The Research Buzz Newsletter - January 2026

Schwartz Discover Grant 

The Schwartz Discover Grant (SDG) for Undergraduate Summer Research supports immersive, full-time summer research experiences for University of Rochester undergraduates. The goal of the program is to help students get involved in research early in their academic careers and enhance their competitiveness for future fellowships and other advanced research opportunities. 
The 2026 application is due on March 1.

Mark your calendar!

• Monday, January 26, 5:30-6:30, MOVED TO VIRTUAL ONLY
• Register for Zoom

• Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5:30-7:30, Feldman Ballroom

• Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8:00, WSAP Rush Rhees Library G-121
• Monday, February 23, 7:30-9:00pm, WSAP Rush Rhees Library G-121
• Register for a session HERE

Resources
There are a variety of resources for students planning to apply, including information sessions, SDG alumni panels, writing workshops, Research Ambassadors, and a Look Book in our office of winning applications. 

If you are new to research and have not yet reached out to a potential mentor, begin those efforts NOW. Attend an info session, get advice from a Research Ambassador on how to reach out to mentors, learn tips on how to write a research proposal at a WSAP writing workshop, or stop by our office to see the Look Book. 

Utilize these resources to create your strongest application possible.
 

Schwartz Discover Grant award increase

This is the first research experience for many students and helps lay the foundation to spark lifelong curiosities and launch them into new career paths. The Schwartz Discover Grant is open to all URochester undergraduates who will be enrolled for fall 2026, regardless of discipline, major, class year, or citizenship status. 

We are pleased to be able to demonstrate our continued commitment to supporting undergraduate research at URochester. 

The time is now

Summer 2026 feels a long way off as the temperature outside continues to plummet. Although, NOW IS THE TIME to plan your summer research experience. Whether you expect to stay at URochester or visit another city for your summer research, we can help you connect with opportunities.

There are over thirty funded summer research experiences at URochester that span across all disciplines. Visit our Summer Research URochester Opportunities page for a full listing, sorted by disciplines.

For those of you who wish to change your research venue to a non-Rochester location, check out our Summer Research non-URochester Opportunities page. There you will find several ways to narrow your search using databases, lists from other universities and professional organizations, and opportunities sorted by area of disciplines.

Application tips:

• Leave ample time for a letter of recommendation request.
• Update your resume.
• Know the eligibility criteria.
• Apply to more than one opportunity. 
• Adjust your responses to the specific prompts being asked.
• Stay on top of quickly approaching deadlines.

Celebrating
Research Week

Applications are now open!

Celebrating Research Week (CRW) is series of University-wide events in which University of Rochester students at all levels and in all areas of study are invited to present their investigative and creative work.

CRW reflects the passion for learning that enlivens the University, professors and students alike, and that finds expression in varied forms, in every area of study. Registration for 2026 CRW events is now open.

Undergraduates who have engaged in research and are interested in presenting at the Celebrating Research Week events should fill out an application form.

Poster Expo
Friday, April 10, 2026

The Poster Presentation Expo serves as a place for all undergraduate students who have conducted research in the last year to present their findings to the University community and beyond. A brief awards ceremony immediately following.
Douglass Commons | Feldman Ballroom | 1:30-3:30

Students may apply to present a Lightning Talk on their research: one slide, three minutes. This quick, fun, and friendly competition offers an overview of student research in a wide variety of disciplines. 
Douglass Commons | Feldman Ballroom | 5:00-7:00

Symposium
Friday, April 17, 2026

The Speakers Symposium consists of four sessions, each representing a distinct disciplinary section of the University: humanities, engineering and mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. There are six presentations during each hour-long session; final schedule is yet to be determined. 
Rush Rhees Library | Hawkins-Carlson Room | 9:30-5:00

Whether or not you are involved in undergraduate research, we invite you to attend these events and see some of the exciting things your fellow students are doing.

Two items of interest from the Greene Career Center

1. "Care-ful" Conversations in Healthcare
Are you an Aspiring Healthcare Professional? 

Are you interested in hearing from alumni about their experiences in multiple healthcare settings? Do you want to learn more about the skills needed in various healthcare fields? Then join us for good food, great connections, and awesome conversation with University of Rochester alumni working across the healthcare spectrum! Tuesday, February 3, 6:30-8:00pm.
REGISTER in Handshake.

2. Health Committee Letter (HCL)
The Greene Center provides a Health Committee Letter (HCL) for eligible candidates at the University of Rochester. To prepare you for the cycle and provide us with updated information to write a letter on your behalf, we require students to fill out a Health Professions Questionnaire (HPQ) and complete an interview (HPQ interview) with one of our Healthcare Community Advisors. To be on time, you must complete the HPQ by February 28, 2026. 

Once we've received your HPQ, you will be sent a follow-up email with instructions for scheduling your HPQ interview for March or April.
Please take the time to read through the HPQ Timeline and Instructions and familiarize yourself with the timeline, process and eligibility requirements.  

If you have any further questions please contact Alyssa Rodriguez, Alissa Roger or Jonathan Bratt.

Data Set Grants

The River Campus Libraries (RCL) offer data set grants to support students enrolled in the AS&E, the Warner School of Education, and the Simon School of Business. This data grant program extends the River Campus Libraries' support to students' independent research and learning in cases when a data request cannot become part of the RCL collection due to vendor licensing agreements. Students who need data sets to conduct independent studies or take senior seminars are welcome to apply for this grant. This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

For students who are interested in applying for this grant, please contact Kathy Wu as soon as possible. It will ensure that we identify a data set promptly.

The deadline for the spring semester is Sunday, February 15, 2026. The application form and the grant details are available at https://www.library.rochester.edu/research/data-set-grant-program

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