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RESEARCH 4U?UGR and URECA grants

Andrienne Friedli & Julie Gannon

Undergraduate Research Center Middle Tennessee State University

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Why Do Research?

• Apply coursework• Thesis• Technical experience Graduate school Build resume• Soft skills• Curiosity• Have FUN!

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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!

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Undergraduate Research Programs

• Undergraduate Research Experiences & Creative Activity

• NSF - TN Louis Stokes Alliance • for Minority Participation (TLSAMP)

• NSF - 1st STEP (STEPMT)

• NSF-REU- Geoenvironmental Challenges

• HONORS College, PHYSICS Dept

URECA

www.mtsu.edu/urc

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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 Julie.Gannon@mtsu.eduhttp://www.mtsu.edu/urc/

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Summary of Grants (handout)

Types of Grants:

Assistant• Starter grant $500 (60 h, 1 semester)

• 2 pages

• Timeline

Scholar• $1000-$3500

(100-350 hours)

• 3-5 pages

• Timeline

• Support letter

Undergraduate

1 semester100 h$1000

2 semesters100 h$2400

Summer fulltime350 h$3500

Silver Gold Platinum

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Summary of Grants (handout)

• Faculty- defined and mentored team

$1000 per week up to $4000

• 3-6 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

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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

Silver Gold Platinum

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URECA Deadlines

Proposal Deadlines:• 2nd Thursday in September (10th) @ 4:00 pm for Fall and AY

• Last Thursday in January (28th) for Spring

• April 7th for summer projects

and teams

Turnaround time (12 days)

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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

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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, mthomas@mtsu.edu http://www.mtsu.edu/tlsamp/

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Other MTSU OptionsREU program• Pre-service STEM teachers by application• $4500 per summer

For more info: Mark.Abolins@mtsu.edu

Individual PI Funded Projects: • Academic and summer research opportunities

$1000-$4500.

First STEP:• For more info: Ginger.Rowell@mtsu.edu

Honors

For more info: Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu

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Off-Campus Research Options

Academic• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Government• National Labs (e.g.ORNL)• NASA Labs

Industrial• Internships in industry

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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Junior level student with GPA > 3.0• Applications due in Feb - March• 2 mo - 10 weeks• $4000-5000 stipend with lodging, food, travel

Variety of locations

Cal State San Bernardino

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Government Lab Research

NASA Laboratories (Marshall, JPL, Ames, Goddard, Langley, Johnson)

• Apply to individual lab• 10 weeks• $5000 stipend + travel• Jan 31 deadline

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Government Lab Research

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

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Industrial Research

EXL (credit)Cooperative EducationAcademic year, usually full time

Internships (credit or pay) Biotechnology (Dr. Seipelt, rseipelt@mtsu.edu)

mtsu.edu/~biotech/Variety of local industries Dr. Gore, dgore@mtsu.eduBioVentures (M’boro)Biomimetic Therapeutics (Franklin)Orchid Cellmark

Bridgestone Corp Headquarters

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More Information

Dr. Friedli afriedli@mtsu.edu

Faculty in your department

URECA/URC

www.mtsu.edu/urc

julie.gannon@mtsu.edu

TLSAMP mimi.thomas@mtsu.edu

Honors laura.clippard@mtsu.edu