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Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship

102 Roudebush Hall • Phone: 513-529-3600• Fax: 513-529-3762

Congratulations Fall 2009 Awardees

See the list of sponsored projects selected by the Undergraduate Research Program Committee



Undergraduate Research Award Program 2009-2010
Next Deadline: 10/19/2009 to conduct a project in spring 2010

Undergraduate Research Award Program Guidelines 2009 -10

Get application form in MS Word Format

Contact Rachel Shelley 529-3600 OARS 102 Roudebush Hall

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Application Preparation and Submission

OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM

The Undergraduate Research Committee of the University Senate announces a funding cycle change to the Undergraduate Research Award (URA) program. This program encourages discovery to stimulate creative activity and to provide Miami Undergraduates experience in developing grant applications. The aim and result of specific projects supported by the program may be modest as long as the work can reasonably be interpreted as research or a creative endeavor.

Typical awards range from $150 to $500, but individual or group projects of exceptional merit or those projects involving interdisciplinary student teams may be funded up to $1,000.

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Eligibility:  All enrolled full-time undergraduate students in all disciplines on all campuses who have a GPA of at least 2.0 are eligible to apply. However, a student may receive only one award from this program per academic year. Although projects must be initiated and developed by student applicant(s), each must also be sponsored by a faculty member. General grants, which are the main component of the Undergraduate Research Program, are not restricted to projects in any particular discipline. Application may be made for support of a research project that is also being conducted for academic credit.

Application Submission
Application forms and instructions can be found at http://www.muohio.edu/undergradresearch/ Submit One (1) original completed application to the Undergraduate Research Committee at the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) 102 Roudebush Hall by the appropriate deadline date. Failure to file a complete application may result in disqualification.

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Details of the Proposed Project

Each application must have all of the following sections, including sub-sections, listed below. The main section of the application should be a written explanation of the details of the proposed research or other creative endeavor. This narrative part of the application should be typed, single-spaced and 3-5 pages in length with one-inch margins. Please number the pages, use 12 point font, and make the proposal double-sided to save paper. Proposals will be evaluated for funding by a committee whose members represent a wide range of disciplines. Therefore, the proposal should be written so it can be understood by an educated person who is not a specialist in the field. Points will be deducted from the ratings of proposals that rely heavily on technical jargon.

Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
102 Roudebush Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-3600

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APPLICATION FORMAT: The following format and sub-sections must be used.
Endorsement Sheet The two-sided endorsement sheet must be completed and submitted with all requested information.
Cover Page (1 page maximum), including:
• Project Title
• Name/E-mail of Investigator
• Abstract Briefly in 200 words or less give an executive summary of the project. This should include purpose, expected outcomes, and significance of the project, not only to the field of study and/or society, but also to your own educational development.
Narrative (5 pages maximum), including:
• Introduction. You are writing for a general, but educated audience. DO NOT assume the audience is familiar with the technical jargon. Be certain that you discuss the following questions as you describe the work you wish to produce as a result of this endeavor: What work has been done by others in this area? For example, cite the relevant journal articles or books, or the relevant exhibitions or performances. Be sure to clearly explain why these earlier works are important precursors to yours. What work has been done by you?
• Statement of Goals for the Project:
Here you lay out the specific questions you plan to address or the project that you plan to complete. Clearly state what you intend to accomplish, achieve, or determine by completing your project. You should include a statement of hypothesis or of the creative question at issue. What is the underlying motivation for this project?
• Creative Processes or Methodology:
This is the most important section of your proposal. It must briefly outline the materials you will utilize, the manner in which you will approach your project, and the major steps involved in completing your effort. Explain how the creative techniques or research methods you intend to use are appropriate for accomplishing your stated goals. Describe the important steps and materials in a way that the logic of your approach is clearly understandable.

• Expected Accomplishments or Results:
This section provides a discussion of the analysis and interpretation of results and manner of presentation of creative work. Discuss how you will analyze your results and interpret them or how you will present and critique your final product. Explain the significance of the intended achievements or results to the original project goals.

