants are intended for projects involving undergraduate students in which this small grant will make a big impact. Grant funds will be given as a stipend and do not need to be used during this fiscal year.

The CUR MCS Division Inclusivity Award annually recognizes a member for excellence and sustainable work in broadening access to the mathematical, computational, or statistical sciences. This recognition focuses on the implementation of real-world research projects for undergraduate students, with contributions that have made a significant and positive impact on a national scale or demonstrated strong potential to do so. A desirable contribution aligns with the NSF’s “broader impacts” goal, engaging a wider audience effectively.

The Mathematical, Computing, and Statistical Sciences Division of CUR is pleased to announce three awards to honor mentors for their success in mentoring undergraduate students in research. Faculty mentoring interdisciplinary projects are encouraged to apply as long as those projects involve a major mathematics, computer science, or statistics component.

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Health Sciences Division is offering awards to cover the cost of registration (up to $150) for undergraduate students presenting original research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 7-9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. The goal is to celebrate and support students’ participation in NCUR 2025 while contributing to their discipline and future growth.

The CUR Health Sciences Division offers the Innovative Mentor Award to honor exceptional higher education mentors across all health sciences subdivisions.  This award is for mentors but not for classroom teaching. Mentors are leaders and role models for undergraduate research, scholarship, creative activities, or innovative projects. Health science disciplines focus on the core curriculum of health, wellness, disease, health care, or health management. In addition to traditionally considered health science disciplines, kinesiology, counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology are also considered part of health sciences.

The Arts and Humanities division is offering four $300 scholarships to support undergraduate student research and creative inquiry projects at any stage of development up to and including presentation. The goal of this funding is to encourage diverse, innovative, and engaged UR in the disciplines defined by CUR as arts and humanities.