Applications for 2026 will be open in early March! Check back for details!
Keep reading to find out more about how to share your research or creative project at the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase, nominate your mentor for a Faculty Mentor Award, and apply for a Dean’s Prize and Library Prize.
The Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase is an all-day virtual event hosted on the Undergraduate Research Week website on May 18, 2026, featuring undergraduate research and creative inquiry at UCLA. Applications to participate in the Showcase are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2026.
Current UCLA undergraduates from every class level and field of study, and with projects at every stage of the research and creative process, are invited to share their work as a 5-10 minute recorded or livestreamed presentation, or as a creative exhibit or multimedia at the Showcase. UCLA students who have conducted a project at another institution (i.e., not at UCLA) are also eligible to present their work.
Keep reading for more information including how to apply, presentation mediums, and what to expect!
The application to participate in the Showcase opens in early March and closes on April 15. Abstracts and artist statements must be submitted by the April 15 deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
View our Application Instructions for detailed information about applying to present at the Showcase. All submissions must adhere to the application instructions or they will be rejected.
You will be asked to submit the following information in your Showcase application:
You can choose your presentation type and content area when applying to participate in the Showcase and, if applicable, your presentation time. Students sharing research or creative inquiry in the humanities, arts, and social sciences can present a livestreamed or recorded presentation or submit a creative exhibit or multimedia. Students sharing research in the life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering can present a livestreamed or recorded presentation. Find out more about each presentation type in the Virtual Presentation Guidelines.
Humanities, arts, and social science students who are applying for a Dean’s Prize must submit a recorded presentation, creative exhibit, or multimedia. Life science, physical science, and engineering students who are applying for a Dean’s Prize must give a livestreamed presentation.
Virtual Presentation Guidelines
Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.
The Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Research and Creativity Award for humanities, arts, and social science students is awarded for outstanding recorded presentations and multimedia at the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase.
Please note that there are two Dean’s Prize applications: one for humanities, arts, and social science research and creative inquiry; and one for life science, physical science, and engineering research. You must submit the Dean’s Prize application for your field of study. Incomplete or incorrect submissions will not be considered for judging.
Dean’s Prize for Humanities, Arts, and Social Science applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 17. Applications materials must be submitted by the April 17 deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Students will be judged on their abstract, personal statement, letter of recommendation, and presentation. Judges will take into account argument, method, structure, clarity of work, and originality.
The Dean’s Prize application consists of two parts:
Submit Your Personal Statement
Dean’s Prize Letter of Recommendation Form
The Dean’s Prize winners will be recognized at the Undergraduate Research Week Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 22, from 2-3:15 p.m. Winners will be notified in advance of the Awards Ceremony.
All Dean’s Prize nominees and their families, labs and mentors are invited to attend this virtual ceremony. Please join us in our celebration of exemplary undergraduate researchers and creatives.
Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.
The Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Research Award for life science, physical science, and engineering students is awarded for outstanding livestreamed presentations of faculty-mentored research at the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase.
Please note that there are two Dean’s Prize applications: one for humanities, arts, and social science research and creative inquiry; and one for life science, physical science, and engineering research. You must submit the Dean’s Prize application for your field of study. Incomplete or incorrect submissions will not be considered for judging.
Those who apply for this Dean’s Prize Award are also eligible to participate in the LA BEST poster session. For more information email deansprize@college.ucla.edu.
Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Research in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 17. Applications materials must be submitted by the April 17 deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Research in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering is awarded based on the student’s research accomplishments outlined in the faculty letter of nomination and the student’s personal statement, and their livestreamed presentation at Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase. Applications will be evaluated by a review committee, and approximately 100 applicants will be selected to be reviewed by faculty judges at Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase.
The Dean’s Prize application consists of two parts:
Apply for the Dean’s Prize for Life Science, Physical Science, and Engineering students by emailing your application materials to deansprize@college.ucla.edu.
The Dean’s Prize winners will be recognized at the Undergraduate Research Week Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 22, from 2-3:15 p.m. Winners will be notified in advance of the Awards Ceremony.
All Dean’s Prize nominees and their families, labs and mentors are invited to attend this virtual ceremony. Please join us in our celebration of exemplary undergraduate researchers and creatives.
Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.
Has your faculty mentor played a meaningful role in your undergraduate experience? If so, consider nominating your mentor for the Faculty Mentor Award!
This award honors the considerable dedication of UCLA faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to undergraduate students involved in research or creative inquiry. Students may nominate any UCLA faculty who has supported their professional development through a mutually trusting and respectful relationship.
We seek nominations of faculty who:
The deadline to submit nominations is 11:59 p.m. on April 17. You will be asked to answer one of the following prompts:
Select the prompt you feel will best illuminate the reasons for which you are nominating your faculty mentor for this award. Your response should be 250 words or less and you are encouraged to cite specific examples in your response. To avoid any technical issues, please write your response in a separate word document and then paste the response into the survey text box.
Award recipients will be recognized at the Undergraduate Research Week Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 22, from 2-3:15 p.m.
Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.
The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research has long served to highlight how students use library materials and services to grow as scholars. The Prize is open to any undergraduate student who has completed a research or creative project or paper – either for a course or independently – over the past twelve months. Group project submissions are also encouraged. Awards range from $350 to $700 for eight categories, including projects in Science, Engineering, and Math, Music after 1900, Library Special Collections use, and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26.
Prize winners will be announced at the Library Prize Awards Ceremony.
Contact: libraryprize@library.ucla.edu.
