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Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) Program

Iowa State University’s Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) Program encourages outstanding juniors and seniors to pursue graduate study by offering them hands-on experience in a formal research environment.

The URA Program benefits students and faculty alike by providing them with an opportunity to make career decisions and to work with other talented individuals in a research environment similar to graduate research and fellowships.

The research roles assigned to the students promote the development of technical and manipulative skills, as well as foster originality, imagination, judgement, and patience — all characteristics of an independent scholar.

Requirements

To qualify for the Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program, students must:

• Be classified as juniors or seniors by the beginning of fall semester
• Demonstrate financial need of at least $3200 by filing the FAFSA
• Maintain an ISU cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25

Pay Rate

First Year Students:

• First year students may earn a maximum of $3200 for the nine-month academic period
  • 25% of the wages are paid by the faculty sponsor
  • 75% of the wages are paid by the College Work-Study (CWS) program
• The pay rate for first year URA students is $10.00 per hour

Renewal Students:

• Renewal students continuing work with the same faculty member may earn a maximum of $3600 for the nine month academic period
  • 25% of the wages are paid by the faculty sponsor
  • 75% of the wages are paid by the College Work-Study (CWS) program
• The pay rate for renewal URA students is $12.00 per hour

Documents

• Guidelines and Procedures (PDF)
• Student Application (PDF)
• Faculty Application (PDF)
• Renewal Application (PDF)

Deadlines

• Student, Faculty, or Renewal applications due by the last day of March
• Completed letter of intent signed by all parties
• Completed Employment Verification Form on AccessPlus after August 1

For questions, contact Julie Arnold at the URA Office.
Telephone: (515) 294-0103
Email: jaarnol@iastate.edu

Ames, IA 50011-2028, (515) 294-2223
Published by: Office of Student Financial Aid, financialaid@iastate.edu.
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