Question 1

What are the essential dates I need to know?

Accepted Answer

Applications Close:March 29, 2026, at 11:59 pmDecisions Communicated to Applicants:April 10, 2026 (end of day)Enrollment in Summer OURS199 course:by April 19, 2026Waitlist Open Enrollment Period Starts: Around April 20, 2026. All waitlisted students will receive an email when Open Enrollment starts.

Question 2

When is the OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience scheduled?

Accepted Answer

RIE Research Interns commit to 8 weeks of research over the summer.  The internship period lasts from June 1, 2026 through July 24, 2026 (which overlaps with the 8-week UMD summer session).

Question 3

How many hours per week are required?

Accepted Answer

IRIE Research Interns commit to 15 hours per week of on-site research engagement. Each research group will determine exact schedules, generally overlapping business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm).Some IRIE Research Groups have a 1-hour class meeting time as indicated on Testudo. Students must attend this meeting to join the Research Group.

Question 4

What will the research setting hours be? When will they be released?

Accepted Answer

We expect our instructors to release ELMS pages with each IRIE Research Group's research setting hours by May 15, 2026. In the meantime, I can share the following: Students will be asked to be on campus for 15 hours per week, spread over 3 days. Our research settings will be open at least 4 days per week during business hours (8 am - 5 pm) with a minimum of 20 hours of availability. Students will generally have a lot of flexibility to take other courses and work, but need to be able to schedule those 15 hours during their research group's specific hours.

Question 5

Is this a paid research position?

Accepted Answer

We are not able to offer paid positions.  While the OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience promises a professional research opportunity, this is a UMD summer course - not employment with FIRE or OUR.

Question 6

Can you provide more information about tuition and fees for the OURS199 course?  As a participant, am I required to pay tuition, and are scholarships or financial aid available?

Accepted Answer

The OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience requires enrollment in a 3-credit UMD summer course (OURS199) that has summer-based tuition and fees.   Information about tuition and fees for OURS199 is available on the Extended Studies website:Tuition & FeesPayment Policies & Due Dates​We are not able to offer scholarships or financial aid to cover these course costs at this time. For information about tuition, fees, and financial aid, see Billing and Payment.

Question 7

I do not need course credit. Can I participate in the research without enrolling in OURS199 or paying tuition and fees?

Accepted Answer

No. We cannot have students in our research settings that are not affiliated with OUR through enrollment in the OURS199 course.

Question 8

What will the OURS199: Research Internship course require?  Will there be assignments, quizzes, and exams?

Accepted Answer

The OURS199 course will allow all IRIE Research Interns to earn transcript credit for their summer commitment and accomplishment. The OURS199 course has been designed to facilitate the research process and will not include quizzes, exams, or a final exam. The course will include short assignments requiring students to regularly communicate their research progress and challenges throughout the 8-week experience and to report on final findings and accomplishments.

Question 9

Why should I apply if I am a current FIRE student in FIRE Semester 2?

Accepted Answer

This is an opportunity to advance, accelerate, and deepen your FIRE experience. While the three-semester FIRE experience focuses most heavily on research training and accomplishment, the OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience brings an additional focus on research leadership development that will advance your training and make you a strong candidate to be a FIRE Peer Research Mentor at the end of FIRE Semester 3.Additionally, this is an opportunity for you to potentially work with a different FIRE stream for just the summer period (you would return to your current FIRE stream for FIRE Semester 3 in the Fall 2026 semester).  Please see more information in the question below about IRIE Research Group Preferencing for summer.

Question 10

Why should I apply if I am a completed FIRE student or current Peer Research Mentor?

Accepted Answer

Much like current FIRE Semester 2 students, this is an opportunity for you to both deepen and broaden your FIRE experience.  Your best opportunity might be to spend time with a FIRE stream and faculty member different from the one you had during your FIRE experience.

Question 11

Will early applications have an advantage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the order of applications will impact acceptance into the OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience.  We encourage you to apply early.

Question 12

Does OUR provide housing?

Accepted Answer

We are not able to provide housing.  However, IRIE Research Interns can find on- and off-campus housing resources through The University of Maryland's Department of Resident Life and Off-Campus Housing Services.

Question 13

Do IRIE Research Interns need to be able to come to campus during the summer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, IRIE Research Interns need to be able to come to campus to perform the research and attend professional development seminars. OUR is not able to offer this opportunity remotely.

Question 14

The application asks me to communicate which research group most interests me.  If accepted into the OUR Immersive Research Internship Experience, which group will I be assigned?

Accepted Answer

We will work to provide each prospective IRIE Research Intern with their highest preference possible.

Question 15

Why am I only able to register for OURS199 under Summer I?

Accepted Answer

Even though our course runs for eight weeks, you will register for OURS199 under Summer I. If you see the course listed in your Testudo schedule, you have registered and secured your spot.

Question 16

I have a registration block that will not be resolved until [date after April 19, 2026]. Can you please hold my spot past that day?

Accepted Answer

We can only hold your spot until Sunday, April 19, 2026. Sometime on Monday, April 20, 2026, the open enrollment period will begin. The 300+ waitlisted students will receive an email saying they can register for any open seats in OURS199.

Question 17

At what time will open enrollment begin on April 20, 2026? Do I need to fill out any forms or contact your office to register when open enrollment begins?

Accepted Answer

Because we rely on campus partners to open up the registration to all eligible students on Testudo, we cannot specify when the open enrollment period will start. All waitlisted students will receive an email from us as soon as registration opens. At that time, any eligible student will be able to go to Testudo and register for any open seat in OURS199. There will be no need for additional permissions or communication steps.

Question 18

Who should I contact if I have issues adding or dropping the OURS199 course?

Accepted Answer

Please contact Extended Studies (EXST) regarding any issues adding or dropping the OURS199 course.  Please be aware that if OURS199 is your only course for the summer term, you may have to work with EXST to drop the course (it might not be possible to do so through TESTUDO).

A faculty-mentored research internship experience that helps you develop broad research and professional capacities.

Frequently Asked Questions