1 RESEARCH 4U? UGR and URECA grants Andrienne Friedli 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, Dept. Thesis (Physics) Individual funded research projects URECA

5 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

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 URECA - Summary 1 semester 100 h $ semesters 240 h $2400 Summer fulltime 350 h $3500 SilverGold Platinum

7 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 SilverGold Platinum

8 URECA Deadlines Proposal Deadlines: 2 nd Tuesday in 4:30 pm for Fall and AY Last Thursday in January (29 th for 2015) for Spring March 26 th for full summer projects (Next Th after SW) Turnaround time (10 days)

9 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)

10 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

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 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

13 Off-Campus Research Options Academic Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Government National Labs (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, travel Variety of locations Cal State San Bernardino

15 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) Summer 10 weeks $5000 stipend + travel 11/10/14 -3/01/15 deadline

16 Industrial Research EXL(credit) Cooperative Education Academic year, usually full time MATH 2930 Cooperative Education ET Cooperative Education Experience I&II Internships (credit or pay) Biotechnology (Dr. Seipelt, mtsu.edu/~biotech/ Variety of local industries Dr. Gore, Career Development center Contacts through your network Bridgestone Corp Headquarters

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