As a leader of a Vertically Integrated Projects for Research Team, faculty at the University of Georgia have the opportunity to connect undergraduate and graduate students to the research that inspires them the most. A VIPR Team may tackle the world’s most complex issues or focus on more low-stakes projects, introducing students to the world of research and inspiring the next generation of researchers across the university.
A VIPR Team is designed to connect undergraduate students with both graduate students and faculty researchers. A typical Team is composed of about 10-20 members: a faculty advisor who defines the project, several graduate students who work closely with faculty and provide mentorship to undergraduate students, and at least 10 undergraduate students who have completed their first year and are excited to explore research at UGA.
Teams can run for a single semester or for several years, and students are welcome to contribute for multiple semesters, gaining new responsibilities and developing new skills. Students will commit to working with a Team as they would commit to completing a course, and they will receive credit for their work and participation.
Teams may evolve as research progresses, and faculty will be supported by the Office of Instruction every step of the way.
The VIPR leadership team will aim to provide enough structure for faculty to learn and make progress with the research but not so much that each team can’t pursue new and fruitful directions. Students will have “assignments” like one would have for completing a project as part of a team. They will be important for students to understand and make progress on the research. Assignments may include:
- Reading and summarizing research articles, including those in the primary literature
- Documenting progress in writing and through presentations in meetings with peers and faculty
- Constructively respond to feedback on their papers or presentations from faculty mentors
- Reporting your and/or your team’s progress during weekly meetings
- Participating during weekly discussions and following through on your weekly time commitment to the research and the team
- Writing an end-of-semester research brief or full research report