1	UROPs at Cambridge Paul Peeling April 1^st, 2005
2	UROPs at Cambridge Goals and features of UROPs My UROP experience Benefits for University and faculty Benefits for students Potential obstacles and responses A proposal for a pilot scheme
3	Goals of UROPs Real research Influence careers… a stepping stone to academic research Collaboration Awareness of subject area New, transferrable skills
4	Features of UROPs Summer placements Term-time projects Academic credit Bursary payment – hours/week Direct application with research proposal Faculty supervision
5	My UROP experience Start-up company Programming applications Corporate research and documentation Medical technology and devices
6	Benefits for University and Faculty Competitive edge for undergraduate admissions Term-time availability Increased range and variety of projects Improved faculty-student atmosphere Education, laboratory experience … and high quality undergraduate research work!
7	Benefits for students Early entry into exciting areas of research Application of theory Encourages and profits from independence and innovation Source of income Stimulates excitement in subject area Career guidance – academic, laboratory
8	Obstacles Time Faculty supervision time Negligable for well-organised, managed projects Cambridge ethic of independent study Student commitment: the balance between academic and extra-curricular UROPs not viewed as academic work If opportunities exist, willing students find the time Not for all students, yet 80% of MIT undergraduates have taken a UROP
9	Obstacles Money and Resources Student loan and income concerns Limited lab space and training UROP application process How to go about meeting faculty Eight week terms A small pilot scheme could help to investigate these issues.
10	Pilot Scheme Proposal Small number of exceptional, interested second-year students Faculty outreach and applications Use existing summer projects College bursaries from subject funds Extensive feedback, coupled with publicity