Applications are now open for undergraduate scholars and grad student/postdoc/faculty mentors for the Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars (KCUS) program.
A comprehensive research experience designed to develop the next generation of leading researchers, the program immerses a cohort of students in a full year of research in a Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact associated lab, including labs that are members of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at the University of Oregon. Applications are now open for students and mentors. The deadline for student applications is Nov. 18, 2026, and for mentors it is Dec. 2, 2026.
“Since last spring, I have begun working in the lab setting in the Deku Lab,” said Yun Craddock, a neuroscience major who was mentored by Max Tenenbaum in the Deku Lab and is sponsored by Tom and Cathy Hui. Yun is part of KCUS's 2026 cohort. "I have learned much in these nine months, not only about electrochemistry or how to design an intracortical microelectrode array, but also the qualities that make a strong researcher.”
The 2026 cohort reflected Knight Campus’ strong support for Oregon residents and academic excellence. Fifty-five percent of the cohort were Clark Honors College students and 65 percent were graduates of Oregon high schools. Members of the 2027 cohort promise to be equally outstanding in their own rite.
“We are thrilled to see this program continue to thrive each year,” said Karl Reasoner, Senior Program Manager of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and director of the Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars program. “We look forward to continuing to broaden undergraduate participation in research with our incoming cohort.”