The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards

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• Eligibility

  To be eligible for the HERE program, applicants should:

  • Currently be in their first or second year of an undergraduate program at UH
  • Not plan on graduating before Spring 2026
  • Have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA

  All majors are eligible to apply, and no prior research experience is required. Additionally, students may apply to both HERE and SURF in the same year.

• How to Apply

  To apply, complete the HERE Application Form before Friday, March 8, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. While filling out the application form, you will be asked to answer some free-response questions and as well as upload:

  • A current resume

    Be sure to list any awards, honors, activities, research, jobs, service, leadership, etc.

    If you need assistance creating or updating your resume, University Career Services offers resume support resources and counseling.

  • An unofficial transcript

    You can download a copy of your unofficial transcript in myUH Self Service by going to "Academic Records".

• Decision Timeline

  The 2024 HERE Application will close on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 11:59p.m.

  Applications will not be reviewed until after the application deadline has passed. Decisions will be sent via email in early April 2024.

• Program Dates

  The 2024 HERE Program will take place May 13-24, 2024.

  Programming will occur Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants are expected to attend all ten days and be present for all scheduled activities each day.

• 2024 Theme

  The 2024 HERE program topic is "Space City Houston". Houston has a rich legacy of space exploration, research, and industry. Decades after the establishment of the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center), Houston continues to embrace its status as "Space City". However, space exploration has significantly transformed since the late 20th century. With new technological advances, increasing privatization and commercialization, and growing concerns about sustainability and orbital debris, how will Houston's relationship with the space industry evolve? In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students will develop a research proposal for a topic or problem related to the overarching program theme. Potential topics include diplomacy and ethics, advancements in exploration, commercialization and privatization, sustainability, exploration narratives and science communication, sociocultural impacts, and more. Learn more about past HERE cohorts.

• Program Format

  In the mornings, students will meet as a cohort to hear a guest speaker lecture or discussion. Speakers will present on a variety of different topics related to the program theme. Speakers will range in their subject expertise (from the humanities to the sciences) as well as their professional experience (from academic researchers to community leaders). These lectures or discussions aim to provide students with not only a multidisciplinary understanding of the theme but also examples of how research is conducted and used in different disciplines.

  In the afternoons, students will meet in small seminar groups with their faculty mentor. Within the seminar group, students will form smaller research teams. Each team, guided by their faculty mentor, will craft a research proposal. The structure of seminar groups may vary from mentor to mentor, but will typically involve activities such as reading academic articles, developing research questions, and finding reliable informational resources. During seminar sessions, students will hone their critical thinking and teamwork skills, learn how to start the research process, and investigate exciting topics related to the program theme.

  Students will present their research proposals to the cohort on the final day of the HERE program.

• Expectations

  HERE participants are expected to:

  • Attend the HERE orientation session
  • Attend faculty and community leader-led lectures and discussions
  • Participate in mentor-led seminar sessions
  • Work in a small team of 2-3 students to develop a research question and proposal with faculty-mentor guidance
  • Deliver a research proposal presentation
  • Complete HERE program surveys and reflection assignments

• Housing and Transportation

  Housing and transportation will not be provided. Participants are expected to make their own accommodations.

• Scholarship Disbursement

  HERE participants will receive a $1,000 scholarship after their successful completion of the program. Scholarships will be disbursed to your UH account via UH's Scholarships and Financial Aid office, usually in early or mid-June. Please note:

  • Typically, HERE scholarships will be processed as a refund from your UH account. Please ensure you set up or update your refund preferences as needed.
  • If your HERE scholarship is disbursed and you have an outstanding balance on your UH account, your scholarship will be automatically applied to your balance first. This may result in a smaller refund or no refund at all. To receive the full amount of your scholarship as a refund, you must not have an outstanding balance on your UH account.

• HCCE Points

  HERE program participants will receive 2 points towards the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement (HCCE) transcript designation. The HCCE transcript designation is awarded to students upon graduation who pursue a broad range of experiential learning opportunities from freshman to senior year. Students can pursue undergraduate research, internships, learning away and abroad, service learning, leadership experience and other academic enrichment opportunities.

• Additional Questions

  Please contact HERE program manager Livia Garza at llgarza9@uh.edu if you have any questions or require additional information.