Admission to the program is competitive. Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• be a matriculated, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the Fall 2025 semester (beginning or continuing college career in Fall 2025 and not graduating before December 2026; concurrent enrollment while in high school does not meet this eligibility requirement). Applicants do not need to be a University of Utah student (SPUR is nationally competitive - you may be a student from an institution across the US, including a community college).
• eligible to work in the United States:
  • • If your status prevents you from working, you may still be eligible to participate. If you are a University of Utah student, a University of Utah student who graduated from a Utah high school, or a graduating last year undergraduate student, the OUR will pursue a partnership to support undergraduate researchers through opportunities with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for the experience. If you have questions, please contact Angie Leiva at 801-581-2478. Students with DACA Employment Authorization Documents will be hired and paid through U payroll.
    • If you are an international student or scholar, you must either a) be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Utah, OR b) possess documentation that establishes your eligibility to work in the United States (if you hold US citizenship, it is likely you have these documents). Click here to view list of acceptable documents.
• able to commit to approximately 35-40 hours per week of employment at the University of Utah for the entire duration of the program (May 18-July 31, 2026)
• at least 18 years old by May 18, 2026 (required if you wish to use on-campus housing; preferred if you will not be using on-campus housing)
• For HAPPIEST projects: Applicants MUST be University of Utah students.
• For American Heart Association (AHA) projects, applicants MUST be rising junior or senior graduating in Spring 2026. This is open to students nationally and international students current enrolled in a US institution. This project will select five students to work one-on-one with a University of Utah faculty mentor. Additionally, this opportunity does not include housing.

Students may not participate in SPUR more than once. Please note that no previous college coursework or previous research experience is required.

• Time Commitment: This is a full-time program. Student participants are expected to spend 35-40 hours per week on research and program-related activities for the entire duration of the program (May 18-July 31, 2026). Details regarding expectations and/or requirements of the research will be negotiated between the student and faculty mentor, following program guidelines.
• Bi-Weekly Meetings: Student participants are expected to attend regular meetings in which they will practice presenting their research and participate in professional development activities.
• Program Events: Students are expected to attend all required program meetings and events, including: orientation, opening luncheon, Grad School Mini-Expo, and individual meeting with program coordinator.
• Undergraduate Research Education Series: Student participants are required to attend weekly research and professional development events.
• Final Presentation: Student participants are required to present their work (poster format) at the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium held on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
• Journal Submission: Student participants are required to submit a one-page summary of their experience to the University of Utah Undergraduate Research Journal upon completion of the program.
• Final Report: Student participants are required to submit a final report that details their SPUR experience. This is collected via survey format.
• All-Programs Socials (optional): If their schedules allow, student participants are encouraged to attend socials that are planned by other formal summer undergraduate research programs on campus.
• UROP Proposal (optional): If eligible, University of Utah student participants are encouraged to prepare UROP proposals to allow them to continue their research in the Fall (or other future) semester. Support for UROP proposal preparation will be provided.

Students participating in SPUR will receive a stipend of $5,000 (less applicable taxes) over the course of the program. Participants will be hired as short-term, temporary employees. This will allow them to receive University of Utah ID cards, providing for the ability to check out books from University Libraries, use computers on campus, receive discounts, utilize public transit for free, etc.

Participants relocating to Salt Lake City for the duration of the program may be eligible to receive a travel reimbursement up to $500 total for roundtrip travel-related expenses to/from Salt Lake City. University of Utah students are not eligible for travel reimbursement.

Participants have the option of requesting on-campus housing. For students who request housing, additional information will be requested. Participants pay $250; the rest of the on-campus housing expense is covered by the program. Students may check-in beginning at 2:00 PM, Monday May 18 and must check out of on-campus housing by 10:00 AM Friday, 31 July , 2026.

Being a SPUR mentor provides you with the opportunity to mentor the next generation of researchers and support your own research teams/projects while the Office of Undergraduate Research provides the following to students selected to work on a mentor's project:

• Connects the student to dynamic summer programming, educational series, and a research community
• Coordinates opportunities for SPUR mentees to present their research
• Coordinates the hiring of the student with HR
• Covers the students stipend
• Covers the students travel to SPUR (out-of-state students)
• Provides undergraduate research advising

This allows your student to have a program and activities wrapped around them to foster their success, create an intellectual community, and strengthen their network.