Meet the 2025 Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars

The Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Program pairs promising undergraduates with research mentors — graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members — immersing them in a 12-month, comprehensive research experience in Knight Campus-affiliated labs.

These young scientists are taking on independent research projects in a diverse set of fields and connecting with mentors throughout the Knight Campus and across the UO. This year's cohort are majoring in neuroscience, biochemistry, human physiology, biology, computer science and data science, physics, psychology and chemistry. Here are some other statistics about this year's group of outstanding, next generation researchers:

• Gender: 25% Male; 75% Female
• Ethnicity: 55% students of color; 45% white
• 20% are first-generation
• 25% are transfer students
• 55% are enrolled in the Clark Honors College
• 70% are Oregon residents (graduate from an Oregon High School)

Meet the 2025 Scholars

Program Details and Benefits

How it works

• Undergraduate students apply to the program, describing their background and research interests. Prospective mentors submit project proposals that outline an independent student research project. After student scholars are selected, the scholars and mentors go through a matching process.

Undergraduate Student Benefits

• The program provides a $16,000 fellowship/scholarship award that will be distributed over the course of the program year.
• Participation in professional development and learning activities as part of a cohort of top students.
• IMPORTANT: If you are receiving federal financial aid, this award may affect your financial aid eligibility. Students who receive federal aid have a responsibility to report all awards earned to the UO Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information.

Mentor Benefits

• Mentors will receive a $1,500 stipend if they are matched with an undergraduate. The intent of these funds is to support the mentor directly. Supplies and services required for the project should be the PIs contribution to this program.
• Supervisory and leadership experience.
   

Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate Students

• Sophomore or Junior academic standing
• Enrolled at the University of Oregon
• Minimum 3.3 GPA
• Major in the natural sciences
• Commitment to meet program expectations listed below.

Mentors

• Graduate student, postdoctoral fellow/scholar, NTTF, or TTF (Assistant Professor Rank only) in a Knight Campus faculty lab.
• Graduate student, postdoctoral fellow/scholar, NTTF, or TTF in a research group that has received Knight Campus Associate status.
• Mentor must be approved by lab PI to submit a proposal
• Committed to supervising the undergraduate scholar for the full year
• Have a project that allows undergraduates to work independently under your supervision
   
   

Program Expectations

Undergraduate Students

• Commit regular effort to conducting research:
  • Winter term: 10+ lab hours per week
  • Spring term: 10+ lab hours per week
  • Summer: 13 weeks of full time research
  • Fall term: 10+ lab hours per week
• Participate in cohort activities (professional development and social).
• Share the results of your research at the UO Undergraduate Symposium.
• Acknowledge the Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars program in all work resulting from research during the program.
• Notify the program administrator immediately of other support or of any conflicts with the eligibility and/or restrictions of this fellowship.
• Notify the program administrator of any publications or conference presentations that are associated with your research project.

Mentors

• Participate in orientation, training, and semi-regular meetings related to the program
• Provide progress reports and evaluations as requested by the program

More Details and How to Apply