Request for Proposals (RFP) for Spring 2019 Funding Cycle
Online application form http://syracuse.infoready4.com
Application Deadline: Thursday, February 28, 2019
Purpose of the Program
Syracuse University announces the Spring 2019 funding cycle for the new Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (URCW) Grant Program. This request for proposals describes expanded funding opportunities for undergraduates in the coming year, as part of the University’s new Office for Undergraduate Research. The URCW Program will foster and support diverse undergraduate engagement in faculty-guided scholarly research and creative inquiry across all disciplines and programs at Syracuse University.
Undergraduate research and original creative work have powerful benefits for all students; these experiences demonstrably improve undergraduate experience for diverse groups of students and across the curriculum. In keeping with the University’s Academic Strategic Plan, the URCW Program supports student discovery, innovation, and success, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, enhancing the climate of research, creativity and scholarship for all our undergraduates. The URCW Program supports undergraduate work in basic, translational and applied sciences, the arts, media, social sciences, physical and life sciences, engineering, liberal arts, humanities, and all professional schools. Award applicants will be selected on a competitive basis to pursue a mentored experience under the guidance of Syracuse University faculty or research-related staff. Prior to applying, interested applicants must contact their potential faculty mentor to discuss the opportunity and confirm that the faculty member is willing to provide mentorship for the period in question. A brief letter of support from that mentor is required as part of the application process.
Undergraduate students funded by this program are expected to:
- Conduct original research or creative works, under the direction of a faculty mentor;
- Commit at least 20 hours per week during the summer months, for a total of 200 hours for summer awards, or commit at least 10 hours per week for a total of 400 hours for academic year awards;
- Submit monthly progress reports, verified by faculty mentors, including hours committed and tasks completed.
Approximately $500,000 will be awarded to Syracuse University undergraduates in this first round of the URCW Grant Program.
Students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Types of applications and funding levels
Summer Grants:
For the Spring 2019 competition, there are two distinct undergraduate summer research and creative work grant mechanisms:
- Undergraduate Summer Grants, which will be funded by the Office for Undergraduate Research (currently under a formal naming process); and
- Student Association Undergraduate Summer Grants, which will be jointly funded by the Syracuse University Student Association (SA), the Office of Research, and by Academic Affairs.
Maximum awards for Summer Grants are $2,800 per award. Work is expected to be carried out within the 15 weeks of summer 2019, with a project start date of May 13, 2019 and a completion date of August 23, 2019. Proposals must include a detailed work plan, indicating the activities that will support the proposed research or creative work, the timeline of activities, and a statement of how the results will be disseminated. Applicants are expected to provide a robust plan of work, which details approximately 200 hours of activity towards the proposed project over the 15-week span.
Academic Year Grants:
Undergraduate Academic Year Grants will be funded by the Office for Undergraduate Research, and will provide funding for longer, rigorous research and creative projects.
Maximum awards for Academic Year Grants are $5,000 per award. Work is expected to be carried out over the course of either the 2019-20 academic year, or a combination of the summer of 2019 and the 2019-20 academic year. The official start date for Academic Year Grants is May 13, 2019; however, applicants may propose activities that do not commence until the beginning of the fall semester, August 26, 2019. The project completion date for Academic Year Grants is May 12, 2020. Proposals must include a detailed work plan, indicating the activities that will support the proposed research or creative work, as well as the timeline of activities and the plan for dissemination of results. Applicants are expected to provide a robust plan of work, which details approximately 400 hours of activity towards the proposed project over the 52-week span (summer and academic year). It is highly encouraged for applicants to propose work that is conducted over the summer of 2019 and the academic year 2019-2020.
Eligibility
To be eligible for these awards, an applicant must be a full-time undergraduate student in the fall of 2019. Applicants for both the summer and academic year grants must also be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate at the time of application. Applicants for the Summer Grant program must not intend to graduate before December 2019. Applicants for the Academic Year Grant program must not intend to graduate before May 2020. Awardees may not simultaneously receive these awards and the Crown Scholars or other large-scale research grants.
Mentors must be tenured or tenure-track faculty of Syracuse University. Postdoctoral fellows, research staff, or emeriti faculty may be involved in mentoring of students; however, there must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who is the supervisor of record, and the letter of support must come from this faculty member.
Proposal Submission
Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM Thursday, February 28, 2019. The submission link will become inactive after this time. Late submissions will not be accepted. Submit electronically at https://syracuse.infoready4.com. An email acknowledgment of receipt will be sent when the application is received.
Award Notice
Awards are anticipated to be announced by the end of March, 2019.
Questions
For questions regarding the Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Grant Program, please contact Professor Cathryn Newton at newton@syr.edu.
For questions regarding the Application Portal, please contact Jeff Falchi at jtfalchi@syr.edu