Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Join an existing research project with one of our research staff members as a UROP! You may also propose a research project you have developed from work done in a D-Lab class or on a D-Lab fieldwork trip. See below for current listings!
Compensation for UROPs
- MIT students may receive pay or credit, or volunteer
- Non-MIT students may receive credit or volunteer
Find an MIT D-Lab UROP position
Visit the MIT ELx website to find both UROPs (and Experiential Learning Opportunities). Search "D-Lab."
Fall 2025 UROPs
Opportunity for UROP with direct funding (MIT Students) or UROP for credit (MIT Students and Wellesley and Harvard); Interdisciplinary collaboration in environmental science, design, and Indigenous planning. Potential for IAP travel to Peru.
We are looking for UROP student researchers to propose climate-resilient models of water harvest rooted in ancestral understanding of land, for water access and relationships to land. Current data includes preliminary scoping of water sources, water quality, and q’ochas; and workshops on co-design and monitoring of water harvest systems. UROP students will work with a database of potable water sources in the community. There will be opportunity for contributing to, co-authoring, and submitting publications in this UROP.
Examples of research topics
- Spring revitalization literature in the Altiplano in Peru, literature review on aquifers and q’ochas in the region.
- Characterization of q’ochas and what makes them successful, and what soil types, altitude, and microbiomes they can host (data already collected).
- Suitability analysis of the Altiplano region for the implementation of q’ochas.
- Analyzing outocmes and learning from community co-design workshops held on the design of q'ochas in Summer 2025.
- Visualization of q’ochas based on the co-design workshops (i.e., drawing or renderings).
Ideal qualifications
- Excited to learn about Quechua worldviews, practices, and histories.
- Open to learning about other disciplines and incorporating them into the project.
- At least conversational in Spanish, and ideally higher proficiency.
- Able to meet weekly with UROP supervisor and attend team meetings (these will be worked around student schedules).
- Able to work 8 hours/week, with 2 hours/week dedicated to team meetings.
Especially consider applying if you have experience in GIS, environmental chemistry, or AutoCAD.
We hope you consider this interdisciplinary and international collaboration. Above all, we hope to work with students who are truly excited to be on the project and to join this exciting project! Please reach out to Libby Hsu, MIT D-Lab Associate Director of Academics, or Kathleen Julca, Project Leader, for more information.
I’m interested! How do I apply?
No later than September 10th 2025, email Libby Hsu with your CV/resume and a brief statement (300-400 words) detailing why you are interested in the program, what skills you hope to bring to the project and which research area(s) interest you.
You will receive a notice that your application has been received and an interview time will be coordinated shortly after. Interviews will be held via Zoom on Friday, September 12 and Monday, September 14th.
Full UROP listing information.
General UROP eligibility
- MIT Students
All registered MIT undergraduates in good academic standing, including transfer students. - Wellesley College Students
Cross-registered Wellesley undergraduates participating through the MIT-Wellesley Exchange Program (credit only). - Students participating in an official MIT Undergraduate Exchange
During their semester(s) of study at MIT.
More information
Subscribe to D-Lab UROP listserv
Contact
Nancy Adams, MIT D-Lab Communications Officer