Why Research and Creative Activity?

Education comes to life when you create and discover new knowledge,  when you get to work directly with a faculty member outside of the classroom,  and when your life experience helps you generate a question that you are uniquely qualified to answer or an artistic product that you are uniquely qualified to produce.

Find out what your peers have accomplished by visiting the posters from last year's Student Showcase!

Getting Started

UAA offers myriad opportunities for novices through advanced researchers and artists. This includes both curricular and co-curricular activities! Below is an overview of some of the many classes, programs, and other opportunities available to students interested in research and creative activity at UAA. For help navigating this page or if you want to discuss your options, check the contact information at the beginning of this page.

Research and Creative Activity Events Calendar

Click the button below to view a dynamic list of events for students interested in research and creative activity. The list will be updated regularly, so check back often!

Undergraduate Research Events List

Research and Creative Activity Funding Opportunities

Click the button below to view a list of UAA's student funding opportunities.

UAA Funding Opportunities

Quick Links

Courses and Curricular Opportunities
Co-curricular Opportunities
Opportunities for STEM and Healthcare Majors
Opportunities for Social Science Majors
Opportunities for All Majors

 

Curricular Opportunities

• URS A121: Methods of Inquiry

  Students may take this course in any year, but it's recommended that they take it early, within the first two years.

  See the UAA course catalog for a description of the course and prerequisites.

• URS A188: Research & Scholarship Foundations

  Ideally students should take this course concurrently with URS A121 or a disciplinary methods class.

  See the UAA course catalog for a description of the course and prerequisites.

• URS A388A-B: Developing a Scholarly Identity I & II

  Ideally students should take these classes concurrent with their first mentored research experience.

  See the UAA course catalog for a description of the courses and prerequisites.

• XXX A498 (class is specific to major)

  Students should plan to take this major-specific class in their junior or senior year.

• Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)

  CUREs are distinctive as learning experiences, because CUREs offer opportunities for students to make discoveries that are of interest to stakeholders outside the classroom (e.g., the broader scientific community). Students' work is iterative, meaning that students must trouble-shoot, problem-solve, and repeat aspects of their work for the research to progress. Just like in a faculty member's research group, the research in a CURE progresses as students work. This means that new research questions and directions are generated each term and the CURE is unlikely to look the same from year to year.

  For more information, contact RCA Honors track faculty: Ray Ball (rball11@alaska.edu), Tracey Burke (tkburke@alaska.edu); Masoumeh Heidari Kapourchali (mheidari2@alaska.edu)

• Disciplinary Foundation/Methods Courses
  Speak with your professors or advisor for more information.
• Inquiry based Laboratory Experiences

  Inquiry instruction involves students in asking and answering scientific questions, analyzing relevant data, and making and defending arguments. These experiences aim to develop students' scientific expertise, especially their ability to engage in scientific practices.

  Speak with your professors or advisor for more information.

   

 

Co-Curricular Opportunities

Some opportunities are available only for specific majors, while others are open to students in any major. Be sure to research each program's unique requirements and reach out to program contacts with any questions.

STEM & Healthcare

• Alaska AHEC Scholars

  Healthcare majors may begin this program in any year.

  AHEC Scholars is a two-year program designed to supplement and broaden healthcare training. It is open to students enrolled in health professions programs who are interested in rural and underserved practice. Students complete 40 hours per year of didactic training and 40 hours per year of community based experiential learning in rural or underserved settings.  An abbreviated form of the program may be available to students enrolled in programs taking two years or less.  Travel support and stipends are provided.  Appropriate for research-inclined students who are also interested in clinical practice.

  Contact: Gloria Burnett (gburnett3@alaska.edu); Spencer Toft (satoft@alaska.edu)

  AHEC Scholars Website

• Alaska INBRE (National Institutes of Health)

  Life science and health-related majors can participate in the program during years 2-4.

  INBRE is a capacity-building award that supports biomedical research across the researcher lifespan.  Opportunities such as travel awards and summer assistantships are available to eligible undergraduates.

  Contact: Holly Martinson (hamartinson@alaska.edu)

  Alaska INBRE Website

• Alaska URISE (Alaska Space Grant)

  STEM majors may participate any year, ideally beginning in somewhere in years 1-3.

  This program aims to increase diversity in the STEM workforce through engaging students in meaningful faculty mentored research early in their degree programs and building an inclusive community of peers to explore STEM careers and strategies for creating a path toward each student’s desired future career.  Participants receive financial support, and no prior research experience is required.

  Contact: Erin Hicks (ekhicks@alaska.edu)

• Biomed U-RISE (National Institutes of Health)

  Biology, chemistry, and natural science majors should apply for the program in the spring semester of their sophomore year, and participate in program activities during their junior and senior years. Pre-reqs must be met before admission.

