Chancellors Research Fellowship for Undergraduate Students

1. Chancellors Research Fellowship for Undergraduate Students Application Workshop 2013

2. What is a Research Fellowship? • It allows undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study with the assistance of faculty mentors (a.k.a. professors). • Includes funds to pay yourself a quarterly stipend; cover your research supplies, and travel to carryout your research or to attend conferences to present your research.

3. What to expect as a Chancellor Research Fellow? • Complete a research project or creative activity by the end of spring quarter 2014. • Present at our annual Symposium for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, scheduled for the first week of May 2014. • Participate in monthly meetings and special events with the UCR Chancellor, other key UCR officials, and with visiting distinguished guest speakers. • Complete a quarterly writing assignment (interim report) that describes the project progress and reflection on learning experiences…

4. It’s Worth It! • Don’t be put off by the application. We are not expecting you to be Nobel Prize level scientists or Pulitzer Prize winning authors. • The process should take no more than 5-10 hours to complete (at most!), total pages put together about 4pp. • The rewards are obvious: up to $5,000 to conduct your research or creative activity; prestige of being a Chancellor’s Research Fellowship; and a boost to your resume or CV.

5. Fellowship Application Eligibility • Must be a full-time UCR undergraduate student who will have a Sophomore - Junior - Senior standing during Academic Year 2013/2014 • Minimum GPA of 3.0 • Must attend a two-hour application workshop. (University Honors students enrolled in HNPG 150 or HNPG 151 are exempt from this requirement.) • Previous year Fellows may reapply but must submit a new proposal and must be a full-time student in 2013-2014.

6. What is Research ? • “In the broadest terms, we do research whenever we gather information to answer a question...” Wayne C. Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams (2008). The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. • “Research is organized curiosity.” Steven Brint, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Sociology, UC Riverside • “Research is the process of discovering and creating new knowledge—that which has not been known before.” Britt Andreatta (2012) Navigating the Research University. Boston, MA: Wadsworth

7. What is Creative Activity? • “A creative activity is a project that culminates in a new product, application, design, composition, or work of art that is intended to be used or appreciated by a clientele or an audience.” Steven Brint, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education • “A tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.” Robert E. Franken, Human Motivation, pg. 396

8. Class Assignment vs. Research Project Question: Why are students from low-income families less likely to graduate from college? Class Assignment The question is given. Students find the answer. Look for and obtain articles and books on this topic. Review articles relevant to the topic and draw conclusions from these articles. Write a research paper. Research Project Develop hypotheses about reasons why low-income students are less likely to graduate. Interview fifty (50) high-income and low-income students. Code interview information. Use statistical techniques to test the hypotheses. Write up findings and conclusions in article format.

9. Chancellor’s Research Fellowship Proposal Elements

10. 1. Abstract (100 word limit) 5 points • The abstract should be a brief summary of the proposal's key points written in the first person: • What is being studied? • Why is it important to study? • How will it be studied?

11. Research Example:In Silico Approach Using Health-based Interactomes to Analyze the Symptoms Reported by Electronic Cigarette Users in Online Forums Abstract: Tobacco products kill over 5 million users annually, and smoked tobacco contributes to 90% of all lung cancers. In spite of the well documented health problems associated with tobacco, many people continue to smoke and/or use harm reduction products, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). E-cigarettes have gained tremendous popularity in the United States, even though little information is available on their health effects. The purpose of my project is to collect health-related data from three major online e-cigarette forums and to mine these data to understand what kinds of health effects occur in e-cigarette users.

12. Research Example:Developing Fictional Short Stories based on Qualitative Data Analysis of Emancipated Foster Youth Abstract: The proposed project will integrate qualitative research with creative expression to yield a fictional interpretation of the experiences of youth aging out of the California foster care system. First, I will transcribe and content analyze qualitative interviews with 20 former foster youth near the time of their emancipation and at the 1 year follow up (40 interviews total). Second, I will create a collection of fictional short stories that incorporate the themes revealed in my qualitative content analysis. This project will raise awareness about the challenges facing this vulnerable population while providing foster youth literary representation that challenges negative stereotypes.

13. 2. Introduction (300 word limit) 15 points Say what you are doing—be specific. The reviewer(s) should know what you are proposing to do by the end of this section. Creative Activity • Introduce context and themes to be addressed or improved and prior achievements drawn from when designing the activity. • Describe the purpose of the activity and its significance. or Research Project • Introduce the issues, theories, or problem to be addressed or improved. • Describe the rationale for or purpose of the study / project.

14. Both types of projects: • Discuss literature and/or research that relates to the project. • Cite the literature and include full citations in the References section of the proposal (follow reference style specific to your discipline).

15. 3. Description (700 word limit) 30 pointsCREATIVE CONTEXT Describe the process for completing the creative activity/product. • Identify and Justify the approach, theory, or industry-practice that informed the crafting of the creative activity. • Describe process, procedures, or activities that will be followed to create the project. • Describe the expected end product or creative work. Explain how the success of the project will be determined.

16. 3. Description (700 word limit) 30 pointsRESEARCH METHODOLOGY Describe the research methodology for your project. • Develop clear research question(s)or hypothesis. • Describe data sources and/or data collection procedures which will vary depending on the type of research and field. • Describe how data will be analyzed.

