Launched by the Computing Research Association in 2023, the UR2PhD program is designed to broaden access to undergraduate research experiences and inspire students to pursue graduate studies.
Among its institutional partners is the University of Waterloo, where Cheriton School of Computer Science Professor Edith Law coordinates the program locally.
Under Professor Law’s guidance, dozens of undergraduate and graduate students have engaged in meaningful research training and skill-building activities. Her leadership has helped clarified the research process, making it more approachable and accessible, especially for students who may not have previously considered graduate school.
Professor Edith Law is the local coordinator for UR2PhD at Waterloo. Last fall, she engaged 36 undergraduate students and 14 graduate to participate in the program.
The program has been transformative for participants such as Sam Jiayou Zhong, an undergraduate CS student at Waterloo, and Joy Idialu, a recent master’s graduate. Both credit UR2PhD for helping them grow in confidence, strengthen their research skills, and build meaningful mentoring relationships.
“Without this program, many undergraduate students would have only a vague notion of what research is and a false impression that graduate school is simply not for them,” says Professor Law. “Building a community of students collectively exploring research is extremely effective in fostering both knowledge and confidence.”
Read more in “UR2PhD Makes It Easier to Bring Meaningful Research Experiences to Your Students” by Julia Sepulveda, Senior Program Associate at the Computing Research Association.