MIT Alumni News: President

The legacy of UROP

MIT pioneered the undergraduate research program in 1969. Today, research is an essential element of the undergrad experience at universities worldwide.

Sally Kornblutharchive page

February 24, 2026

Gretchen Ertl

As MIT alumni, many of you remember the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program as a highlight of your student experience—there is no better example of the transformative power of learning by doing than our famous, homegrown UROP. In 2024, more than 6,000 UROP projects were offered across the Institute, and nine out of 10 members of the Class of 2025 took part in at least one.

Some of you may also remember the legendary educator who introduced this novel idea. Margaret MacVicar ’65, ScD ’67, MIT’s first dean for undergraduate education, was one of the earliest to recognize the enormous educational value in allowing undergraduates to collaborate with MIT faculty. When she launched UROP in 1969, hands-on research was not a normal part of the undergraduate experience—at the Institute or anywhere. The program began with only a few dozen students. But UROP caught on like wildfire, and today research is an essential element of the undergraduate experience at universities around the world.

Another aspect of MIT life that you might recall is the incredible bounty of opportunities—and the challenge of navigating all the options. Some UROPs are listed online, but not all, and for many undergraduates, it can be daunting to approach faculty members “cold” and inquire about their work. So to make it easier for students to find the right match, we decided to try something new. In October, we hosted our first “UROP mixer.”

It was a resounding success, with 150 faculty members and more than 600 students gathering in the Student Center. I was invigorated by the energy and excitement in the air as researchers and potential UROP students connected over shared academic goals and intellectual passions.

Students are drawn to UROP for all kinds of reasons. They want to contribute to solving real problems; to build relationships with faculty; to gain research and communication skills; to explore different career paths; and, perhaps most important of all, to learn firsthand what researchers actually do—not only when the work is going well, but when obstacles arise that require new approaches and fresh perspectives.

UROP is foundational to our mission of educating students who will go on to make a meaningful, positive impact in the world. In the words of Margaret MacVicar, “It is not technicians that we seek to prepare, nor bench-tied engineers practicing narrow specialties. Our purpose is to direct the best minds toward inquiries and enterprises concerned with the human condition.”