About the LAURE

The Libraries' Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence (LAURE) recognizes students who demonstrate high-quality academic work and excellent library research skills. There are three award categories so that students are eligible to win the award as early as their first year at the university. Winners are selected once a year in the spring by an award committee comprised of UO Librarians. In addition to their project, the committee reviews a faculty recommendation and an essay in which the student reflects on their research process and scholarly growth.  

Interested in Applying for the LAURE?

Applications for the 2025 - 2026 LAURE open on Monday, February 2, 2026 and close on Friday, March 13, 2026. 

Before applying for the LAURE: 

• Review the LAURE Award Guidelines
• Read the LAURE Award Evaluation Criteria

Need more information? You can email us at LaureAwards@uoregon.edu with any questions!

LAURE Award Guidelines

Read the guidelines below before submitting your application. 

Application Materials

To be considered for the LAURE, students must submit the LAURE Award Student Application Form. This will require that they upload two additional documents: 

• A Research Process and Scholarly Growth Essay (1,000 – 1,500 words).
• A research paper or project that includes a bibliography or reference list (see award categories below).

Students must also have their instructor or faculty advisor submit the LAURE Recommendation Form. 

Award Categories and Amount

There will be up to one winner in each of three categories: 

1. Single term paper or project created for a 100 or 200 level UO credit course ($2,000)
2. Single term paper or project created for a 300 or 400 level UO credit course ($2,000)
3. Multi-term paper, project, or thesis written as part of a students' academic work at UO ($2,000)

The financial award will be deposited into the winning student's UO account.  

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be a currently enrolled University of Oregon undergraduate student at the time of application submission.
• Work must have been completed during the following terms: Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026.
• A multi-term paper, project, or thesis can be submitted as a work in progress with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2026.
• Students can submit multiple award applications but can receive only one award.
• Undergraduate student work only; no co-authored work with faculty or graduate students.

Timeline

• Application Opens: Monday, February 2, 2026
• Application Closes: Friday, March 13th, 2026, at 11:59 pm
• Award Winners Notified by May 15, 2026
• Award Celebration: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 3 to 5 pm. Awardees will be invited to give a short presentation about their research and enjoy refreshments in the Knight Library Browsing Room. 

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence 

Applicants are strongly encouraged not to use Generative AI to write their Research Process and Scholarly Growth Essay. This essay is intended to be a well-considered personal reflection that offers insight into your own thought process and we want to hear what you have to say in your own voice. 

Applicants are expected to have followed the Generative AI policies outlined by their course instructor, thesis advisor, or program when completing their research project. 

You will be required to provide an AI Use Disclosure Statement in the LAURE application that includes information about how AI was used in both your research project and your Research Process and Scholarly Growth Essay. In the LAURE Award Recommendation Form, your course instructor and faculty advisor will also be asked about their AI Policy. If you have used generative AI to assist with any element of the research or writing process you must disclose this use or risk disqualification from the award.  

Copyright Information

Authors retain the copyright to their work. Winning papers are deposited in the UO digital archive, Scholars' Bank, with an accompanying abstract. See Scholars' Bank copyright policy for more information.

LAURE Award Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria are used by the LAURE Award Committee to judge your application materials. 

Research Process and Scholarly Growth Essay (30 points)

A core component of the LAURE award application is a 1,000-1,500 word essay in which the student describes and reflects on their research process and lessons learned during the experience. This essay is essential and the single most important component of your application. The essay must be written specifically for this award application and address your research information discovery process and your intellectual growth. Ensure you have this essay ready to submit as a separate document when you turn in your application. The award committee will judge your essay based on how it addresses each of the following questions.

1. How did you develop your research idea?  How did you select and refine your topic? Were you inspired by concepts covered in class, particular readings or discussions, academic or personal interests? What methods did you use to refine your research question over time?

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2. How did you select appropriate library research tools (subject databases, the library catalog, library research guides, etc.) and what search strategies did you use to find information? Which databases or other library research tools did you use to find information, and why did you select those particular search tools?  How did you construct your searches in the library databases to find information (what keywords or filters did you use, for example) and how did you keep track of your work?

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3. How did you evaluate your sources, analyze them, and use them in your research? What techniques did you use to determine if your sources were trustworthy, relevant, and useful for your research? How did you approach reading and analyzing your sources and incorporating them into your project? Rather than writing about this process very generally, consider describing this process for some of the key sources that you used.  

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4. In what ways were library research support services consulted for your project? Did you meet with a librarian during your research process or visit a consultant with the Libraries' Data Services team? Did a librarian offer a workshop for your class, or did you attend a library workshop on your own?  Did you use any of the online tutorials developed by the Libraries?

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5. What challenges did you face during the research process and how did you address them? Research can be messy and difficult. What happened that you didn't expect? Take some time to reflect on the obstacles that you encountered and the strategies that you used to overcome them. 

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6. What did you learn about the research process and how do you anticipate this research has helped prepare you to meet your academic, professional, and/or personal goals?  What were your major takeaways from this process?  What did you learn about the research process and about yourself as a scholar? How does this research contribute to your own growth, academically, professionally, and personally?

Research Project and Bibliography (20 points)

As part of your LAURE application, you will need to submit your research project and a bibliography of sources. The award committee will judge your project based on the following criteria: 

1. The bibliography includes a variety of sources that are appropriate to the research need.
2. The student has integrated sources into their project in a way that supports their own original research, arguments, or ideas.
3. In-text and bibliographic citations use a specific citation style format consistently.
4. The research question and/or thesis is clearly defined, appropriate in scope, and situated within the context of existing research. 

LAURE Recommendation Form - Submitted by Course Instructor or Faculty Advisor (6 points)

If you apply for the LAURE, you must also ask your instructor or faculty advisor submit the LAURE Recommendation Form. 

Your instructor will be asked to explain how your project incorporates research strategies, tools, methodologies, and sources in a manner that is appropriate to the field or discipline. They will also be asked to evaluate the academic and intellectual quality of your research project. Finally, they will confirm that your project does not violate the AI policy for their course and that you have obtained IRB approval / exemption for research involving human subjects.  

Need More Info?

If you have questions about the process of applying for the LAURE award, please don't hesitate to get in touch!  You can email us at: LaureAwards@uoregon.edu