Undergraduate students accepted for the 2025-2026 academic year must participate in all three components of the program:
- Fall 2025: 3 credit, in-person course, taught by Dr. Booth. Monday/Wednesday 5:00 – 6:30 PM.
- Spring 2026: 3 credit, in-person course, taught by Dr. Booth. Day and time TBA (we will work to ensure the class does not overlap with priority iSchool courses).
- May 2026: In-person paid May Institute. Monday-Friday, 10am – 5pm, May 5th – May 29th. $1,800 stipend. Group meal provided every workday.
Before applying, please review the program handbook to ensure you know the details of exactly what you’re applying for!
Who Should Apply?
Trying to decide if this program is right for you? Take a look at both eligibility and fit. We want students who join the program to thrive in it!
Who is Eligible?
Undergraduate Students Who:
- Are Informatics majors who have completed I305 or an equivalent course OR Informatics minors who have completed I305 in the iSchool by the time program begins (August 2025)
- Are Enrolled as a full time undergraduate student for the 2025-2026 academic year (December 2025 grads aren’t eligible)
Who Will Thrive in the Program?
Undergraduate Students Who:
- Are eager for hands-on research and project management experience with concrete deliverables
- Find value in collaborating with others to build something better than what can be accomplished alone
- Are excited to strengthen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Want to learn how to effectively communicate complex ideas to different audiences with varying backgrounds, skills, and knowledge
- Are willing to embrace and proactively overcome challenges (unexpected obstacles are a natural part of a yearlong team research project!)
- Are curious about developing their leadership skills and style
- Have at least an interest in research after taking I 305 (you don’t need to want to pursue research as a career, but a baseline interest is important)
- Will follow through on their commitment for the full year
How Do I Apply?
Applications are due August 6th by 11:59pm CT.
Application materials are submitted via the application form. This form includes:
- A number of questions about applicants’ academic interests and experiences
- Three short essay questions (instructions below)
- A space for applicants to upload their UT Academic Summary (instructions below)
Application Materials and Instructions
- Application Form: Applicants are required to fill out the application form. This form asks a number of questions and is also where applicants will upload their essay responses (instructions below) and UT Academic Summary (instructions below).
- Short Essay Question Instructions: In the application form, please upload a single document with your responses to the two essay questions below. Please limit your responses to 600 words per question (so a document with no more than 1,200 words total) and save the file with your first and last name in the title.
- Question 1: Tell us about a time you collaborated with others to reach a common goal (could be a class project, volunteer work, extracurricular activities – the context is up to you!).
- What did you learn about collaboration and teamwork?
- What did you learn about yourself and how you function in teams?
- How will you bring what you’ve learned to this program?
- Question 2: Read through the “Program Pillars” page of the handbook describing the three pillars of this program: Research, Leadership Development, and Communicating the “So What?”
- What interests you about each of these three pillars?
- What motivates you to apply to this program? Feel free to include any relevant past experiences, your goals, and what you hope to gain from this opportunity.
- Question 1: Tell us about a time you collaborated with others to reach a common goal (could be a class project, volunteer work, extracurricular activities – the context is up to you!).
- UT Academic Summary: In your application form, please upload a copy of your UT Academic Summary. If you transferred from another college/university, please include any unofficial transcripts from that institution as well. Please do NOT pay for official transcripts! If your previous college/university uses e-transcripts, request that an unofficial copy be sent to yourself and upload using the application form.