UROC OPPORTUNITIES
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center sponsors several Research and Academic Internship Programs. Each program is aimed to help guide the student toward their academic and career goals by providing relevant training and leadership development opportunities.
What is an Academic Internship?
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An academic internship is an educational strategy that connects classroom learning and real-life situations. It is a learning experience to help students achieve personal and professional growth and a competitive advantage in the global workforce. Internships provide students with a professional learning experience in which they gain new knowledge by performing tasks, working on projects, and receiving mentorship in a professional work environment.
- Examples of these are the UCDC and UCCS Programs!
What is Research?
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Undergraduate Research is defined by the Council for Undergraduate Research as "a mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge." The Research programs that UROC provides help students learn the research process and gain confidence through mentorship. Students in the UROC research programs also participate in SURI (the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute) to learn about applying to Graduate School and planning for future careers.
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Examples of these are the CAMP, CV PATH, JGI*, SOAR, SURF, UROC-H, and LAEP* programs!
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
UCDC - UC Washington Program
Interested in spending a semester in Washington D.C.?
The Washington Program (UCDC) offers eligible undergraduate students an exciting opportunity to combine coursework, exciting field research, and unparalleled internship experience during a semester's residence in our nation's capital. This experience allows UC Merced students a chance to supplement their undergraduate education with real-world exposure and hands-on participation through internships. Learn more to apply for a future Fall or Spring semester.
UCCS - UC Center Sacremento
UC Center Sacramento (UCCS) educates California’s future leaders in the craft of politics and policymaking while making the expertise of faculty of the nation’s leading university available to decision-makers in the legislative and executive branches of government.
UCCS academic internship program participants earn UC credit, maintain their financial aid eligibility, and gain valuable work experience while interning in Sacramento. Internships are available for almost any major! Participants take classes with students from all UC campuses, which provides an intellectual and social community throughout the Fall, Spring, or Summer.
Visit the UC Center Sacramento Website
CAMP - California Alliance for Minority Participation
Click here for more information or Click here to view CAMP Alumni
CV PATH - Central Valley Pathways into Academics, Teaching, and Higher Education
The CV PATH Research Experience is a collaborative summer research opportunity for students from Las Positas College, Bakersfield College, and CSU Bakersfield to conduct faculty-mentored research.
Click Here for more information!
JGI - Joint Genome Institute
JGI is a 9-week program that allows students the opportunity to experience research with a national laboratory through two opportunities. A few students will have the opportunity to conduct research on-site at the Berkeley Lab and others will conduct remote data science research at UC Merced in collaboration with JGI scientists and UC Merced faculty mentors. The Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) is managed by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) to produce high-throughput DNA sequencing and analysis in support of its missions in alternative energy, global carbon cycling, and biogeochemistry.
Click here for more information or click here to view JGI Alumni!
SOAR - Summer Opportunity for Advanced Research
Click here for more information!
SURF - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is our newest research program offered to all undergraduate students in any discipline. This 9-week summer fellowship offers undergraduates the opportunity to work alongside faculty and graduate student mentors and provides graduate school preparation.
Click here for more information or click here to view SURF Alumni!
UC LEADS - UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees
The University of California Leadership Excellence Through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Scholars Program is a two-year research and leadership training program designed to prepare UC Merced students for advanced education in STEM and careers in research, academia, government, and public service.
Click here for more information or click here to view UC LEADS Alumni.
UROC-H - Undergraduate Research in the Humanities
Application Info Session
Attend an info session to learn more about UROC programs and meet the staff.
Summer 2025 Application will open on November 1st and close on January 30th, 2025!
How do I know which Opportunity is right for me?
Answer the questions below to find out!
If you want to restart the quiz, just refresh the page!
More UC Merced Research Programs
UC Merced offers a wealth of research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in gaining practical experience. These opportunities vary across academic disciplines and include creative opportunities such as community-engaged scholarship and applied learning. To find out more information, check out the links below or visit our Partner Programs page!
- Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM)
- Boosting Representation of African Americans in Geosciences (BRAAG)
- Physics REU at UC Merced
- USDA FARMERS
- TUSCEB
- BII INSITE
- NIH URISE
Resources for UC Merced Students
- Student Success at UC Merced
- Dean of Students Office
- STEM Resource Center
- Students First Center
- Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Graduate Division
- Office of Research
- Center for Career & Professional Advancement
