Application Deadline to submit to CALS: February 6, 2026
Eligibility & Selection of Scholars: 2026-2027 Academic Year
Undergraduate students from any college who wish to conduct research with a faculty member in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (this includes the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and School of Natural Resources and Environment) are eligible to compete for this award although preference is given to students in the college. Students should complete the University Scholars’ Program Application (link above) and submit to the Dean's office.
We anticipate a total of 20 awards will be given to students with CALS faculty mentors. A CALS student who wishes to work with a faculty member in a college outside of CALS, MUST apply in the college of the faculty and not in CALS. Each award is a $1,750 student stipend for the supervised research, disbursed in two payments (Sept. and May). The faculty mentor will also receive $500 that can be used for travel or other research-related needs.
Selection Process
The college will choose the student research projects from all applications submitted based on the following criteria:
- Sound background and justification
- Clear objective(s)
- Sound methodology and approach
Students and faculty mentors will be notified of their selection approximately four weeks after the application deadline.
Expectations During Scholars Program
Students are encouraged to register for undergraduate research during at least one of the semesters within the award period. See your departmental advisor on how to sign up for undergraduate research as part of the University Scholars program.
If you are using the University Scholars program as part of the CALS Honors Scholar Certificate then you will need to sign up for XXX4915 Honors Thesis Research (you will need a total of 3 credits for the certificate) in the name of your major (substitute your departmental code for the XXX).
If you want to use this research experience for both the University Scholars program and graduating magna or summa cum laude you can sign up for honors thesis credit (XXX4915) or supervised research credit (XXX4911) in the name of your major (substitute your departmental code for the XXX). You can sign up for 0-3 credits.
If you want to use this research experience for just the University Scholars program, sign up for supervised research credit (XXX4911) in the name of your major (substitute your departmental code for the XXX). You can sign up for 0-3 credits.
Students must be in good standing to receive the second payment, defined as adequate progress on the project determined by the faculty mentor, completion of all required documentation, and good academic standing. Students must submit a final typed report of the project to their mentor. Students are required to submit a final report for publication in The Journal of Undergraduate Research or another journal. The report can serve as an Undergraduate Honors Thesis to fulfill requirements for magna and summa cum laude Honors at UF.
Successful applicants are expected to attend an orientation in April 2026 and students must present their results at a university-wide symposium in April of 2027. Faculty mentors are expected to attend if their mentee's work is selected. Students will be selected for the University symposium based on an evaluation of their effectiveness in presenting and understanding their overall research project and goals achieved.
General questions should be directed to:
Dr. Al Wysocki, Associate Dean
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
2020 McCarty Hall D
352-392-1963
Applications should be emailed to:
Matt Brannan
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
2020 McCarty Hall D
352-392-1963
