June 10, 2024
UCI’s UROP director Sharon Parks welcomed attendees to the 2024 IRT project presentations.
The annual Interdisciplinary Research Teams (IRT) program culminated this month with student project presentations. The IRT program involves graduate students mentoring undergraduate students in a project setting. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively bringing their interest and experience from multiple disciplines to solve problems.
“From the start, CALIT2 has offered various opportunities for undergraduates to engage in hands-on research,” says G.P. Li, professor and the institute’s director. “We think it is important to offer programs like IRT so students can get an out-of-the classroom experience.”
This year’s IRT program culminating event featured 22 projects, with students presenting on a wide-range of topics.
CALIT2 partners with UCI’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) to provide funding of up to $3,000 for team projects that are interdisciplinary in nature and led by one graduate student and two to four undergraduates. Undergraduate students on a team come from at least two different schools, or two different departments within a school. Awards provide research-related supplies to teams during the academic year.
In the fall, graduate students submit their IRT proposals with approval from their faculty advisor. The teams begin working on their projects winter quarter, giving a mid-review progress report when the quarter comes to an end. Significantly more progress happens in spring quarter as the final presentations demonstrate. This year, the June event showcased 22 projects on a wide-range of research topics, and was followed by a dinner networking reception.
– Shelly Nazarenus
