1 RESEARCH 4U? UGR and URECA grants Andrienne Friedli Undergraduate Research Center Middle Tennessee State University

2 Why Do Research? Apply coursework Thesis Technical experience Graduate school Build resume Soft skills Curiosity Have FUN!

3 3 How To Get Started? Ask experienced research students Talk to faculty about opportunities Look for research posters in the hallway Look for research courses Follow up on opportunities you learn about today!

4 Undergraduate Research Programs Undergraduate Research Experiences & Creative Activity NSF - TN Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) NSF - 1st STEP (STEP MT ) NSF-REU- Geoenvironmental Challenges HONORS College, PHYSICS Dept URECA

5 URECA: Undergraduate Research Experiences & Creative Activity University-Wide: All Colleges and Departments Two Levels: Scholars and Assistants Three types of Scholars Three deadlines Ms. Gannon

6 Summary of Grants (handout) Types of Grants: Assistant Starter grant $500 (60 h, 1 semester) 2 pages Timeline Scholar $1000-$3500 ( hours) 3-5 pages Timeline Support letter URECA - Summary 1 semester 100 h $ semesters 240 h $2400 Summer fulltime 350 h $3500 SilverGold Platinum

7 Supplies Must be needed specifically for project (refer in proposal) Justify in detail Travel Must be necessary in order to do project project Travel to present results Separate request after project $400-$500 per year URECA – Other Budget SilverGold Platinum

8 URECA Deadlines Proposal Deadlines: 2 nd Tuesday in 4:00 pm for Fall and AY Last Thursday in January for Spring and Spring/ summer March 27 th for full summer projects (Next Th after SW) Turnaround time (4 days)

9 Expectations Accountability Mentor confirmation of hours (timesheet for Gold or Platinum levels) Final report Presentation at SW or SRC Other: papers, performances Scholars Week University-Wide Poster Session March 21, 2014 MTSU Summer Celebration Poster Session August 1, 2014

10 Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) Goal: To increase the number of underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) – 500 students in 10 years Benefits: Recruitment and tutorial programs, scholarships, and undergraduate and summer research opportunities ($1000) For more information Ms. Mimi Thomas,

11 Other MTSU Options Forensic Institute for Research and Education: Research proposals (Dept. Justice) $3000 For more info: Individual PI Funded Projects: Academic and summer research opportunities $1000-$4500.

12 Off-Campus Research Options Academic Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Government National Labs (ORNL) NASA Labs Industrial Internships in industry

13 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Junior level student with GPA > 3.0 Applications due in Feb - March 2 mo - 10 weeks $ stipend with lodging, food, travel Variety of locations Cal State San Bernardino

14 Government Lab Research Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) Summer 10 weeks $400/week stipend $105/week housing Jan 10 deadline Application workshop held each fall NASA Laboratories (Marshall, JPL, Ames, Goddard, Langley, Johnson) Apply to individual lab 10 weeks $5000 stipend + travel Jan 31 deadline

15 Industrial Research EXL(credit) Cooperative Education Academic year, usually full time Internships (credit or pay) Biotechnology (Dr. Seipelt, mtsu.edu/~biotech/ Variety of local industries Dr. Gore, Bridgestone Corp Headquarters

16 More Information Dr. Friedli Faculty in your department URECA/URC TLSAMP Honors