Internal Funding Programs
Annual Research Grant Competition for Undergraduate Students
Guidelines and Application (download the application to your computer by right clicking on the link and saving it to your computer's desktop)
Eligibility: All degree-seeking, undergraduate students with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher
Application available: immediately
Application deadline: Monday, November 16, 2009, at 5:00 pm
Awards announced: mid-December 2009
Maximum award: $500
THE NATURE OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT COMPETITION
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs as well as the University Honors Program, it is assistance in the form of money to help you with expenses you may incur in doing your research or creative project. Students have applied for funding to buy books and supplies, to rent rehearsal space, to pay human subjects, to travel, to buy mice for laboratory research, or to help with copying expenses. More possible uses are listed below in the section Allowed Uses of Funds.
AWARD AMOUNTS
Funding is limited. Grants will not exceed $500, and most grants are smaller. You may request funds for expenses that you have already incurred, though you will be required to provide a receipt for each expense. When you describe your budget (as requested on the application form), explain how you will be economical. If budget items are not obvious, please explain them.
HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Application forms are available in the Office of the University Honors Program located in the Campus Center, 2nd floor, room 2002. Applications are also available by clicking on the Application link at the top of this page.
WHO MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
Degree-seeking students from all undergraduate colleges are eligible. You need not be a member of the University Honors Program. Students are ordinarily expected to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; if this is not your case, have your faculty sponsor address the issue in the letter of support (see the What to Submit section below). Seniors doing honors theses are especially encouraged to apply.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
The application consists of the following:
- Completed application form, including a clear budget explaining how you will use the money
- A copy of your transcript (unofficial transcripts are fine, but please, no degree audits!)
- A letter of support from the faculty sponsor, which addresses your eligibility and the merits of your research or creative project
ALLOWED USES OF FUNDS
Categories of need for which funds may be sought include, but are not limited to, purchase of books, purchase of materials for experiments, payments to human subjects, Xeroxing, equipment, travel to archives, and travel to present projects at research conferences. Make a convincing case for your expenses: for example, why books must be purchased rather than borrowed from libraries. Explain why materials for experiments are not normally stocked by the laboratory. Where the purchase of such materials or of equipment is concerned, ask your faculty sponsor to specify whether payment is to be made to the applicant or to the department or program.
What about travel?
The application form asks whether you might apply for funds to present your project at conferences. Please respond “yes” if you are giving any thought to applying to present, even though you cannot know now whether or not you will be accepted by the conference(s). Moreover, if you think you may present at a conference, please fill out the funding application form now even if you are not asking for any other funding. Estimate the costs for attending the conference you are interested in attending.
Please note: If you are applying for funds for travel, whether to a conference or to an archive or museum, proof of travel arrangements, and conference registration, if applicable, are required. Keep all receipts. Your funds will be issued to you after you have completed your trip.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
The deadline is Monday, November 16, 2009, no later than 5:00 p.m. Please deliver your complete application package (application form, transcript, faculty letter of support) to the Honors Program office, Campus Center 2002. Do not send parts of the application separately!
REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS
All funding decisions are made by the faculty-student Undergraduate Research Committee. Students and/or sponsors may be contacted by the Committee if more information is needed during the process. You will be notified of the Committee’s decision by e-mail. Decisions are expected by mid- December. If you receive an award, you will be notified when your check is ready for pick up, four to six weeks after decisions are made.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contact the University Honors Program directly: honors@umb.edu, tel. 617.287.5520, or visit their offices in the Campus Center, 2nd floor, room 2002.
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