UNLV Pipe-UP
NSF EPSCoR RII-BEC: Enhancing the Transition of COVID-19-Affected Students from Undergraduate to Graduate Careers in STEM through Multi-Year Undergraduate Research Experiences
UNLV Pipe-UP, or the NSF EPSCoR RII-BEC: Enhancing the Transition of COVID-19-Affected Students from Undergraduate to Graduate Careers in STEM through Multi-Year Undergraduate Research Experiences program, includes curricular and co-curricular activities that are aligned with both student development and career stage to engage them in increasing levels of research. Additionally, the program teaches participants the scientific method and its value, offers funded and mentored research and professional development to improve preparedness, enhances STEM identity building, increases persistence, and builds self-efficacy and competency for a successful undergraduate and graduate career.
UNLV's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering (CoE), and College of Sciences (CoS) aim to accept an annual cohort of 20 first-year engineering and science students (10 in CoE and 10 in CoS) to participate in a 4-year holistic program to improve their sense of belonging, self-efficacy, persistence, and the transition from undergraduate to graduate school.
Learning Outcomes
The program’s four main objectives are to provide:
an improved perspective and sense of belonging in STEM fields,
an understanding of and experience with the scientific process,
opportunities to participate in mentored research experiences, and
training and best practices for applying for and succeeding in graduate school.
Research Experience
Participants will:
engage in faculty-mentored, original research,
receive mentorship from OUR's Peer Mentors biweekly,
engage in professional development and research readiness through OUR’s year-round Research Skills Academy (RSA) seminars,
present their research at a symposium, workshop, or conference, and
publish their research in Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal.
Program Stipend
Upon successful maintenance of eligibility and program requirements, participants will be awarded a monetary stipend of $2,500 during Year 1, $3,000 during Year 2, $4,500 during Year 3, and $2,250 during Year 4.
The UNLV Pipe-UP program is no longer accepting applications.