CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award
The CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award honors North American undergraduates for exceptional research contributions and leadership in all areas of computing.
Funder: Computing Research Association
Due Dates: October 14, 2026 (Nomination submission deadline, 9:00 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,500 for awardees to attend a research conference; additional recognition for runners-up, finalists, and honorable mentions.
Summary: Recognizes outstanding undergraduate researchers in computing at North American colleges and universities.
Key Information: Nominations must be submitted by a department chair or authorized representative; self-nominations are not accepted.
Description
The Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award, administered by the Computing Research Association (CRA), honors undergraduate students at North American colleges and universities who demonstrate exceptional research potential and contributions in computing. The award celebrates research excellence across all areas of computing, including but not limited to algorithms, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, machine learning, theoretical computer science, and interdisciplinary applications. Recipients are selected based on the quality, impact, and originality of their research, as well as their leadership and service to the academic community. Through this program, CRA aims to encourage and recognize the next generation of leaders in computing research.