17. 4. Potential Implications (150-word limit) 10 pts • Discuss the potential impact of the creative activity or research project to others in the field. • Why does this project matter? • What is its significance?

18. 5. Implementation Timeline 10 points • Provide a timeline of activities and how the project will be paced throughout the year. Include anticipated start dates and completion dates for all relevant activities. • Complete Timetable Form provided in CRF website.

19. CRF Implementation Timeline • Items required of the Chancellor’s Research Fellows are written quarterly reflections/reports, and presentation at UCR’s annual Symposium (May 1 & 2, 2014). • Note: Form must be completed and included in proposal’s word doc.

20. CRF Implementation Timeline Example In Silico Approach Using Health-based Interactomes to Analyze the Symptoms Reported by Electronic Cigarette Users in Online Forums

21. CRF Implementation Timeline Example Developing Fictional Short Stories based on Qualitative Data Analysis of Emancipated Foster Youth

22. 6. Budget Development 10 points • Budget proposal total cannot exceed $5,000. • Prepare a budget that reflects what you need. • Work with your faculty mentor and department analyst to identify costs associated with your proposal. • Provide a detailed budget, including estimates of all costs. Explain how items relate to the project. • Allowable expenses: • Materials and Supplies • Travel • Other (fees, poster boards, etc) • Stipend (your own or for human subjects)

23. 6. Budget Development Materials & Supplies Materials and Supplies: Research examples include a wide range of items such as laboratory supplies, chemical reagents, laboratory analyses, equipment (under $500), and computer software and supplies. Examples for creative activity projects may include exhibit or event costs; canvas, paint, installation materials; or film/video materials; design, photography expenses.

24. 6. Budget Development Travel Travel: Allowable travel is for all research-related domestic travel and/or travel for the purpose of presenting research work at a scholarly conference. Include costs such as airfare, vehicle mileage reimbursements, parking, hotel/lodging costs, and meals, conference registration. Please distinguish between research-related travel and conference presentation travel.

25. 6. Budget Development Other Expenses Other expenses: These expenses may include copy services, poster production, among others.

26. 6. Budget Development Stipend Stipends: This includes stipends for human subjects to participate in surveys/studies (limited to $10/UCR dining gift cards); and for the student applicant’s stipend (maximum stipend allowance is $4500). Stipends will be distributed through the campus' financial aid process and all relevant federal, state and university regulations will apply. Applicants will be expected to designate a minimum weekly time commitment (hrs/wk) for the quarter(s) they are requesting stipend funding. The table below describes the time commitments generally related to stipend amounts.

27. 6. Budget Development Stipend Example: If you are planning to work a minimum of 12 hrs/week during Summer, Fall & Winter quarters, $1,500 is the stipend amount that you will receive each quarter. So you will complete the table below by adding Stipend under ‘item requested’ and Minimum of 12 hrs/week for Summer, Fall & Winter quarters. Do not forget that the maximum stipend allowance is $4500.

28. 7 . References (no word limit) 10 points • Fully cite all sources referenced in the project proposal. • Use citation style that is used in your field of study. • Examples would include APA 6th edition, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, or Council of Biology Editors.

29. 8. Faculty Mentor Letter of Recommendation 10 points This letter of recommendation is mandatory and will be submitted separately from your proposal. The letter should: • State that your faculty mentor approved the proposed project and will provide mentorship throughout the project period. • Describe strength of the proposed project, including your intellectual merit and preparedness. • Describe independent nature of the project, especially if you will be involved with faculty member’s on-going work. • If a stipend is requested, verify the work and projected number of hours a week that you will devote to project.

30. 8. Faculty Mentor Letter of Recommendation Upon submission of the electronic CRF proposal application, your Faculty Mentor will receive an email message with instructions on how he or she is to submit the required letter of recommendation.

31. Review Committee & Announcement of Fellows Applications to be reviewed by an interdisciplinary Faculty Review Committee. • Clarity, Quality and Feasibility of the proposed project, • Evaluation of strong research design or innovative creative activity project. • Feasible timeline • Well developed budget • Letter of recommendation from faculty mentor.

32. Make sure to write your proposal in a Word doc(x) or pdf. You will upload the document into the application form. Once your applications is uploaded, your faculty mentor will be notified to submit a letter of recommendation.

33. Review Committee & Announcement of Fellows • Applications are due by 5pm on 1 May 2013. • Two stages to application process: • Electronic submission of fellowship application • Receipt of Faculty Mentor’s letter of recommendation • We will inform applicants of the committee’s decisions by the end of May 2013 by email. • Announcement of CRF 2013-14 recipients to UCR campus on 7 June 2013. • Fellows can begin using funds on July 1, 2013.

34. The Chancellor’s Research Fellowships are expected to be Independent Work. • Question #1: Any questions about what “independent work” means? • Question #2: Any questions about the process or review criteria?

35. CRF Application Deadline: 1 May 2013, 5 p.m. Faculty Mentor Letter of Recommendation Deadline: 2 May 2013, 5 p.m. For additional information, contactVeronique Rorive, Director of Educational Initiativesby email at veronique.rorive@ucr.edu or by phone 951.827.6254.