SPRINT operates on a progressive funding model based on demonstrated financial need to facilitate equitable access to unpaid opportunities. Stipend levels vary based on a student’s financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Financially-aided students will be eligible for a “Gap Award” based on the calculated Parent Contribution during the academic year preceding the fall experience. 

Selected students receive funding to support student expenses during the SPRINT experience such as housing, food, and transportation costs. Please note that faculty may not provide supplemental funding to their awardees, in accordance with the SPRINT Principles and Expectations.

Spring: As part of the holistic review process (which includes the criteria for the opportunities and other factors), prescreened applications of students will be provided to faculty for ranking. The SPRINT|UTRA review committee will take faculty rankings and feedback into account when making final award decisions.

Summer: Student applications will be provided to faculty for review following a program-wide eligibility screening and materials preparation process. Please note that there might be situations where a specific student’s application has not been shared with you. Please direct any questions or concerns you may have to utra@brown.edu (and not the student) in order to maintain the confidentiality of the application and review process.  

Once you receive application materials, you may choose to reach out to students to schedule conversations/interviews. By the end of the review period (currently set at 11:45 PM EST on March 5, 2025), you must provide a ranking of all applicants to your opportunity that you deem to be qualified. A SPRINT program-wide process will match as many students as possible to one opportunity each based on the rankings submitted by both students and faculty, with notifications sent mid-March.

Spring: Spring UTRA projects must begin after the first day of classes and the duration of the project must span a minimum of 10 weeks. The student is expected to collaborate on the project for approximately 9 hours per week. We expect both faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable period between the beginning of the first day of class and the last week of  May.

Summer: Summer UTRA projects must span a minimum of 8 consecutive, full-time weeks. 8-10 consecutive, full-time weeks is most typical. We expect faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable project period that begins after Memorial Day and ends before Labor Day.

Fall: Fall UTRA projects must begin after the start of fall semester and the duration of the project  must span a minimum of 10 weeks. The student is expected to collaborate on the project for approximately 9 hours per week. We expect both faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable period between the beginning of the fall semester and the reading period in December. 

International engagements are not supported during our academic semester UTRAs. Faculty colleagues may only propose an international UTRA during our summer cycles. Please consult our International UTRA webpage for more information. 

UTRA now focuses exclusively on forging new research and curriculum development collaborations between students and faculty mentors. By submitting an opportunity, you agree that you will only consider and rank applicants with whom you have not previously collaborated on research or curriculum development for longer than one semester. 

Examples of collaboration that would not preclude a Summer 2025 UTRA

• The student has taken, or is currently taking, one or more courses with you. 
• The student has recently joined your lab or research project with limited or no research experience.
• The student has completed, or is currently completing, one semester UTRA experience with you.
• You have mentored the student in your capacity as an academic advisor.

Examples of collaboration that would preclude a Summer 2025 UTRA

• The student has conducted research in the same lab or research group as your listed project as a research assistant for longer than one semester.
• The student has interned in your lab or research group for longer than one semester.
• The student has engaged in an independent research project with you on the same topic as the listed opportunity for longer than one semester.
• The student has completed two semester UTRA experiences with you, or is currently completing their second semester UTRA experience with you. 
• The student has completed a past summer UTRA with you.

You are expected to give all applicants to your opportunity full consideration and to rank all those you consider qualified to engage in the opportunity. 

Please note that the list of examples noted above is not exhaustive. If you have any questions about your particular circumstance, please email utra@brown.edu for consultation before submitting your opportunity.

Spring: After the SPRINT|UTRA committee makes their recommendation of applications to move forward to Phase II of the holistic review process, there might be situations where a specific student has not been paired with you. Please direct any questions or concerns you may have to utra@brown.edu (and not the student) in order to maintain the confidentiality of the holistic review process.  

During the Phase II review process, you are welcome to schedule an optional interview with applicants before submitting your ratings and comments.  However, we strongly advise against engaging in discussions with students who are not paired with you during the holistic review process.

Summer: Student applications will be provided to faculty for review following a program-wide eligibility screening and materials preparation process. Please note that there might be situations where a specific student’s application has not been shared with you. Please direct any questions or concerns you may have to utra@brown.edu (and not the student) in order to maintain the confidentiality of the application and review process.  

