Undergraduate research is a powerful way to explore your interests, build technical and professional skills, and connect with faculty and graduate mentors. The IDEA Engineering Student Center offers multiple entry points to support students at every stage of their journey.
GEAR Up2Research
Interested in engineering research? Learn what research is and how to get started with a guided introduction for undergraduates
Undergraduate Engineering Research Symposium
A Jacobs School showcase of undergraduate research happening May 28th, 2026
IDEA Engineering Research Scholarship
$7,500 in funding support for undergraduate engineering students continuing research over the summer!
Gear Up2Research
Curious about research but not sure where to start? GEAR Up2Research is a flexible, self-paced program designed to help engineering undergraduates explore research, build confidence, and prepare to pursue undergraduate research opportunities. GEAR Up2Research includes:
- The GEAR Up2Research self-paced course
- Mentorship and coaching from PhD researchers
- In-person workshops and networking events
Undergraduate Engineering Research Symposium
The Undergraduate Engineering Research Symposium (UERS) is our school-wide event showcasing the endless possibilities of undergraduate engineering research. This annual symposium is a valuable opportunity for students to present their research to their peers, faculty, and industry guests, gain professional presentation experience, and compete for $500 in awards for best posters. This year the UERS happens May 28th from 2-4pm with networking and awards from 5-6pm. Apply now through April 19th, 2026!
About the Symposium
Undergraduate students who have participated in research in the Jacobs School of Engineering are invited to apply to present at UERS. This event provides a professional platform to showcase your work, gain presentation experience, and connect with faculty and industry professionals.
The best part? No previous poster experience is required! If needed, participants will receive support in developing and confidently presenting a research poster. UERS will:
- Cover the cost of printing posters, and
- $500 in prizes will be awarded to the top posters!
Who can Present
Any undergraduate performing research in the Jacobs School of Engineering is welcome to apply to present their work!
Timelines and Key Dates
Presenter Application Dates: March 24th - April 19, 2026
Poster Preparation:
- Optional poster preparation assistance is available
- All presenters must attend a 1-hour poster review session in May
- Completed posters must be submitted May 18th
Symposium Date: May 28th, 1 - 5pm
- Check-In: 1pm
- Poster presentations: 2-4pm
- Awards and networking 4-5pm (Optional)
IDEA Engineering Research Scholarship
The IDEA Engineering Research Scholarship provides a $7,500 scholarship to support undergraduate engineering students conducting full-time (40 hours/week) research for 8 weeks during the summer. This scholarship is intended for students who are already working with an engineering research lab, and applicants need to confirm with their PI that they are able to continue full-time summer research. The application is open now through April 19th, 2026!
IER Scholarship Application (Summer)
About the Scholarship
The IDEA Engineering Research Scholarship provides a $7,500 scholarship to support undergraduate engineering students conducting full-time (40 hours/week) research for 8 weeks during the summer. This scholarship is intended for Jacobs School of Engineering undergraduate students who are already working with an engineering research lab and want to continue with summer research.
This opportunity is generously funded by General Atomics and, in addition to performing research, includes the following program components:
- Participating in a General Atomics tour
- Developing a research presentation & attending a presentation prep session
- Presenting your work in-person, during the final research showcase (week of August 24)
Eligibility
This scholarship is intended for Jacobs School of Engineering undergraduate students who are already working with an engineering research lab and want to continue with summer research.
Applicants need to confirm with their Principal Investigator (PI) that they are able to continue full-time summer research, and the PI needs to acknowledge their support of your application by filling out this Faculty Support Form (which takes about 1-minute to complete) by April 19th.
In addition, applicants must be available to present their work at the end-of-summer showcase the week of August 24th.
Timeline & Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Sunday, April 19
- Decisions Released By: Friday, April 24
- Research Performed: Summer 2026
- End of Summer Showcase: Week of August 24