Sophie Mckenna writes:
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP)
Part Two students are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, in which you work with university staff on a research project over the summer break. I worked with the English Literature department at the University’s Special Collections to digitise the records of the Hogarth Press, the publishing press of Virginia and Leonard Woolf. I learnt about the process of digitisation by preparing the archive to be hosted online: I transcribed files and analysed the sources, which helps explain what is available within vast archives. Also, I attended a London conference on digital humanities, and created an academic poster with my co-workers: this was displayed during an event at the Oxford Museum of Natural History.
UROP participants are required to create a poster about their placement, which are then displayed at a showcase event. The posters are judged, and students who create winning posters are supported by the university to attend the British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
Additionally, as a joint-honours student, I have taken part in two academic placements with the History department: in second year, for a compulsory module, I worked with a group to host a ‘World War One Roadshow’; and currently, through a placement-based module, I am working for a term at the Berkshire Records Office on an archival project. These experiences provided by the university enable students to explore different career options, so take all opportunities throughout your degree!
