Office of Research for Undergraduates

The ORU encourages new students and current students to embrace a desire to engage in research. We are proud to champion the vision, marketing, and coordination of research by undergraduates at Miami with research-active faculty and staff. ORU focuses on sustaining current levels of participation in research and creative efforts, increasing the overall quality of undergraduate research at Miami as evidenced through publications, grants, and fellowships and on broadening participation to students and faculty in all disciplines.

ORU Student Services

• Assist with the identification of appropriate funding opportunities
• Offer clear routes to research opportunities for our undergraduates
• Provide information about undergraduate research benefits to faculty, staff and students

ORU Director's Mission

• Develop a strategic plan and objectives for sustaining strong research efforts, increasing activity in underutilized fields and disciplines; and improving the overall quality of research involving undergraduates, as evidenced through publications, grants, and prestigious fellowships
• Identify curricular needs to promote research by undergraduates and generate cost-­‐effective ways to address those needs
• Identify and secure funding for research by undergraduates and research-­‐related professional development for faculty, graduate students, and staff
• Promote and publicize the achievements of undergraduate research efforts to the Miami community, prospective students and family members, alumni, professional organizations, funding agencies, and others

Undergraduate Research

At Miami University, students can engage in research, scholarship and creative activities through one-on-one mentoring opportunities as well as inquiry-based learning in the classroom, both of which are known to impact academic achievement and retention. Faculty mentors and instructors lead students through projects that may be individual or team based, and conducted over a semester, an academic year, or exclusively in the summer. Undergraduate students may receive credit for such experiences, as they design and execute their projects.

Central to the success of undergraduate researchers are the educational partnerships with faculty, graduate students, and staff, that enrich the learning experiences for all. Each spring, over 300 research presentations are delivered by students during the Undergraduate Research Forum, an annual, day-long celebration of these successes.