Undergraduate Research Opportunities

• Students interested in engaging in research and who are pursuing a major in the College of Arts and Sciences, have an overall GPA ≥ 3.0, and have completed < 60 credit hours at Loyola are eligible to apply.
• The program will be held May 19 - June 13, 2025 and students are expected to devote 30 hours/week (Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM CST).
• Housing is not provided for recipients of this award. Recipients are responsible for securing their own housing.
• As part of the application process, students are required to rank their top three faculty project choices. Please use the project code assigned to the projects, e.g., BSci1, Hum2, SSci3, when listing the projects. Applicants are not required to contact the faculty prior to submission and do not have to select a project within their major/minor.

View a video archive of the 2024 USRE Presentations here. 

• How do I apply? Go to www.luc.edu/lurop to apply using the online application. Note, the application portal opens for new applications Feb. 1.
• When are applications due? March 1
• Who is eligible to apply? Students interested must be pursuing a major in the College of Arts and Sciences, have an overall GPA ≥ 3.0, and have completed (as in done, not in progress) < 60 credit hours at Loyola.
• Do transfer credits count towards my 60 credit hours? No; they weren't done at Loyola.
• Is housing provided? No. On campus options and pricing can be found online. Note, USRE runs during Summer Session Early; there is specific pricing for this 4-week period.
• Who should write my letter of recommendation? Ask a faculty member who can speak to your aptitude and/or research potential. This can include a former/current course instructor. If you have prior interactions with the faculty mentor for a project of interest, you can ask them. If you don't that is not a problem. Be certain to ask your letter writer before you submit your application. This letter is a very important part of your application.
• When is my letter of recommendation due? Your recommender will be send an email (once you enter in their email address) via the LUROP system. Recommendation letters are due March 8. (If your letter is missing, we'll reach out to your recommender.)
• Can the project/mentor be outside my major/minor? Yes! Students are welcome to apply for and select projects that pique their interests.
• Where can I find the research projects? Projects for the 2025 program will be listed mid-January.
• Do I have to come up with my own research project? No. You can only select from the list of research projects offered for the 2025 program.
• Can I also be enrolled in a class or have a job during the 4-week program? As a recipient of this fellowship, you must be able to commit 30 hours per week, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 AM - 5 PM. The exact timing and scheduling of your participation will be determined by the student and mentor.
• How will payments be made? Students will receive 2 payments. Further details about payment will be discussed upon acceptance.
• Still have questions? Email CAS-USRE@luc.edu.
• Have problems with your application through the LUROP website? Email lurop@luc.edu. Note, for any problems specific to the program, they should be directed to CAS-USRE@luc.edu. LUROP just collects applications for the program.
• I missed the deadline. Can I still apply? No. That's not fair to those people that applied on time.

In the summer of 2022, Sophomore Zoha Hassan partnered with Neil Klingensmith, an assistant professor of computer science, to build a prototype of a robotic recycling sorter that separates domestic recycling into proper categories. The pair utilized image processing software that distinguished between objects commonly found in domestic recycling—bottles, cans, paper, etc. Further developing this type of technology would help offset labor costs and assure proper recycling processes.

Explore more past student experiences with USRE here.

Application Process, Due 1 March

• The Mulcahy Scholarship applications should be submitted as consists of a single PDF that includes all of the following:
• project title
• project description (2 pages, single-spaced, 12 pt. font, including figures and tables within limit). In the project description, students should describe the nature of the proposed project, clearly stating: (1) the general purpose and specific objectives, (2) the student's proposed work, (3) the expected results or products of the work, (4) the significance of the proposed project, and (5) the roles of the student and faculty mentor in the proposed project.
• literature cited
• budget and justification of expenses (one page)
• a letter of support (one page maximum) from the faculty mentor must be submitted separately. If the faculty mentor is supporting multiple applications, please rank them.

Other Information and Requirements

• Students may submit proposals in any area of the natural sciences (including disciplines outside their major) as long as they have the support of a full-time Loyola faculty mentor with expertise in that general area.
• Projects can be an original work by the student or based on a faculty member's current research.
• Current or past recipients of the Mulcahy Scholarship are welcome to reapply as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
• Mulcahy recipients are required to:
  • (1) attend a poster presentation skills workshop, and
  • (2) present the results of their work at the annual Undergraduate Research & Engagement Symposium held in the spring semester. Awardees must attend the entire symposium event and submit a copy of their poster or presentation.