Students FAQs and Tips

The PROPEL program was developed to make research, teaching, and work-study opportunities transparent and equitable. Read more about the PROPEL mission, history, and the team in About Us.

PROPEL works in rounds timed in accordance with the semesters, ADD/DROP deadlines and registration. There are distinct phases to each round: project posting, student application and application review

1. Mentors post projects to the website.
2. After the project posting date closes, students can apply for positions.
3. After the student application period closes, mentors can review the applications, interview students, and offer the position. In the
4. After the application review phase closes, an email is sent notifying students they have been accepted or declined for the position.

For future PROPEL rounds see - https://propel.umass.edu/rounds 

During each of the five rounds, new projects will be continually posted from the first day of Project Posting to the "First day to apply for projects," no new projects are added after that date. 

A desire to learn and commitment to the position is valued over prior experience.

1. Create a PROPEL profile by logging in with your Umass email and filling in the general information.
2. Fill out the “About me” section on your profile.The "About Me" section will be sent with all applications.

3. When the application period opens, select projects to "Add to Favorites," these will then appear under "My Applications." 

   

   Once you liked the project, the project will be moved to “My Application”, where you can see the field for the application essay:

   

   

4. Write a 2-3 paragraph statement about your interest in the project. Use the resources available in the Office of Undergraduate Research, the CNS Career and Professional Development Center and the CoE Career Development and Experiential Learning Center to help write this section and the "About Me" section.
5. Check to make sure you have updated and filled out the information and transcript in your profile and uploaded required documents. 
6. When you click "Submit application", you will see confirmation that you have successfully submitted your application to the project. You can withdraw your application after you've submitted it.
7. You can edit your essay and profile anytime until the application period closes by withdrawing the application and then resubmitting.

1. Unofficial transcripts are fine for use in PROPEL. You can get an unofficial transcript through SPIRE. The steps are as follows (click to see step by step instruction):              

   1) Log into SPIRE and click on the Academic tile.                                                                                                       2) Choose Transcript Request under the General Academic Info section.                                                           3) Under “Unofficial Transcript”, click "View Unofficial Transcript".                                                                       4) You can now view or print your unofficial transcript."                                                                                              For additional information, please visit University Registrar.             

2. First year students in their first semester should upload their unofficial transcripts; it will show the list of courses they are taking. You do not need to upload your high school transcript. 

The application limit is designed to encourage you to really think about the projects you're interested in, rather than just applying to all of them. To help with strategizing, PROPEL provides a cool feature with which you can see how many students have applied to a project and how many spots are available in that project. That way, you can both apply for “dream” projects that may be particularly competitive as well as projects with fewer applicants and better odds.

While you must be selective in choosing projects, we are aware that many students would value experiences in other projects as well. Some mentors maybe looking for additional students. If you would like for Mentors who are not part of the 5 projects you selected to view your Profile. Go to your Profile. Click "Edit" and check "Share my information with all Mentors"

• The application essay should be 2-3 paragraphs long, written specifically for each project. Remember a desire to learn and commitment to the position is valued over prior experience.
• Do not include your name in the essay, or contact the respective mentor to maintain an initial “blind stage” of the application process.
• Investigate the project and the research group to have a basic understanding of their research focus, methodology, and overall work. Express how your particular interests and skills match the project. Be specific and relatable. The mentors and their research group may have their own website, or their work are likely to be found online.
• Keep in mind that research mentors can extend beyond principal investigators or professors. These mentors may include graduate students, postdocs, visiting scientists, lab coordinators, or research administrators. If a project lists a mentor within a principal investigator’s lab, consider researching that specific mentor’s role and research focus within the primary lab.
• Remember, a well-crafted essay that reflects your genuine interest and alignment with the project can significantly improve your application. Best of luck!
   

You should treat being accepted to a position as an "offer" and communicate directly with mentors. Once you decide which mentor/project you want to work with, it is professional etiquette to contact the mentor whose project you are declining and thank them for their time and offer. 

2024-2025 Projects with mentor department

BIO - Adler lab; Pollination Ecology

CEE - AquaPhos - Pollutant removal and resource recovery to clean our ponds

PBS - Autistic Adolescent Social Support and Quality of Life

PBS - Automation and validation software for behavioral tracking in mice

BIO - BIO 151 (Moscarella) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants for Fall 2025

BIO - BIO 151 (Zehnder) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants for Fall 2025

BIO - Bio 153 Phage Discovery Lead UTA/Floater Spring 2025

BIO - Bio 153 Phage Discovery Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Fall 2025

BIO - Bio 153 Phage Discovery Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Spring 2025

BIO - Bio 153 Phage Discovery Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Spring 2025

BIO - Bio 282 Phage Bioinformatics Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for Fall 2025

BIO - Bio151 (Francis) Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Spring 2025

BIO - BIO151 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (Cass; FA25)

BIO - BIO151 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (Cass; SP25)

BIO - Bio161H Quant Biology of the Cell Undergraduate Teaching Assistant F25

BIO - Bio285 Cell and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Teaching Assistant F25

BIO - Bio586 Cell Biology of Disease Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Sp25

MICRO - Cell Cycle Localization of DNA Polymerase IB in African trypanosomes

MICRO - Cell Cycle Localization of DNA Polymerase IB in African trypanosomes

PBS - Cultural Neuropsychology - Research Assistants needed (virtual work)

MIE - Data Mapping for Food Insecurity Analysis

MATH - Develop learning material for intro to data science course

BIO - Discover New NEON Terrestrial Giant Viruses and Virophages

BIO - Discover New NEON Terrestrial Giant Viruses and Virophages

BIO - Diversity and Evolution of Armored Scale Insects

BIO - Diversity and Evolution of Armored Scale Insects

MIE - Empowering Wearable Health Tech: Robust Electrical Interfaces for Next-Gen Soft Electronics

