Undergraduate Research Grant recipient Tobias Schwoerer stands with his mentor Economics professor Gunnar Knapp.

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship offers several competitive Undergraduate Research Grants each year to support undergraduate research and creative activity. Proposals are solicited in the fall and spring semesters.

The award funds the actual costs of the project up to $2,000 plus a $500 student stipend.

Fall Deadline: 5pm on Friday, October 24, 2008

Spring Deadline: 5pm on Friday, February 27, 2009

Eligibility: Students must be accepted in an associate or baccalaureate degree program at the University of Alaska Anchorage (any campus) and must be enrolled in at least three credits each semester for the duration of the research (with the exception of the summer semester). Students in all disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Fall 2008 Proposal Guidelines

Research Proposal: The project should reflect an original idea or creative endeavor that will extend knowledge in your area of interest. Your proposal should consist of the following:

1.  OURS Cover sheet* – Include the project title, student’s name, and student’s signature. The faculty advisor’s name and signature should be included, certifying that they have reviewed the proposal for content and that the student is capable of performing the research or creative endeavor, and that the faculty member agrees to mentor the student for the project. *Projects with more than one student investigator must complete the Application Cover Sheet for Group Projects. Projects with more than one student investigator should identify one student as the principal investigator who will take primary responsibility for overseeing the project.

2.  Abstract and Specific Aims (approx 1 page) – A one paragraph summary of the project proposal, and a one paragraph summary of the project goals.

3.  Introduction (1-2 pages) – A review of the literature that supports the need for your research or creative endeavor.

• Natural and Social Science proposals should include a detailed description of how the research project will be completed including (a) a sampling protocol and/or design plan; (b) the methods and/or procedures to be used; (c) the data reduction and statistical analysis to be conducted or a description of the final form of the product.
• Arts and Humanities proposals should include a detailed description of the final form of the scholarly or creative work, and how the project will be completed including resources and methodology.

4.  Experimental/Project Design* (1-2 pages)

• Natural and Social Science proposals should include a detailed description of how the research project will be completed including (a) a sampling protocol and/or design plan; (b) the methods and/or procedures to be used; (c) the data reduction and statistical analysis to be conducted or a description of the final form of the product.
• Arts and Humanities proposals should include a detailed description of the final form of the scholarly or creative work, and how the project will be completed including resources and methodology.

*Projects with more than one student investigator should provide a breakdown and description of duties and indicate which student is responsible for each part

5.  Anticipated Results (1 page) – Provide the reviewers with a list of the results expected.

• Scholarly proposals should include an interpretation and explanation of results as related to hypothesis tested. Also, you may want to discuss or suggest further work that may help address the problem you are trying to solve.
• Creative proposals should include an analysis of the expected impact of the scholarly or creative work on the audience. Also discuss any problems that could hinder your creative endeavor.

6.  Project Budget (allow one page for the budget and one page for budget justification) – Include the cost of personnel, supplies, equipment and travel, and a brief justification for each item. Please note the following:

• The student stipend should not be included in the project budget.
• Travel will be allowed only if it falls within the same academic year(s) as your research and there is a direct relationship between the research and the travel being proposed (e.g. for the purposes of conducting research, or to present results at a conference). Funding for travel to a conference will be granted only if the student(s) is accepted to present at that conference.
• Expenses that will not be allowed include:
• • Compensation for the student’s time
  • Tuition to get credit for the project
  • Amounts for supplies or equipment that exceed reasonable and customary expenses
• Equipment purchased with the grant will belong to UAA after the research is concluded.
• Proposed expenses must be in accordance with UA Policy and Regulation, and funds must be expended as specified in the proposal.
• For this reason, please be as accurate as possible in estimating your expenses. Do not over-inflate your budget; conversely, do not underestimate what your actual costs will be.
  

7.  Project References (1-2 pages) – Use the standard convention of discipline including the author, title of article, journal title, volume, pages, and date.

8.  Project Timeline – Outline the anticipated dates of completion of various stages of project. For example: When do you anticipate completing background research, fieldwork, lab work, budget expenditures, etc. Be sure to include in this timeline the following dates:

1. • Mid-April, 2009 – Presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
   • May 31, 2009 – Expenditure deadline
   • June 15, 2009– Final written report deadline

9.  Appendix (up to 2 pages) – student’s résumé. (If the project has more than one student investigator, please include a résumé for each applicant.)

Visit the Success Stories Website to view the proposals from previous winners. 

Download:
Undergraduate Research Grant Announcement 
Grant Proposal Guidelines
Individual Project Cover Sheet
Group Project Cover Sheet

You may also visit the OURS office and request these documents.