Undergraduate Research Grant

 

Overview

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) Undergraduate Research Grant is intended to stimulate undergraduates’ involvement in research. Toward this end, CEHS undergraduate students are eligible to apply for funding to support their efforts in research. The funding for these awards is made possible by a match from the CEHS Office of Research Services and the CEHS academic department in which the work will occur. Awards are available for up to $2,000 in total funding (i.e., a maximum of $1,000 from the CEHS Office of Research Services and $1,000 from the academic department). 


Eligibility Requirements (and Exclusion Criteria)

  • The undergraduate student applicant is a CEHS major or minor and is in good academic standing at USU as well as within the CEHS department that offers that major or minor.
    • Undergraduate students may receive one CEHS Undergraduate Research Grant during their undergraduate tenure.
  • The proposed research is supported by a CEHS faculty member whose role statement includes research expectations.
    • Faculty members are limited to mentoring one undergraduate research application per academic year.
  • Matching funds are provided by academic department in which the work will occur (funding can be provided by the department or research mentor).
  • The research project is approved by the IRB for human participant research or the IACUC for research involving animals.
    • Meritorious projects will receive a notice of award prior to IRB or IACUC approval; however, funds will not be dispersed until the recipient provides documentation of IRB or IACUC approval to the CEHS Associate Dean for Research.

Use of Research Award Funds

Research award funds may only be used for the following purposes: participant incentives, per diem costs for animals, materials, equipment, and other expenditures directly related to the execution of the research. Costs are not allowable for undergraduate or graduate student stipends or salary, seminars, conferences, memberships, or conference travel. Funds not spent by the time of graduation or within one year of the award, whichever comes first, will be swept back. Students should work with their home department business manager in the sponsoring department to: (a) determine allowable costs, which may vary by department; and (b) make all purchases (students should not make purchases and then request reimbursement).


Application Process

Applications can be submitted between March 15th and April 15th each year and can support work carried out in the subsequent Summer, Fall, or Spring semesters.

To apply for a CEHS Undergraduate Research Award, students need to complete and compile the following: (a) the application form, complete with signatures; (b) an overview of the proposed research project (one-page maximum); (c) a letter of support from the research mentor; (d) itemized/detailed budget and justification (please only request funds necessary to complete the research study); and (e) a copy of IRB or IACUC approval to conduct the research (if not included with the application, candidates with meritorious projects will be notified of the award; however, funds will not be dispersed until the recipient provides documentation of IRB or IACUC approval to the CEHS Associate Dean for Research).

All required documents should be compiled into a single PDF and that PDF file should be emailed to the CEHS Associate Dean for Research prior to the deadline with the following subject line: “CEHS Undergraduate Student Research Award Application.” Because this is a competitive grant, applications will be reviewed by a committee of CEHS faculty appointed by the CEHS Associate Dean for Research and funding decisions will be made by May 1st. Award decisions will be sent to the undergraduate student, the sponsoring research mentor, department head of the sponsoring department, business manager of the sponsoring department, CEHS financial officer, and the Dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.

If IRB or IACUC approval is received after the award is preliminarily granted, then a copy of IRB or IACUC approval should be sent via email to the CEHS Associate Dean for Research with the following subject line: “CEHS Graduate Student Research Award – IRB/IACUC Approval.” After receipt and review of the IRB/IACUC approval, funds will be released to the department business office within one week.

Applications to support research projects related to milestone events or program requirements (e.g., undergraduate thesis; honors capstone) as well as those from CEHS majors will receive priority in funding decisions.

A final one-page report summarizing the activities accomplished under the Undergraduate Research Grant must be submitted to the CEHS Associate Dean for Research no later than one year after the beginning of the award (i.e., May 1st of the following year). Failure to submit the final report may adversely affect future funding opportunities available to the sponsoring faculty mentor. The CEHS strongly encourages all Undergraduate Research Grantees to share the findings of their work at local (e.g., USU Student Research Symposium), regional (e.g., Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research), national, and international conferences. Funding for travel to undergraduate research projects can be obtained from the USU Office of Research via the Office of Research Travel Award.