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Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program

Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program

01/24/2023


The Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) is a paid summer fellowship designed to foster the entrance of talented students from diverse backgrounds within the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts into PhD programs and faculty positions in U.S. colleges and universities. More broadly, the program seeks to increase the number of students of color, and others who demonstrate a commitment to diversity and to eradicating racial disparities, who will pursue doctoral work and hold faculty appointments within the academy. The program serves the related goals of providing role models for undergraduate scholars and structuring campus environments so that they are more conducive to improved racial and ethnic relations. MURAP aims to achieve its mission by identifying and supporting students of great promise and helping them to become scholars of the highest distinction. Each summer, the program brings together a cohort of 20 undergraduates (rising juniors and seniors) from colleges and universities in the U.S. to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus for an intensive, ten-week research and graduate school professional development experience.

Students are expected to develop a 20-25-page research project under the guidance of a UNC faculty mentor with whom they are paired according to areas of study and mutual research interests. In addition to meetings with their faculty mentor, students are expected to attend all components of the program, as follows:

  • a weekly 2-hour seminar where they will present and discuss their research with the entire cohort (all students, faculty mentors, and MURAP staff)
  • GRE review course
  • biweekly writing workshop
  • weekly communication skills and professional development workshops
  • Two-day academic conference Participants are expected to submit their research paper in stages (prospectus, first draft, final draft) with the approval and signature of their faculty mentor.

For a student to complete the program successfully and receive the entire stipend, satisfactory conduct, participation in and completion of all activities, and the approved research paper are required. A sample calendar of required activities and deadlines is available on our website at http://murap.unc.edu/. To support their participation in the program, student fellows will receive a stipend (MMUF recipients receive their stipend from their home institution) and an allowance for meals. Participants will also receive a travel allowance of up to $500 to cover the cost of transportation to and from Chapel Hill. Additionally, students will be provided on-campus housing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the duration of the program.

Curious? Check out this recording of the MURAP Info Session. For full details and application, please see the MURAP homepage.