UpRise
UpRise empowers undergraduate research in Engineering Education
Connecting undergraduate students to research opportunities
The School of Engineering Education's (ENE) Undergraduate Participation in Research in STEM Education (UpRise) program connects Purdue undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math students with faculty-led research opportunities at ENE and affiliated programs, as well as supports participants with research-related professional development.
UpRise provides undergraduates with comprehensive training, access to essential research tools, and personalized mentorship from faculty, staff, and/or graduate students with expertise in engineering, educational psychology, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Students develop strong research skills and become valuable members of a research team.
Supporting students with research-related professional development
In addition to direct research work, you'll gain critical insights through workshops focused on designing/delivering research poster presentations; developing conference abstracts; networking; building a resume; building a professional research reputation; and assembling a competitive graduate research fellowship program application. You may have the opportunity to attend research symposiums and conferences as well as publish in journals and proceedings.
UpRise undergraduate research opportunities become available throughout the year.
Click on the button below to express your interest in learning more. Once you submit the online form, you'll be emailed instructions on how to search Purdue's online student job postings for UpRise-associated positions, and you'll join a growing list of students interested in delving into the world of undergraduate research.
Questions? Contact UpRise Undergraduate Research Program Coordinator Wendy Watson.
The UpRise Experience
 |
Through UpRise, I gained technical skills in analyzing data and conducting interviews, as well as in writing and presenting, which benefited me greatly in my work at Eli Lilly. UpRise provided invaluable experience and connections that helped identify and shape my research interests and prepare me for graduate work. My mentors gave me the confidence to return to graduate school to pursue a faculty position.—Beata Johnson, B.S. Chemical Engineering, PhD student in Engineering Education |
 |
My UpRise mentors included me in every step of the research process, and my experiences with data analysis, conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications were the highlight of my graduate school applications, and helped me to win a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The skills I cultivated continue to support me as I prepare for a career in academia.—Brittany Mihalec-Adkins, M.S.Ed., PhD student in Human Development and Family Studies |
Updated: July 24, 2025