When Ayana Price started UF Online as a Microbiology and Cell Science major in 2022, she never expected her undergraduate research would be patented by UF and honored as a university innovation. Guided by Dr. Raquel Dias, Price joined the University Scholars Program (USP) to pursue a computational biology project, reshaping her academic path.
“Before the program, I knew I enjoyed research, but USP showed me that I can ask meaningful scientific questions, contribute to analyses and impact projects,” she said. “The experience confirmed career goals and made them feel attainable.”
For UF Online students like Price, research is not limited by location. Through flexible learning pathways and programs like USP, online students across majors can conduct independent studies, collaborate with faculty mentors, present at symposia and contribute to impactful scholarship. Their achievements illustrate research opportunities available to UF Online students and how the University Scholars Program bridges online learning with hands-on discovery.
UF Online Students Lead High-Impact Research Through the University Scholars Program
Inside the University Scholars Program
Managed by the Center for Undergraduate Research, the University Scholars Program is one of UF’s most prestigious opportunities for undergraduate research.
“The University Scholars Program allows undergraduates to receive funding to conduct research under the guidance of a UF faculty member,” said Anne Donnelly, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. “It is a capstone program for students to become involved in undergraduate research.”
Applications for the program are typically accepted in February each year. Accepted students receive a $1,750 research stipend, one-on-one faculty mentorship and the chance to present at the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. They may also submit their work for publication in the UF Journal of Undergraduate Research, gaining hands-on experience in communicating findings to a scholarly audience. Online students have full access to these benefits, including hybrid workshops, remote poster presentation options and Zoom peer advising.
Tara Perreault, who graduated with her psychology degree via UF Online in May 2025, credits USP’s flexibility for allowing her to thrive as a fully online student while balancing motherhood.
“The online program provided me with the flexibility I needed to pursue higher education and academic research,” she said. The program’s structure empowered her to concentrate on her project while staying on top of coursework, reinforcing the idea that distance learning does not limit meaningful research experiences.
Where Mentorship Meets Possibility
Mentorship is at the heart of USP. Dr. Donnelly noted that UF Online students bring a fresh perspective to research, and the program pairs them with dedicated faculty mentors who provide the same rigorous guidance, support and professional insight as they do for on-campus students.
For Price, faculty mentorship was transformative as she explored protein–protein interactions within a genetic signaling pathway, generating and validating 3D structural models to examine how specific mutations affect immune regulation and autoimmune disease. Weekly guidance from her mentors, Dr. Raquel Dias and Dr. Joseph Larkin III, helped her troubleshoot computational challenges, explore new tools and connect her findings to larger scientific questions.
“They created an environment where I felt both challenged and supported. What I appreciated most was that they treated me as a collaborator,” she said.
Price’s work contributed to one of UF’s 2025 Inventions of the Year, using AI modeling and other techniques to forecast mutations in proteins, which can help develop better medical treatments.
Perreault’s mentor, Dr. Marina Klimenko, provided support at every stage of her research project examining how antiheroes in films display a mix of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy to operate in morally gray areas while retaining audience empathy.
“Most importantly, she helped me find my academic writing voice, encouraged me to trust my ideas, and gave me the confidence to propose new directions for the research,” Perrault said.
Why Research Matters for Online Students
Engaging in undergraduate research equips students with critical thinking skills, practical experience and clarity in their academic and career goals. “All UF students deserve the same benefits and access to undergraduate research,” Donnelly said.
For Price, participating in USP solidified her commitment to computational biology at the graduate level. Perreault also found the program to be a launching point for her own research career, helping her gain acceptance into a PhD program in Social Psychology. Both students emphasized that USP builds confidence, fosters independence and creates opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their fields while studying online.
UF Online students can explore research opportunities beyond the USP program, including the Summer Undergraduate International Research Program, travel awards for national conference presentations and collaborations with partner institutions like Newcastle University in England. Peer Advisors offer help in finding a research project both on Zoom and in person throughout the semester. Current UF students should join the CUR canvas page to stay up to date with advising hours and research opportunities.
Price encourages fellow online students to seize research opportunities, even in the face of doubt.
“Apply even if you’re unsure if you’d meet every expectation. Research has shown me that it is built on curiosity, not perfection,” she said.