Office of Undergraduate Research

OUR Scholars

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) continues the research scholarship program to recognize undergraduate student engagement in original research, scholarship, or creative work under the guidance of a Purdue faculty or approved mentor. These annual, non-renewable, academic scholarships, in the amount of $1,000 ($500 per semester) and disbursed through the Division of Financial Aid, are funded through an equal matching agreement between the OUR and each of the participating Colleges and Schools except for the Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies which continues to fully fund their projects.

OUR Scholars are full-time undergraduate researchers who excel in their programs. OUR Scholars are determined for a full academic year and must meet certain program requirements, such as presenting at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference or "Celebrate..." (when available) events and completing wraparound professional development.

Submit your project to OURConnect for students to search and apply.  

Research mentors with available positions in academic units still accepting positions can post them to OURConnect.

After you submit your position, the unit will review submitted positions to determine which projects will be part of the OUR Scholars program.

Students will apply to the projects.

After students apply, faculty will review the applications, send out interview requests, and select 2024-25 OUR Scholars.

Research projects will continue to be accepted until the scholarships are filled and unit information below will be updated.

Students should review the projects on OURConnect listed under OUR Scholars and their specific academic unit.

Researchers will review applications and make decisions.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled and available scholarships have been fulfilled.

Scholarship positions are still open for the 2024-25 OUR Scholars cohort for the following units: College of Agriculture, College of Liberal Arts, College of Pharmacy, College of Health & Human Sciences, and Libraries & School of Information Studies.

OUR Scholar Qualifications

  • Full-time student status (minimum of 12 credit hours) in good academic standing at the West Lafayette campus who are working towards their first bachelor's degree - including PharmD students who have not been awarded a bachelor's degree - for the entire 2024-25 academic year.
  • Work on the same, year-long project for two academic semesters (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025).
  • Students with multiple majors, including the John Martinson Honors College, shall only apply within a single college or school.
  • Purdue Polytechnic Institute projects: Proposed research projects from students in the Polytechnic Institute must align with one or more of the Polytechnic research impact areas: Realizing the Digital Enterprise, Future Work and Learning, and Holistic Safety and Security. Descriptions for each can be found on the Polytechnic research office website. Faculty must describe how proposed projects are in alignment with one or more research impact areas.
  • Previous OUR Scholar recipients are not eligible.

OUR Scholars Expectations


 Sponsoring Academic Units:
College of Agriculture · College of Education · College of Engineering · College of Health & Human Sciences · College of Liberal Arts · College of Pharmacy · College of Science · John Martinson Honors College · Mitchell E. Daniels School of Business · Purdue Polytechnic Institute · Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies

Scholarship Opportunity for Summer 2024 - Open

Current and incoming OUR Scholars can receive an exclusive summer scholarship of up to $2,500 to either extend (AY 2023-24 Scholars) or begin (AY 2024-25 Scholars) their research in Summer 2024. This scholarship requires full-time summer enrollment (minimum 7 credits: including a one-credit, online course hosted by the OUR from this list) and a minimum of 140 hours spent contributing to their faculty-led OUR Scholars project.

Students interested in receiving this summer scholarship should email Angie Welshimer no later than April 10, 2024. 

Information about applying to be an OUR Scholar. Information on flier is repeated on website. 2024-25 OUR Scholars Flier. Right-click and save to distribute. (8.5"x11")