Once you receive application materials, you may choose to reach out to students to schedule conversations/interviews. By the end of the review period (currently set at 11:45 PM EST on March 5, 2025), you must provide a ranking of all applicants to your opportunity that you deem to be qualified. A SPRINT program-wide process will match as many students as possible to one opportunity each based on the rankings submitted by both students and faculty, with notifications sent mid-March.

Students will be notified of all available opportunities via emails and Today@Brown messages. The link to the positions will also be prominently featured on the UTRA website. 

Providing as much accessible information as possible about your opportunity in the project proposal Google form is the best way to yield more applicants. Share details about the specific project, how students will be engaged in the project, what tasks will be assigned to the student, and how their contributions fit into your broader goals. If you are not yet sure about specifics, try to provide examples of the types of projects or teams a student may be involved with. 

It is our goal to accept as many projects as possible, provided the projects meet the overall submission guidelines and faculty are eligible to sponsor an UTRA project. We will also work with faculty to revise their proposed projects as needed.

Yes, provided there is a strong rationale for why more than one student is needed for the project. Please note that our funding is limited. If more than one student is needed for your project, we also encourage you to look into whether funding for at least one of the students might be available through your department or a grant.

Yes, you may submit up to two project proposals. Please submit a unique proposal for each project.

 

Spring: All undergraduate applicants who are currently enrolled in Fall Semester and who will be enrolled in the upcoming Spring semester are eligible to apply (students who take a leave of absence during the current Spring semester, or plan to take a leave for the upcoming Fall semester will not be eligible to apply or receive funding).  

Summer: All undergraduates currently enrolled in the spring 2025 semester and who will be enrolled in fall 2025 semester are eligible. This includes all students regardless of citizenship and current location of study. Students may not be on a leave of absence from Brown either in the semester they are applying nor in the period when they would receive the funding, and graduating seniors and graduate students are not eligible to apply. Students who previously received a SPRINT award remain eligible to apply to SPRINT Fellowships, but priority will be given to students who have not previously received SPRINT summer awards. 

Fall: All undergraduate applicants who are currently enrolled in Spring Semester and who will be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester are eligible to apply (students who take a leave of absence during the current Spring semester, or plan to take a leave for the upcoming Fall semester will not be eligible to apply or receive funding).  

Spring UTRA projects must begin after the first day of classes and the duration of the project must span a minimum of 10 weeks. The student is expected to collaborate on the project for approximately 9 hours per week. We expect both faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable period between the beginning of the first day of class and the last week of  May.

Summer UTRA projects must span a minimum of 8 consecutive, full-time weeks. 8-10 consecutive, full-time weeks is most typical. We expect faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable project period that begins after Memorial Day and ends before Labor Day.

Fall UTRA projects must begin after the start of fall semester and the duration of the project must span a minimum of 10 weeks. The student is expected to collaborate on the project for approximately 9 hours per week. We expect both faculty and student collaborators to find a mutually agreeable period between the beginning of the fall semester and the reading period in December.

Spring: For the Spring 2025 UTRA cycle, both students and faculty will be notified of their matches by December 16, 2024. In an email sent from our office, we will ask students to reach out to their respective faculty members about their decision to confirm their participation in the program. From there, students will be informed and expected to communicate with their professors/PIs about research project expectations and timelines. If the student declines or withdraws their award, the Undergraduate Research Team will notify you as soon as possible. 

Summer: For the Summer 2025 UTRA cycle, both students and faculty will be notified of their matches on March 31, 2025, via an email from the program. Students will be asked to reach out to their respective faculty members about their decision to confirm their participation in the program. From there, students will be informed and expected to communicate with their professors/PIs about research project expectations and timelines. If the student declines the opportunity, the Undergraduate Research Team will notify you as soon as possible. 

Fall: For the Fall 2025 UTRA cycle, both students and faculty will be notified of their matches (TBA). In an email sent from our office, we will ask students to reach out to their respective faculty members about their decision to confirm their participation in the program. From there, students will be informed and expected to communicate with their professors/PIs about research project expectations and timelines. If the student declines or withdraws their award, the Undergraduate Research Team will notify you as soon as possible.