How to apply for undergraduate research fundingOctober 9, 2014

Where to find funding

Tips for a successful application

About the URI Undergraduate Research Stipend

Who is eligible for the stipend

What adjudicators are looking for

Where to go for more help

What you will learn in this session

• URI Website (listings of funding opportunities)

• Your supervisor

• Professional associations and funding agencies specific to your discipline

• Advocacy groups supporting targeted research in a specific area

Where to find funding

Where to find funding

http://www.uri.ualberta.ca/ForUndergraduateStudents/SeekingFunding.aspx

• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award

For work with a faculty member at the U of A

• NSERC Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Award

For work in an industry setting – may include co-op terms

For students in natural sciences & engineering

• Roger S Smith Awards

For work with a faculty member at the U of A; open to students from the following faculties:

- Arts- Native Studies

- Augustana - Phys Ed & Recreation

- Campus Saint-Jean - Law

- Education

For students in arts, humanities, and social sciences

•Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)

•Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)

•Alberta Cancer Foundation

•Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

•Canadian Blood Services

For students in health sciences

How to apply for funding – the basics

• Most programs will require you to have a supervisor before you apply

• Check eligibility requirements for yourself and your supervisor

• Check with your department for internal application process/deadlines

• Give yourself (and your supervisor/referees) plenty of time!

• Follow the instructions & respect deadlines!

• Follow the instructions!!

• Carefully address all of the criteria.

• If you can, explain any extenuating

circumstances that are relevant to the

application.

Make your application stand out

•Explain the research in language appropriate for judges who may not be experts in your specific research area.

• Have a clear research question/hypothesis

• Be sure to explain the anticipated outcomes of the research and why they are important.

• Explain what your project contributes to the larger project or context.

Writing the proposal

• If possible, have someone from outside of your discipline read your proposal. Do they understand the key points?

• Get technical feedback from your supervisor or someone else familiar with the project.

Get feedback on your proposal

What is the Undergraduate Research Stipend?

• $5000 to support a mentored research project

• GPA is not a criterion

• Can be held full-time (4 months) or part-time for up

to 12 months

• Two application cycles/year (March & October)

• Next deadline: October 27

• Apply through BearsDen

Who is eligible for the stipend?

• Full or part-time U of A students

• Must be enrolled at the time of application

• Must have a confirmed supervisor

• Must have a satisfactory academic standing

• Cannot be for a project for which academic credit will be

obtained

• International students, please confirm you have the correct work

permits.

• Faculty member (who does not need to be from your department)

• Faculty lecturer

• Postdoctoral fellow

• Graduate student

• Community member

Who can be your supervisor?

If your supervisor is not a U of A faculty member, you must also secure a faculty sponsor.

The sponsor is responsible for ensuring that the research adheres to U of A policies and ethical guidelines.

Do you need a faculty sponsor?

• No other award can be held for the same project concurrently

• Students can receive only one Undergraduate stipend

• Students should apply independently (no group applications)

• The stipend cannot be used for a project for which academic credit is given

A few things to note:

• Merit of the project

• Interdisciplinarity

• Quality of the proposal

• Impact on student (development of knowledge, skills, attitudes)

• Degree of supervisor commitment

• Feasibility of project completion

• Availability of other resources to complete the project

What are the adjudication criteria?

Interdisciplinary work involves

integrating or synthesizing

methods, techniques, concepts,

and/or approaches from

different disciplines.

What counts as interdisciplinary research?

• Work that brings together researchers

across faculties

• Work that draws on theories or methods

from different disciplines

• Work that can be applied across

disciplines

Examples of Interdisciplinary Research

Where to go for more help:

• URI

• Undergraduate Research LibGuide

• Student Success Centre

• Centre for Writers

October 16 – “Talk Nerdy to Me”: Interdisciplinary communication for undergraduate researchers

October 21 – drop-in session for stipend applicants (10am-12pm)

October 23 – How to design a research poster

October 27 – Deadline: URI Stipend applications (for Winter 2015)

October 30 – Poster design “bootcamp”

Visit www.uri.ualberta.ca for details and to register!

Upcoming events & seminars

Find out about a variety of funding programs available to students (not just for research, but also other types of activities!)

Wednesday, October 225-7pmTelus Centre

Register by October 15th for a chance to win an iPad mini!

http://uofa.ualberta.ca/current-students/healthy-campus-unit/keeping-up-with-the-grants

Keeping up with the grants

4th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium - Nov 13

Undergraduate Research Resource Fair - Nov 14

Awards Reception & Keynote Performance - Nov 14