  This highly-structured program is intended to grow and diversify the health-research workforce.  Biology, Chemistry, and Natural Sciences juniors and seniors participate in two years mentored research at UAA and a summer at a research-intensive university outside of Alaska.  Students receive stipends, partial tuition remission, and national conferences. Specific “research inquiry” experiences are required as part of competitive admissions process the spring before program start.

  Contact: Holly Martinson (hamartinson@alaska.edu); Tracey Burke (tkburke@alaska.edu)

  UAA Biomed U-RISE Website

• Early Career Undergrad Apprenticeships (Alaska Space Grant)

  Aspiring STEM majors can participate in years 1-2.

  This program contributes to the development of the STEM workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s strategic goals by supporting the engagement of students in faculty-defined science or engineering investigations suitable for students engaging in their first substantial research and/or engineering experience.  Ideally suited to students in the first 1-2 years of their degree program. Students receive a $3000 stipend to support their work during the academic year or summer months.

  Contact: Erin Hicks (ekhicks@alaska.edu); Raghu Srinivasan (rsrinivasan2@alaska.edu)

• TAPDINTO-STEM (National Science Foundation)

  Engineering majors may join this program any year, preferably early within the first two years.

  This initiative is designed to increase completion and graduation for students with disabilities.  Students enrolled in any baccalaureate program within the UAA College of Engineering who have a disability are eligible.  Participants receive $1000/year, potentially renewable, and participate in mentorship activities.

  Contact: Jennifer Brock (jmcferran@alaska.edu); Matt Cullin (mcullin@alaska.edu)

• Undergrad Apprenticeships (Alaska Space Grant)

  STEM majors can participate in years 2 and beyond.

  Awards are open to students majoring in STEM fields to support research and/or engineering projects fostering the vision of NASA by encouraging career goals in STEM disciplines, strengthening the nation’s STEM workforce and engaging students in NASA’s mission.  A $7200 stipend is awarded to support the student-proposed project to be completed during the academic year or summer months under the mentorship of a student-selected mentor.

  Contact: Erin Hicks (ekhicks@alaska.edu); Raghu Srinivasan (rsrinivasan2@alaska.edu)

 

Social Sciences

• Vic Fischer Undergrad Research Award

  Social sciences majors can receive this award during years 3-5.

  The Vic Fischer Undergraduate Research Award provides financial support to an exemplary UAA undergraduate student in the social sciences or other applicable fields interested in studying public policy issues in Alaska or the Arctic under the guidance of researchers at the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). Students receive a $2500 award to complete the project during the academic year or in summer months, with the possibility of support for research-related expenses from ISER.

  Contact: Diane Hirshberg (dbhirshberg@alaska.edu)

 

All Majors

• Community Engaged Student Assistants (CESAs) and Awards

  Students can apply for these awards any year, but are especially encouraged to do so in years 3-4.

  UAA CESA Website

• Grad School Fellowships

  In general students should plan to apply for any grad school fellowships during their senior year.

  Speak with your professors or advisor for more information.

• Internships

  Students can begin internships in any year.

• McNair Scholars (Department of Education)

  The McNair Scholars Program supports baccalaureate degree-seeking students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or graduate degree. Juniors and seniors from any major are provided stipends, travel funds for conferences, faculty mentoring, graduate school application assistance and access to research opportunities. Any majors may apply to this TRIO affiliated program. The program is for one year and can be renewed. Please see the scholar google site for more information and a link to the program application.

  Contact: Sunny Mall (sunny@alaska.edu)

  Scholar Google Site: https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/uaamcnairscholarsprogram

• OURS Awards

  Students can apply for these awards any year, but are especially encouraged to do so in years 3-4.

  Contact Honors RCA track faculty: Ray Ball (rball11@alaska.edu), Tracey Burke (tkburke@alaska.edu); Masoumeh Heidari Kapourchali (mheidari2@alaska.edu)

  UAA Office of Research Website

• Summer Intensives/REUs

  Students should consider summer intensives around year 3.

• University Honors College, Research & Creative Activity Track (RCA Honors)

  Students may join the University Honors College in any year, ideally by years 2-3.

  This track within the Honors College recognizes and supports all undergraduates interested in research & creative activity, including those who do not see themselves as “honors students.”  Students may get involved at any stage of their academic career but are encouraged to begin early.  Students on the RCA Honors mailing list are assured updated information about new opportunities.

  Contact: Ray Ball (rball11@alaska.edu), Tracey Burke (tkburke@alaska.edu); Masoumeh Heidari Kapourchali (mheidari2@alaska.edu)