Research Opportunities
Participating in research can be a meaningful and formative experience for Economics undergraduate students. Research experience can build and strengthen academic skills while allowing students to explore new pathways within or related to Economics.
Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Award (CURA) Heading link
The Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award allows students with demonstrated financial need to work as research assistants for hourly pay. Faculty identify students as prospective research assistants or respond to student inquiries through the Undergraduate Research Experience database. Before a CURA can be granted, students must have accepted Federal Work-Study as part of their current financial aid award from UIC.
LAS Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI) Heading link
The Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI) encourages students to develop their research skills by providing financial support to undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and their faculty mentors for one- or two-semester research projects.
LAS undergraduate students work closely with a faculty member to develop research skills and learn to propose, design, and complete projects with the guidance and encouragement of a dedicated mentor. Students do not need an established record of research experience to apply. The application process takes place once per year, during the spring semester, and applies to the following academic year.
Social Insurance Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Heading link
SURF is a competitive, four-week, summer program housed at UIC that provides promising undergraduate students with an introduction to social insurance; the policies surrounding the social safety net; research investigating these programs, and their impact on economically vulnerable populations. Participants receive a $3,000 stipend as a SURF Fellow. Following the four-week fellowship, SURF fellows complete short internships with researchers currently funded to investigate these topics. Participants have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in contributing to active research projects.
Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) Heading link
The URE is a university-wide program dedicated to fostering scholarly engagement and intellectual growth. The URE mission is to make research an integral part of the undergraduate academic experience at UIC by creating mutually beneficial research relationships between students and faculty researchers.
Contact a Faculty Member Heading link
If you are interested in pursuing research outside of the pathways listed above, you might consider approaching a professor individually to ask whether there are any opportunities to work with them. This could be a professor who you’ve taken a class with or one who does research in areas that match your interests.