About

As a major research university, UNH provides all students with the unique and valuable opportunity to conduct research during their undergraduate years.

±«±·±á'²õÌýHamel Center for Undergraduate ResearchÌýprovides the resources and financial support for the research, scholarly and creative projects of UNH students. Whether it's investigating moose habitat, examining the effects of the European monetary union, or composing music for a dance concert, each year students from all fields of study receive grants to embark on their own explorations.

Learn aboutÌýthe programs.ÌýMeet some ofÌýour students. Read about the researchÌýother studentsÌýhave done. Then find out how toÌýstart a project of your own.

Mission

As a major research institute, the Â鶹app strives to ensure all students have the opportunity to engage in research in their undergraduate years.

TheÌýHamel Center for Undergraduate ResearchÌýexists solely to support this mission. Since its inception in 1987, the Center has funded and administered awards and fellowships to support over 3500 students in their pursuit of research, scholarly, and creative projects. Today, students in all academic disciplines engage in inquiry-based projects in labs, museums, fields, forests, international cities, and remote corners of the world.

Our History

In 1987, the Â鶹app had the foresight to establish the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). From the outset, UROP was a university-wide program. In 1997, UROP received a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create the International Research Opportunities Program (IROP), a first-in-the-nation program enabling students to pursue advanced, independent research at sites throughout the world. In 2004,Ìý, UNH’s online journal of undergraduate research, was launched. In 2006, thanks to a generous gift from Mr. Dana Hamel and family, the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research was dedicated to administer UROP, IROP and all future undergraduate research enhancement opportunities.

In 2010, the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research joined the nationalÌýCouncil for Undergraduate Research (CUR). That same year,Ìýfounding director of the Hamel Center, Donna Brown, received theÌýPresidential Award of Excellence. In 2012, the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research celebrated itsÌý25th anniversary.

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Funding

The Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research has flourished through support from the UNH Classes of 1952, 1959, and 1962, the UNH Parents Association, and the generosity ofÌýprivate benefactorsÌýsuch as the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the Rogers Family Foundation, Mrs. Elizabeth Knowles, Mrs. Patricia Bell, Mrs. Helen Hepler Clapp and family, Mrs. Dorothy P. O' Neil, Dr. Kenneth Manning, Mrs. Patricia Flowers, and Mr. Dana Hamel.

Currently, 100% of the funding for undergraduate research awards and fellowships comes from donor gifts.