Can I have a co-author?
You can have UCI undergraduates as co-authors. Other research personnel should be recognized in the Acknowledgements section of your paper.

What is the Journal submission deadline?
The submission deadline for papers is typically at the end of June, and it is published once a year, during the Fall Quarter. For Volume XII, the deadline is Monday, October 5, 2009.

Can I request an extension on the deadline to submit my paper?
Yes. If your project or paper will not be completed by the deadline, and you are still interested in submitting for the Journal, send an e-mail to Said Shokair, UROP Director, explaining your situation.

What is the review and selection process for the Journal?
Initially, the UROP Student Editorial Board reviews each submission and recommends papers to the UROP Faculty Advisory Board, who makes the final selection. The Student Editorial Board and the UROP Publication Assistants thoroughly edit each paper that is chosen for the Journal. The UROP Publication Assistants produce complete edited layouts of the Journal for the Student Editorial Board, faculty mentors, and student authors to review before it is sent for printing.

What are the selection criteria for the papers?
We want to see the following:

• A well-written paper
• Significance and purpose of the research well described for a multidisciplinary audience
• Well-developed research design and methodology
• Thoughtfully interpreted and analyzed results
• Excellent usage of supporting materials or references
• A non-repetitive, efficiently organized, convincing, and easy-to-follow paper

How will I know if my paper has been selected for the Journal?
Late in the Fall Quarter, you and your faculty mentor will receive a letter about your status.

What subjects and how many papers do you publish each year in the Journal?
We welcome papers from all disciplines, and the decision to publish a paper depends only on the quality of the paper. We do not have a quota as to how many to publish—decisions are based on quality only. If all the papers submitted are excellent, we will publish them all; likewise if all the papers are poor, no Journal will be published that year. For creative projects, we invite an extended description of the project, illustrations, or more appropriate materials instead of a full-length manuscript. In the past years, the Journal has typically consisted of eight to ten papers. Six papers were published in the 2007 Journal.

What kind of format is required for the Journal?
Limit your manuscript to a maximum of 25 one-sided, typed pages submitted on 8 ½” x 11” paper. All text should be double-spaced using a 12-point Times New Roman font. Margins must be set at 1” on all sides. Place the page number at the bottom center of every page. Consult the Paper Submission Guidelines for more in-depth information about organization and graphic requirements. Only papers that adhere to these guidelines will be considered for possible publication in the Journal.

My faculty mentor has not read my paper. Should I submit it anyway?
No. All papers that are submitted must be read by faculty mentors prior to submission. A faculty mentor’s approval is extremely important and may increase your chance of being published.

I don't know how to cite sources. Where can I go for help?
For citing sources, use the MLA Handbook (copies are available in the UROP Office to browse through or borrow). The Paper Submission Guidelines list how to cite common references, such as books, scholarly journals, magazine and newspaper articles, and anthologies.

My project involves the use of human or animal subjects. What should I do?
If your project involves human or animal subjects, please make sure your study has obtained the appropriate IRB or IACUC approval prior to starting your project. You must provide the number approving this study. If you do not have this approval, your paper will not be considered for possible publication. For more information visit the UCI Office of Research Administration Web site at http://www.research.uci.edu/ora/.

Do I need to respond to the biographical questions and turn in a picture with my application?
Yes. Published papers will include a brief biographical section about the author. Please respond to Biographical Questions with short answers. Also submit a 2 ½” x 2 ½” photograph (headshot) that we can scan. The photograph should have a light background and be of publishable quality, at least 350 dpi. Alternatively, you can submit a scanned photo of yourself if it meets the graphics requirements outlined in the Paper Submission Guidelines.

Can I make revisions to my paper after I submit it?
Yes, but only if the UROP Faculty Advisory Board and Student Editorial Board deem such changes are necessary and would greatly enhance the understandability of your paper. Revisions should be submitted only after you receive a request from UROP for such changes. Such papers are considered borderline cases and have a good chance of being published.

Can I also submit my paper also to other journals?
Yes, but make sure the other publications do not object if your paper ends up being selected for publication in The UCI Undergraduate Research Journal. This is assuming that you are submitting identical versions of the paper to both journals.

I am in the Biological Sciences Excellence in Research Program. Can I participate in UROP's programs?
Yes. We recommend that you participate in both. We invite you to submit your paper for possible publication in The UCI Undergraduate Research Journal, following UROP’s Paper Submission Guidelines.

How can I be a part of the Student Editorial Board?
We welcome students who have excellent writing/editorial skills and have been involved in research for at least one year. Other requirements include knowledge of the curriculum and requirements of their discipline or major, good interpretation and communication skills, superior editing skills, ability to work with the quick deadlines of the Journal, and open-mindedness. If you are interested in becoming part of the Board, complete the Student Editorial Board Application or e-mail Said Shokair, UROP Director, about your interest.

Where do the hard copies of the Journal get distributed?
Every faculty member at UCI is sent a copy of the Journal, as well as selected contacts at other universities and professional organizations. The Journal is also mailed to the UC Regents and more than 1,000 high schools and community colleges throughout California. In addition to the hard copies, it is available online at this Web site to view, along with previous volumes.

For any other questions, please contact the UROP Office.