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RESEARCH 4U?UGR and URECA grants

Andrienne Friedli

Undergraduate Research CenterMiddle 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, Dept. Thesis (Physics)• Individual funded research projects

URECA

www.mtsu.edu/urc

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URECA: Undergraduate Research Experiences & Creative Activity

University-Wide: All Colleges and Departments

• Two Levels: Scholars and Assistants• Three types of Scholars• Three deadlines

Mrs. Gannon - Julie.Gannon@mtsu.eduhttp://www.mtsu.edu/urc/615-494-7848

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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

URECA - Summary

1 semester100 h$1000

2 semesters240 h$2400

Summer fulltime350 h$3500

Silver Gold Platinum

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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

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 Tuesday in September @ 4:30 pm for Fall and AY

• Last Thursday in January (29th for 2015) for Spring

• March 26th for full summer projects

(Next Th after SW)

Turnaround time (10 days)

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Summer Teams

Proposal Deadline: March 26

• Written by mentor

• Teams of 3-6 URECA students

• Timeframe 3-8 weeks

8 teams in 2014

Turnaround time (17 days)

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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 20, 2015

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 Options

Department Research/Experiential Coursework• 1-4 credit hours (usually 3-4 hours work /ch)• Poster or report requirement

Examples• Research methods courses: PSY 3070, PSY 4080• Independent research courses: CHEM 2880, 3880, 4800• Thesis courses: UH 4950, PHYS 4850, ANTH 4920 • Field work: PGEO 3401, ANTH 4910 • Experiential: “Learning by doing – work or service” EXP http://www.mtsu.edu/exl/

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Off-Campus Research Options

Academic• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Government• National Labs (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, travel Variety of locations

Cal State San Bernardino

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Government Lab Research

Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL)• Summer 10 weeks• $400/week stipend• $105/week housing• 1/10/15 deadline• Application workshop held each fall

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

• https://intern.nasa.gov/• Summer 10 weeks• $5000 stipend + travel• 11/10/14 -3/01/15 deadline

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Industrial Research

EXL(credit)Cooperative EducationAcademic year, usually full timeMATH 2930 Cooperative Education ET 2930 - Cooperative Education Experience I&II

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

mtsu.edu/~biotech/• Variety of local industries Dr. Gore, dgore@mtsu.edu• Career Development center http://www.mtsu.edu/career/• Contacts through your network

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

www.facebook.com/urcmtsu

TLSAMP mimi.thomas@mtsu.edu

Honors laura.clippard@mtsu.edu