Skouta Lab
Photo courtesy of the Adler Lab
Rocheleau Teaching Lab
Blanchard Lab

Many STEM professionals cite undergraduate research and teaching experiences as pivotal in their career development. To access these opportunities students must often navigate a hidden network to find research and teaching opportunities positions that are often never broadly advertised.  The UMass PROPEL program promotes equitable access to these opportunities for all undergraduate students at UMass from all backgrounds. 

Mentors can efficiently post positions during the four yearly rounds and review applications from a pool of thousands of students. To post a project login using your NET ID and request mentor status. 

Students gain from knowing the defined periods when opportunities will be offered, what types of opportunities are available and learning to use the resources available to apply for positions in the Office of Undergraduate Research, the CNS Career and Professional Development Center and the CoE Career Development and Experiential Learning Center. Login in using your NET ID and create your profile to use in your applications.

Timeline for 2024-2025 Round 1 (Aug/Sept)

For Research Mentors

  • Monday, August 12 at 6:00am - First day to post projects
  • Friday, August 30 at 11:59pm - Last day to post projects
  • Monday, September 9 at 9:00am - First day to accept applications
  • Monday, September 23 at 5:00pm - Last day to accept applications

For Students

  • Monday, September 2 at 6:00am - First day to apply for projects
  • Monday, September 9 at 8:00am - Last day to apply for projects
See all rounds

Recent Blog Posts

BUA to become PROPEL

Friday, July 19, 2024 - 7:13am

The Biology Undergraduate Apprenticeship (BUA) program is being expanded to serve all STEM disciplines through a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence Award to the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Thanks Elizabeth Conner!). To reflect the new broader mission the BUA program has be renamed PROPEL (Promoting Research Opportunities for Equity in Learning). We look forward to working with mentors and students from many different departments. As in the past any mentor or any student from any department on campus can post and apply to projects.

PROPEL team members receive grant to work with mentors on best practices for equitable access to research experiences

Friday, July 19, 2024 - 7:03am

PROPEL team members Jeffrey Blanchard (biology), Paula Rees (civil and environmental engineering), Lori Astheimer (psychological and brain sciences), Syde Orange (student success and diversity), along with Madelaine Bartlett (biology), Lisa Depiano (Stockbridge), Martin Hunter (biomedical engineering), Ashish Kulkarni (chemical engineering), Emily Kumpel (civil and environmental engineering), Ruthanne Paradise (chemistry), Brenda Philips (electrical and computer engineering), Shannon Roberts (mechanical and industrial engineering), & Lisa Sanders (psychological and brain sciences) recie