Pembroke Undergraduate Research & Creativity Center

The Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity (PURC) Center at UNC Pembroke empowers students to engage in meaningful research and creative projects across all disciplines. Through faculty mentorship, funding opportunities and annual events like the PURC Symposium, students gain hands-on experience that enhances their academic journey and prepares them for professional success. Whether presenting at conferences, publishing findings or exploring new ideas, PURC fosters a vibrant community of inquiry and innovation.

PURC Symposium

The PURC Symposium is UNC Pembroke’s annual showcase of undergraduate research and creative achievements across all disciplines. Held each spring, the event features student-led presentations in various formats, including posters, oral talks, exhibits and performances. In 2024, the 18th Annual Symposium highlighted 130 presentations from 18 departments, making it the largest in its history. The symposium fosters a vibrant community of inquiry and innovation, offering students a platform to share their work with peers, faculty and the broader campus community.

Grant Opportunities

The PURC Center offers several funding programs to support extracurricular, faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative projects. All proposals must be student-authored in collaboration with a faculty mentor and demonstrate a benefit to the student, department, university or community. Recipients are required to present their work at the PURC Symposium in the spring. Visit MyUNCP at the links below for further information.

Student Travel Funds

Student Scholarship Support

Semester-Long Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Undergraduate Research Fellowship - Summer

Dr. Charles Humphrey Undergraduate Conference Travel Award

Dr. Timothy M. Ritter and Marie A. Amero Endowed Research Scholarship