Undergraduate Research

Research is all about asking questions and finding answers. The Office of Undergraduate Research — a division of the USC Office of Research — connects undergraduate students in every discipline with the tools they need to pursue their own answers.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Announcement

The University of South Carolina is working with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to actively monitor the novel coronavirus outbreak and any potential impact to our campus community.

For continued updates from UofSC ➡️go.sc.edu/coronavirus

So, what does this mean for OUR?

For questions about your project, hours, salary, etc. please connect with your faculty mentor for direction and advice.
Due to the cancellation of Discover USC, we have made updates to the grant presentation requirement.
- For graduating seniors, the presentation requirement is waived.
- For all other grant recipients, we look forward to seeing you at Discover USC 2021!
Additional grant requirements:
- Research reports are still due one month after grant end date or before graduation, whichever is first. The one- to two-page research report must be approved by your mentor and then submitted to our office through Blackboard.

Do you need an extension of your OUR/Magellan grant?

If your Magellan grant ends in May 2020 and you need to extend the grant period, please review the process below. The process applies to all OUR/Magellan grants including Scholar, Apprentice, Minigrant, etc.

Extensions may be requested under the following circumstances:
- project is not finished
- funds are still remaining in the grant
- the student will still be an undergraduate or is requesting to continue for no more than one semester past graduation (May graduates cannot extend beyond August, August graduates no later than December, and December graduates no later than May)

To request an extension: Mentors or business managers should email our@sc.edu with the following:
- name of the undergraduate grant recipient
- the reason for needing an extension [such as, project requires extension due to university shutdown surrounding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).]
- confirmation of mentor's willingness to continue supervising student and project
- new end date requested (must be a specific date such as 8/15/2020) *Please note that the Magellan Guarantee and Magellan Explorer can not extend beyond the fiscal year of 6/30/2020.
Not sure of your grant end date or if an extension is needed?
- For Magellan Scholars: Ask your mentor. Your mentor’s department business manager will have access to your grant end date and award balance.
- For all other Magellan grants (Minigrant, Apprentice, etc): email our@sc.edu

As of now, the announce date for the Magellan Scholar remains the same. The Magellan Mini-Grant and Magellan Apprentice announce date has been moved to April 15. Please continue to monitor our page for updates.

Discover USC 2020 is cancelled. For more information ➡️ sc.edu/discoverusc.
Participants using Discover USC to fulfill requirements, please see information below:
- If you have a grant through the Office of Undergraduate Research, please see grant recipients tab above.
- If you are pursuing Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD), please contact CIEL.
- If you have a SURF/ESP grant, please contact the Honors College.

We are in the process of moving our workshops online so they can be accessed anytime. Please continue to monitor our workshop page for updates.

For information about travel, please visit go.sc.edu/coronavirus (or UofSC Employee Travel Reimbursements and Advisories) for continued updates.

Can I still get started in research?
Yes, we encourage students to continue to seek out research opportunities for the fall semester.

How do I get started in research?
Visit our Getting Started page for information and resources about connecting with faculty and research projects.

Watch our Getting Started in Research Virtual Workshop to learn how to find and reach out to potential faculty mentors.

Students can make an appointment online to meet by phone or virtually with an advisor from our office to discuss how to get started in research. On the "appointment details" page, please indicate your preference for type of meeting (e.g., phone, virtual) in the comments box.

Due to classes being moved online, we have made updates to our recommendations when contacting faculty during this time:
- Please be understanding that faculty may be slower to respond to you over email during this time.
- Within your email to your potential faculty mentor, be sure to include the following: "I am interested in learning more about your research and the possibility of assisting you on any current projects. I would love to meet with you via phone, virtually, or set up a time to meet in person when we return to campus."

REUs, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, are summer research programs sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Don't let the name fool you, there are opportunities in a variety of disciplines including Psychology, Education, Ethics, Business and Economics, Sociology, Communications, Social Justice, and more!

Programs are available across the country (and a few internationally). Most pay a salary (called a stipend) and often provide housing and travel reimbursements. For more info, visit www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu

Summer research experiences are also offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (www.nih.gov).

Have a specific institution in mind? Check their website for undergraduate research opportunities.

Our office is operating remotely within normal business hours. Please contact us at our@sc.edu or leave a message at 803-777-1141 (phone messages are checked regularly).

Register Your Research

Engaged in research? Make sure your experience is registered! This is for all students on all campuses, and for both noncredit and for-credit research (such as independent studies).

Get Started

No project? No mentor? No problem!

View the Getting Started in Research Virtual Workshop »
Please view our Getting Started in Research Virtual Workshop to learn how to find and reach out to potential faculty mentors.

Make an Appointment »
Schedule a time to talk to us about finding a mentor and a project.

Select the "Make an Appointment" link above.
Select “Involvement and Engagement."
Select “Undergraduate Research Appointment.”
Once you select your time, be sure to indicate in the “Comments” box your meeting type preference (by phone or Blackboard Collaborate).

Funding and Awards

OUR and Magellan Money

A variety of funding options are available through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Magellan programs to support research, scholarship and creative activities.

Funding around Campus

Learn about opportunities to fund your research through programs available throughout the USC system.

Research Prizes

If you're conducting undergraduate research, you can compete for prizes and honors recognizing your hard work and that of your amazing mentors.

Find Research Projects

Faculty Research Database

Use this tool to find USC faculty and staff members who share your research interests and might make the perfect mentor for you.

If you want to get involved in research but don't have an idea how to get started, just stop by the office and say, 'Hi.'

Jory Fleming, 2017 Rhodes Scholar and Magellan recipient

Discovery for Every Discipline

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.