URAP is a program unique to Roanoke College. Approximately eight new freshman students are identified each year and are invited to join the program. They work as research assistants with a member of the Roanoke College faculty on an original research project of interest to both the URAP scholar and to the faculty mentor.
They are awarded a stipend of $2,000 per year, renewable for up to three additional years. In addition to the stipend the URAP scholar becomes a member of a research team working on a project which generally will lead to publication in a professional journal and/or presentation at a professional conference.
Examples past URAP Projects:
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanophase Iron Oxides Using Spectroscopic Techniques
Dr. Richard Grant and Dr. Rama Balasubramanian
The proposed research will be carried out in two stages. First we must understand the corrosion properties of both synthetically produced and naturally weathered oxides and second, develop adherent protective coatings using chemical and surface processing techniques. The experimental techniques used to perform the research will include using the facilities on campus as well as at larger research institutions.
Interactive Visual Information Systems
Dr. Stephen Hughes
Visualization can harness the power of the human perceptual system to quickly decode large amounts of data. This research explores novel interactive computer graphics methods to reason about and efficiently communicate our ideas.