MICRO - Evaluating the role of p38 in parasite-perturbed endothelial cells

STOCK - Evaluation of Raspberry Cultivars in Soilless Production in High Tunnels

STOCK - Explore Viticulture: Pruning, Training, and Sustainable Management

STOCK - Exploring the Impact of Vineyard Management on the Rhizosphere and Root Microbiome

EGCS - Forested Wetland Studies: Atlantic White Cedars and Water Quality

BIO - General Genetics (BIO311) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (FA25)

BIO - General Genetics (BIO311) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (SP25)

BIO - General Genetics Lab (BIO284) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (FA25)

BIO - General Genetics Lab (BIO284) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (SP25)

STOCK - Grafting technology on pepper productivity in controlled environment

CHEMENG - Green Urea Production via Electrocatalytic C-N Coupling

BIO - Help create a nudibranch brain connectome

BIO - Help pioneer CRISPR genome editing in a new (and very weird) fungal organism

BMB - Identifying chemicals (terpenes) and their roles in plants

PBS - Individual Differences in Development Lab, Psych and Brain Sciences

STOCK - Influence of agricultural management on the ecology of nematodes in vineyards of New England

BIO - Insect Collection Curatorial Assistantships

BIO - Introductory Biology Lecture BIO110 (for non-majors) Undergraduate Teaching Assistants

MICRO - Investigating host interactions with the mycobacterial cell envelope

BIO - Lab Prep staff, Bio 153 (F25)

ECO - Literature Search/Data Extraction for Freshwater Mussel Meta-analysis

BIO - Looking for 4 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs)

PBS - Mapping myelination patterns across the lifespan

ECO - Microscope and genetic work for freshwater mussel conservation

STOCK - Mycological and bacteriological culture collection

BIO - Natural History Outreach and Exhibit Design

CEE - NSF FMRG: Carbon-inverted manufacturing of inverted cements (CIMIC)

BIO - Nurturing the wetland forest, nature’s water filter

CHEM - Personal Design Project

BIO - Phage DNA Extraction mini-project, May 19-30, 2025

CEE - PhosForUs - Piloting biofilm system to remediate polluted waters

CHEM - Photochemistry of Coffee

BIO - Primate Stem Cell Culture and Gene Expression

MIE - PROPEL project: 3D Light Printing and its Biomedical Applications

BIO - PROPEL Research Fellows

BIO - PROPEL Research Fellows

PBS - RA in RDCL: Reasoning, Decision making, and Computational modeling Lab

STOCK - Reducing pesticide and bird damage in sustainable vineyards

BIO - Research about how sea slugs process smells

PBS - Research Assistant - UMass Language, Intersensory Perception, and Speech (LIPS) Lab

PBS - Research Assistant, UMass Eyetracking Lab

MICRO - See and study how microbes behave in small spaces using Lab-on-a-chip

MIE - Seeking Students for Transportation Safety/Human Factors Projects

MIE - Seeking Undergraduate Researchers for Human Factors Projects

BIO - Setting Up for Discovery: Lab Preparation for Cognitive/Brain Aging Research

MIE - Several Projects with a Focus on Experimental Fluid Mechanics

PBS - Social processes and health psychology lab

PBS - Somneuro Lab Research Assistant

MIE - Summer internship in Srimathveeravalli Research Group

PBS - Systems neuroscience and behavior

BIO - Territoriality and Vocal Communication in Chipping Sparrows

BIO - The Biology of Dodder Host Preference

MICRO - Ticks and tick-borne diseases

ECO - Undergraduate Research: Literature Review on Tribal Forest Owners

BIO - Undergraduate TA - Introductory Biology II (BIOL 152) - Spring 2025 - Dr. Lonthair

BIO - Undergraduate TA - Physiology (BIOL 288) - Fall 2025 - Dr. Lonthair

BIO - Undergraduate TA - Physiology (BIOL 288) - Spring 2025 - Dr. Lonthair

BMB - Using CRISPR/Cas9 and other genomic tools to study genes in host-microbe mutualism

BIO - Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to study the gene regulation in plant

BIO - Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to study the gene regulation in plant

BIO - Using rodent phylogeny to teach principles of evolutionary biology

PBS - Using transgenic mice to explore glial mechanisms of addiction

PBS - Using zebrafish to understand the developmental origins of disease

BIO - UTA for Bio151 or Bio 152 with Rounds

BIO - Visual circuit development & plasticity in diurnal & nocturnal rodents

PBS - ViTAL Lab Research Assistant

CEE - Water quality and hydrologic patterns of Lake Warner Mill River basin

EGCS - Wetland Waters: Metrics and Methods

BIO - Work Study Position - Biology Teaching Lab Support Technician

1. Recommenders are people who know your work (and work ethic) well. Typical recommenders are either instructors, advisors, or previous research mentors. It is a good idea to contact recommenders in advance to make sure they are willing to answer questions from potential PROPEL mentors. 
2. If you don’t have any recommenders from campus, you can contact past employers. First year students may also use their high school teachers.

Not all project mentors request recommendation letters. We ask for your recommender’s information in case project mentors need to verify details or seek additional insights. Please provide accurate contact information for a recommender who can speak to your qualifications. 

No, your recommender doesn't need to submit anything. The name and email address of your recommender will be sent to the mentors whose project you apply to. The mentors individually will decide on whether they would like to contact your recommender or not, and what information they would like to request from your recommender.