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IV. Budget and Justification (1 page maximum)
Present an itemized statement of your best estimate of the costs of doing your project. You may request up to $1,000, although awards typically range between $150 and $500.
Be certain that you justify all items listed and that you: Explain why you require any unusual or particularly costly items listed in your budget. Indicate why any items needed that are generally available from your department or the University at no cost to students cannot be obtained from that source. Examples include books, journals, and routine lab equipment.
As you prepare your budget keep in mind that: The Committee cannot give you funds you do not ask for and justify adequately. The Committee cannot give you additional funds during the grant period after you have received your award.
Where applicable, mileage estimates and other travel costs should be specified. Awarding funds for travel requires that the travel be essential to the success of the project. Awards that are made for travel will be carefully scrutinized for costs. V. Literature Cited (as many pages as needed). Give references (complete with titles) for all literature cited in the proposal.

EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS Members of the Committee represent a wide range of disciplines, so each proposal should be written so it can be understood by an educated person who is not a specialist in that field.

Proposals are required to follow the format described in the application guidelines and be readable by a nonspecialist, they should be free of technical jargon and undefined abbreviations.

The members of the Undergraduate Research Committee have traditionally employed the following criteria in evaluating the proposals:

  • Readability. Is the proposal easily understood and free of technical jargon?
  • Format. Does the application follow the format in the guidelines?
  • Quality. Is the research problem or creative activity clearly articulated?
  • Significance. Is the problem worth solving? Why is the work important?
  • Feasibility. Is the problem solvable within the time available (one semester) and with the facilities available to the researcher?
  • Educational value. Are the skills to be learned of high academic quality and significance?
  • Preparation of the researcher. Does the researcher have adequate training and experience to undertake and complete the project?
  • Budget. Is the budget reasonable, specific, accurate?

FINAL ABSTRACT File the final report, a brief (maximum one page) typed abstract describing the major goal(s) and result(s) of their project, by the appropriate date in the table above. Send the final report electronically via e-mail to oars@muohio.edu. The OARS office will process the final report with the Chair of the Undergraduate Research Committee.

EXTENSION REQUEST - (Additional Time to Complete the Project Work) Request an extension of time to complete the project work by filing a brief progress report (maximum one page) by the appropriate date in the table above. Send the progress report and extension request via e-mail to oars@muohio.edu. The OARS office will process the request with the Chair of the Undergraduate Research Committee and will notify the student via e-mail of extension approval.


OTHER POSSIBLE DEPARTMENTAL/CENTER AWARDS Applications in the following disciplines will be automatically forwarded by OARS to the appropriate department/center for consideration of financial support from these funds: Crannell (Psychology), Maher (Political Science and Zoology), or Barrett Endowment for Ecology Research (Ecology).

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APPLICATION CHECK LIST

Before submitting your application to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS), use this check sheet to be certain that it has all the required sections and attachments. You may also download a PDF version of this checklist.

1. Endorsement Sheet (2-sided,signed by student and sponsor)

2. Cover Page (1 page maximum), with
____ Project Title
____ Name of Investigator
____ Abstract
3. Narrative (5 pages maximum, 1" margins), with
____ Introduction
____ Methodology
____ Statement of the hypothesis or creative issues addressed
4. Budget and Justification (1 page maximum)
5. Literature Cited (no page limit)

NUMBER OF APPLICATION COPIES TO SUBMIT
Submit one (1) original copy of the assembled packet.

Compliance Committee Forms
Submit by 4/30/2009 for projects to be conducted in fall semester
Submit by 12/11/2009 for projects to be conducted in spring semester
to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
102 Roudebush Hall

If your project involves Human Subjects, you must submit an application to conduct research with Human Subjects and complete appropriate training. See forms and instructions http://www.muohio.edu/compliance/index.htm
Prepare and submit the signed original application to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS), 102 Roudebush Hall and send one copy of your total application in either one word document or one PDF file to: humansubjects@muohio.edu. Number all pages of the application.

If the project involves Live Vertebrate Animals you must be covered by an approved animal care protocol, please have your faculty sponsor notify animalcare@muohio.edu concerning the IACUC Protocol Number you will be working under, or

you must submit an Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals in Research See forms and instrucitonsSubmit one signed original and two copies of the application and the literature searches to OARS. In addition, send electronically to animalcare@muohio.edu one file that includes the completed application and literature searches. Get forms and instructions at http://www.muohio.edu/compliance/index.htm

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Contact Rachel Shelley for Printed Application Forms and Instructions

Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
102 Roudebush Hall
Oxford, OH 45056