OUR's Student-Proposed Innovation & Research Experience (SPIRE) provides opportunities for University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) undergraduates to work closely with faculty mentors on summer research projects while actively engaging with the broader community of SPIRE researchers.
SPIRE is designed for students with experience with undergraduate research or students who have already secured an undergraduate research mentor.
OUR welcomes SPIRE Proposals from students in all academic and artistic fields and will award students in the program a stipend of $3,000.
Students will be expected to spend approximately 20 hours a week on their projects and program activities and may conduct their research during eight weeks between June 2nd and August 15th, 2025.
During the summer, students can engage in workshops, seminars, and networking events with other undergraduate students and their SPIRE cohort. SPIRE students will also be required to present their work at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC).
Who should apply to SPIRE?
SPIRE is designed for students who:
- Have a plan for a self-designed summer research project.
- Have secured the agreement of a UMD faculty member to advise them on their project.
- Engage in research or creative endeavors in any and all academic and artistic fields.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students scheduled to graduate no earlier than December 2025.
- Must have completed at least 12 or more UMD course credits (not including AP or IB credits) by the application deadline.
