About URCA
Developed as a resource to help guide students towards experiential education opportunities, URCA seeks to enhance undergraduates’ time at UCSB through participation in research and creative activities. Together, these programs work to foster individuals who are prepared to apply their learned skills towards their future personal, academic, and professional goals.
Finding Research
Research Directory
The Undergrad Research Directory is your go-to place for discovering new research projects taking place on campus.
URCA Week 2026
Events: May 11th - 15th
Applications open February 1 to March 1
Conference
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 and Friday, May 15, 2026
Time: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Presentations, demonstrations, and roundtables
Poster Colloquium
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Location: Corwin Pavilion
Session A: Life and Psychological Sciences
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Session B: Technology, Society, and Culture
12:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Support for Students
Contact Us
If you're overwhelmed or curious about research and unsure where to begin, we're here to help you out.
Student Hours and Events
News and Updates
University of Utah: Summer Research Opportunity (Upcoming Deadline)
Every summer, the University of Utah’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). We are currently accepting applications for summer 2025!
Our summer programming brings over 200 undergraduate researchers to the University of Utah – last year, students represented 96 different institutions.
Continue Reading University of Utah: Summer Research Opportunity (Upcoming Deadline)
URCA Grant - Call for Applications
By applying for the URCA Grant you become an integral part of the research community at UCSB and will develop important skills like taking a research project from conception to completion, learning how a typical grant application process works and getting hands-on experience with research.
To qualify for an URCA grant, you must meet a few general requirements and submit a completed proposal online by the application deadline. If you receive an URCA grant, you must present your work at URCA Week the following May.
Continue Reading URCA Grant - Call for Applications