1 RESEARCH 4U? UGR and URECA grants Andrienne Friedli & Julie Gannon 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 $120,000/year 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 Undergraduate 1 semester 100 h $ semesters 100 h $2400 Summer fulltime 350 h $3500 SilverGold Platinum

7 Summary of Grants (handout) Faculty- defined and mentored team $1000 per week up to $ Undergraduate students with unique roles 3-8 weeks (40 h full-time) $320 per week Reviewed by URECA committee – representatives from all colleges Due in March – awards in April Summer Teams

8 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

9 URECA Deadlines Proposal Deadlines: 2 nd Thursday in September (10 th 4:00 pm for Fall and AY Last Thursday in January (28 th ) for Spring April 7 th for summer projects and teams Turnaround time (12 days)

10 Expectations Accountability Mentor confirmation of hours (timesheet for some levels) Final report Presentation at SW or SRC Other: papers, performances Scholars Week University-Wide Poster Session April 1, 2016 MTSU Summer Celebration Poster Session July 31, 2015

11 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,

12 Other MTSU Options REU program Pre-service STEM teachers by application $4500 per summer For more info: Individual PI Funded Projects: Academic and summer research opportunities $1000-$4500. First STEP: For more info: Honors For more info:

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

14 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

15 Government Lab Research NASA Laboratories (Marshall, JPL, Ames, Goddard, Langley, Johnson) Apply to individual lab 10 weeks $5000 stipend + travel Jan 31 deadline

16 Government Lab Research Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) Summer 10 weeks $400/week stipend $105/week housing Jan 10 deadline Application workshop TBD

17 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, BioVentures (M’boro) Biomimetic Therapeutics (Franklin) Orchid Cellmark Bridgestone Corp Headquarters

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