Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) - University of Tulsa
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Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC)

TU TURC student presenting research to an audience in an auditorium

Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) is an innovative program that enables undergraduates to conduct advanced research with the guidance of top TU professors.

TURC was founded in 1992 to encourage and support undergraduate students who engage in exciting research projects while also devoting substantial time toward serving the community. Its aim is to create leaders in scholarship, research, and public life through an emphasis on undergraduate research and community involvement.

To aspiring TURC Scholars for 2024-25: If a faculty member has offered you a stipend for a TURC Team project, your next step will be to submit an application to the TURC program.

Please write to Dr. Stevens with any questions: laura-stevens@utulsa.edu.

Apply for TURC Team projects

If your faculty sponsor has approved you for a stipend, the deadline to submit an application to the program is March 15, 2024. Students may submit applications after this deadline, if they are applying to the TURC program for academic course credit. 

Apply here Contact for more info here

  • What is TURC?
  • Why is TURC important?
  • How to support TURC scholars
  • TURC Faculty Fellow
    • Intensive, mentored research, and creative endeavor are at the heart of the TURC experience.

      Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge offers talented undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct significant scholarly research while working side-by-side with faculty mentors; challenging coursework; and engagement in fulfilling service to the community.

      The TURC experience

    • TURC incorporates research, publication, and community service — essential elements to create future leaders.

      TURC also advances TU's academic mission and enhances its national reputation. In addition to winning national scholarships, TURC students present papers at conferences, write articles that are published in academic journals, and initiate service projects with a broad and meaningful impact on the community.

      Community Involvement

    • Your support can help TU students gain hands-on research experience.

      Over the quarter-century of this program’s existence, many TURC scholars have moved on from the program to be offered prestigious internships, win nationally competitive fellowships, earn advanced degrees in elite graduate programs, or pursue exciting, successful careers in academia, government, and industry. Learn how your gift can support the next generation of leaders.

      Support TURC scholars

    • Laura Stevens, Ph.D.

      Chapman Professor of English Laura Stevens, Ph.D., is the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge Faculty Fellow. "It is my honor to work with such highly engaged students, and I look forward to working with TU’s stellar faculty as we develop this program further, taking it in exciting new directions while keeping its proven core elements."

      Read more

    Apply for 2024 TURC Program

    Applications for the 2024 Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) program are now open. There are two main ways to get involved with TURC: Student-led Projects and Team (Faculty-led) Projects. For both tracks, there are two steps to the application. First, you need to secure the sponsorship of a Faculty Mentor. Second, you need to submit an application to the TURC Program.

    2024 TURC Team Projects Directory Learn more about applying for TURC

    TURC incorporates research, publication and community service — essential elements to create future leaders.