OUR Funding Opportunities:

1. OUR Funding Opportunities: Exploring ways to fund your undergraduate research projects Fall 2010

2. What does “funding” mean? • Different costs associated with research • Equipment/consumables • Materials (books and other sources) • Travel expenses • Conducting research • Presenting research • Time put into research project • There are potential funding opportunities for all these costs

3. Getting started • Talk to your research advisor about existing sources of funding • Some faculty grants include funds to support undergraduate researchers • You may be able to get paid for the time you commit to research (work study) • Talk to your research advisor to understand the costs of your project and what exactly you will be responsible for

4. Important Resources • Office of Undergraduate Research • General information about grant programs • Applications available online • New opportunities posted • Office of National Scholarships • Office for Sponsored Programs • Your research advisor

5. Getting Funding GRANT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE OUR

6. OUR Grants • Available during the academic year • Three types • Presentation Travel Grant • Travel to Conduct Research Grant • Research Expense Grant • Requirements to apply • Must be an undergraduate enrolled at any UConn campus • Must have a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA • Must submit a signed Faculty Research Advisor Form (found with applications) • You can only receive one OUR grant (any type) within one academic year • Maximum award amount (per grant) is $500

7. OUR Grants – Application Process • Visit our.uconn.edu to access application • Complete application and submit to OUR office in CUE 416 • Be sure to include: • Detailed project proposal • Detailed budget with verification of all costs (i.e. receipts, order forms, email from research advisor, etc.) • Faculty Approval Form (in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap)

8. OUR Grants – Logistics • Funds will be disbursed through your fee bill • Can’t have any outstanding charges (i.e. pharmacy charges, parking tickets) • After completing your experience, you must submit verification to the OUR (receipts, email from research advisor, etc.) • All recipients of a 2010-2011 OUR Grant are required to present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition on April 15&16, 2011

9. Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Awards • Support full-time undergraduates engaged in summer research or creative projects under the supervision of a UConn faculty member (8-10 weeks of research) • Available to all students in all majors at all UConn campuses • Awards are granted through a competitive process • Maximum award amount is $4000

10. SURF – Application Process • Visit our.uconn.edu to • Access application tips and information • Find dates for SURF workshops • Applications are due in spring semester (February 7, 2011) • Applications include: • Detailed project proposal • Detailed budget • Letters of recommendation from 2 faculty members, including the research advisor • Applications are reviewed by faculty committees in February and March

11. SURF – Notification Process • First-round notifications go out in late March • Students have until mid-April to accept or deny their awards • Second-round notifications go out in late April or early May

12. SURF – Logistics • Funds will be disbursed through your fee bill • Can’t have any outstanding charges (i.e. pharmacy charges, parking tickets) • SURF recipients agree to complete their proposed project and adhere to their timeline • End of Summer Reports are due at the end of August to the OUR • All 2011 SURF recipients are required to present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition in April 2012

13. Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Research Experience (SHARE) • New grant program for students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences • Students work with a faculty mentor on a specific research project • Students are encouraged to use this program to lead to independent projects for the Honors thesis or SURF program • Includes a $1500 stipend for student researchers and a $500 stipend for faculty research advisors

14. SHARE – Application Process • Applications available at our.uconn.edu • Two ways to apply • Faculty advisor and student apply together with a pre-planned project • Students looking for a placement can apply for a specific faculty project posted on the website • Applications will be due ~November 1st (see website for updated deadlines)

15. SHARE – Logistics • Applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee • Selected students will receive $750 at the beginning of the spring semester and $750 upon completion of the semester’s work • Funds will be disbursed through your fee bill • Can’t have any outstanding charges (i.e. pharmacy charges, parking tickets) • Students can receive one SHARE grant during their time at UConn • All 2011 SHARE recipients are required to present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition on April 15&16, 2011

16. Life Sciences Honors Thesis Research Grants • Grants from the Office of the Provost to support Honors thesis research in the life sciences during the academic year • May be used to support laboratory costs or to purchase consumables • Must apply to the execution of research leading to the completion of the Honors thesis • Students must be members in good standing of the Honors Program and must plan to graduate within 2 years of receiving the grant • Eligibility is limited to two types of student/faculty teams • Students who are majoring in any “life science” • Students majoring in another department but who are working under the supervision of a faculty member with a primary appointment in a “life science” department • Maximum award amount is $1000 ($500 for students who received a 2010 SURF award)

17. Life Sciences Honors Thesis Research Grants – Application Process • Honors students and their thesis advisors jointly apply for these grants • Access application online at honors.uconn.edu or our.uconn.edu • Application includes: • 1 page signed application form • 2 page proposal • Faculty letter of intent • Submit completed application to the OUR in CUE 416 • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted (no later than April 1)

18. Life Sciences Honors Thesis Research Grants – Logistics • During each semester when grant funds are utilized, the student must be enrolled in at least 1 credit of Honors coursework (e.g. independent study; thesis research) • If the student does not complete the Honors thesis, the faculty advisor is asked to submit a report to the Office of Undergraduate Research providing his or her assessment as to why the student did not complete the thesis • All 2010-11 grant recipients are required to present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition on April 15&16, 2011

19. Presidential Scholarship Enrichment Award • Current Presidential Scholars can use their enrichment award to cover costs associated with research or creative projects • Same application process as any other use of award • Attend a Presidential Scholarship Workshop or visit presidentialscholars.uconn.edu to learn about the myriad ways to use your award • Maximum award of $2500

20. Other Scholarship Possibilities • Goldwater Scholarship • Awarded to college sophomores and juniors majoring in math, science, and engineering • For students with significant research experience outside the classroom and plans for graduate study and a career in research • Provides funding for the junior and/or senior year • Visit ons.uconn.edu for more information • Office for Sponsored Programs • Search for scholarships in the OSP databases

21. Contact the OUR Dr. Lynne Goodstein, Interim OUR Director/Honors Program Director Ms. Lucy Sweetman, Program Assistant Mrs. Marlene Coughlin, Secretary CUE 416 Phone (860) 486-6255 Fax (860) 486-0222 our@uconn.edu To schedule an appointment: advapp.uconn.edu (select Enrichment Programs, then Lucy Sweetman)