Undergraduate Research Initiative
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Research Program allows students the opportunity to conduct research under the direction of a CAES faculty member, giving them hands-on research experience at an undergraduate level.
Any CAES undergraduate student may conduct research with a faculty mentor. Research is conducted throughout the academic year. Wondering how to get started? Undergraduate research activities will culminate in the 2024-25 CAES Undergraduate Research Symposium to be held on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
Funding: Any undergraduate student pursuing a major or a minor within CAES and their CAES research mentor are invited to apply for $1,000 in student wages plus $500 to cover research-related costs. Students who receive funding are required to present their research findings at the CAES Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2025. CAES faculty mentors will be awarded $500 to be applied toward research expenses.
Please note: CAES faculty are limited to two funded projects ($1,000 research support) per academic semester. However, they can mentor more than two students per semester, and each of these CAES students would be eligible for the $1,000 student wage support.
Materials needed to complete Research Funding Application: your name, UGA email address, 81X UGA ID number, anticipated graduation date, major, and any applicable CAES minors; your faculty mentor's name, UGA email address, and home department; amount of student wages requested; amount of research support requested; project title and description (including objectives) (250 word limit), and how you plan to utilize the funds (brief budget).
CAES Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025
Use the Abstract Submission Form to submit your abstract(s). Students will need to enter the following information:
1. Name
2. UGA email address
3. 81X UGA ID Number, and
4. Major and if applicable, any CAES minors you are pursuing
5. Your faculty mentor's name, UGA email address, and home department;
6. Title of abstract (150 character limit)
7. Body of abstract (2,500 character limit)
8. Your presentation format preference - oral or poster presentation
Oral and Poster Presentations
The Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. Students can identify their preference for giving either an oral presentation or presenting a poster when they submit their abstract. However, we have a limited number of poster presentation slots, and they will be awarded on a first-received/first-awarded basis. Thus, we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to your preferred presentation method. Griffin and Tifton students will have the option of a Zoom presentation from their campus or participating in person in an oral or poster presentation session. Every effort will be made to accommodate your selection and to schedule your oral or poster presentation when you are not in class. The symposium will be held from 12:30-4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. You will be notified of your presentation time(s). Both types (oral and poster) of presentation should be 10 minutes in duration and will be followed by 3 minutes of questions from judges.
Awards
Awards will be presented at the CAES Student Leadership and Awards Banquet to be held April 2025 at the Georgia Center. Awards will be given in each of the oral and poster sections as follows:- First Place: $600
- Second Place: $500
Important Deadlines for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
Fall Research Funding Applications Due before 5:00 pm on Friday, 6 September 2024.
Spring Research Funding Applications Due before 5:00 pm on Friday, 17 January 2025.
Symposium Abstracts Due before 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
Symposium will be held on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.