Supporting undergraduate research is an important component of MITEI’s commitment to training tomorrow’s energy innovators to provide a growing global population with affordable, sustainable energy access and tackle climate change. MITEI encourages and supports student participation in energy research through our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).
MITEI UROP students are innovative problem solvers who become integral members of the labs in which they work. A UROP provides the chance to work closely with faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and research scientists.
Since the program’s inception in 2008, MITEI and our member companies and donors have supported 975 UROP projects.
How It Works
Students can choose to pursue a UROP for pay, academic credit, or on a volunteer basis. MITEI funding covers up to 160 hours of work during the semester and IAP and up to 400 hours of work during the summer.
All MITEI-funded UROPs:
Are paid $17.50/hour.
Receive both formal and informal support from the MITEI community, including help finding jobs, internships, and future research projects.
Get access to the Energy Commons (10-063), with free coffee and snacks.
Because the MITEI UROP is sponsored entirely by outside donors, the students we fund have a few special obligations:
Submit an abstract and headshot for the MITEI UROP website listing.
Fill out occasional surveys.
Be available to meet with your sponsor and possibly present your work to sponsor representatives.
In posters and publications related to the research, credit your sponsor and MITEI, and list your PI and direct supervisor as co-authors.
Not sure where to start? Talk to us! send an email to the Education Team. We can help you understand your options, guide your search, and introduce you to professors. Subscribe to our weekly undergrad newsletter, which includes: upcoming energy UROP opportunities, internships, events, and more.
Summer UROP
The MITEI Summer UROP is special. Along with a cohort of 20-25 other students you will:
Attend weekly workshops (including vegetarian lunch!) focused on developing professional skills, like science communication and research impact
NEW: Compete in a slam-style pitch competition, based on your research project, at MITEI’s Annual Research Conference in the fall (similar to our recent Energy Storage Student Slam competition)
Connect to the CATE program, understanding the importance of translating your research for a non-scientific audience
