Funding Opportunities

Funding is awarded in multiple ways on a competitive basis to undergraduate students engaged in research and creative activities under the mentorship of TU faculty members.

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry (URCI) Committee is guided by the definition of undergraduate research and creative inquiry given by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) to determine which projects are eligible for funding. The CUR defines undergraduate research as “an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.” 

funding faq

What funding is available?

URCI offers two funding opportunities--the Research Impact Award and travel grants. A description, timeline, and information about the application process for each award is provided below.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Undergraduate students at TU who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program full-time  and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible to apply for funding that supports undergraduate research and creative activities. 

What projects are eligible for funding?

All original scholarly and creative activity appropriate to any discipline at our university is eligible under this program. This includes but is not limited to, for example, research in natural and social sciences, humanities, artistic performances, and works of art.

  • The project must be mentored and supported by a full-time TU faculty member to be eligible for URCI funding.

Research Impact Award

These $1000 awards are highly competitive. Applicants must meet all of the funding eligibility criteria outlined above and the application deadline. The next application cycle will open in the fall of 2018 and awards are disbursed.  Questions concerning the Research Impact Award  may be directed to .

timeline

step
 date
Application Available August 31
Application Deadline October 1
Colleges Review Applications and Select Semi-Finalists October 15
URCI Committee Selects and Notifies Finalists November 9
Finalist Interviews Late November
URCI Committee Selects and Notifies Recipients December 15

application form

To apply for a Research Impact Award, you must complete the online application form. Before completing the form, you should prepare the items listed below. Please note: applicants from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics must also submit the FCSM research grant application (please note an earlier deadline for that application).

  • A plain-language abstract of no more than 200 words that describes the project for those unfamiliar with your research or discipline;
  • A project impact statement concisely stating how your project benefits the academic or creative field, or serves the broader community;
  • A concise list of specific goals and brief timeline;
  • A description of your methods to achieve the stated goals and milestones, and;
  • A statement explaining how your research connects to your future personal/professional goals;
  • A copy of your resume/CV. 

For items 2 through 5, write no more than 400 words. These are the most important parts of the application; please take time to compose them well with the guidance of your faculty mentor.

faculty recommendation

Your faculty mentor must submit a confidential letter of support to  by the published deadline date. This date will be announced on T3 and on this page. You should ensure that your faculty mentor will submit a supporting letter on your behalf. Faculty mentors should note the information about faculty responsibilities if the application is successful. 

finalist presentations

A small group of the finalists will be notified by the URCI Committee in late fall. Each finalist will be asked to conduct a short in-person presentation before committee members; the expected timing is late November.

AWARD CONDITIONS

Travel Grants

An important aspect of the professional life of a scholar is the presentation of results in a professional arena.  In recognition of this, students can be awarded any amount up to $300 to attend a professional meeting or conference at which the student will present an oral seminar or a research poster. To be eligible to request a travel grant, the student must be the main presenter of the work (if there are co-authors, only one of them is the presenter of record), and must have a confirmation letter from the conference organizers verifying that the presentation was accepted.

travel grant funding

How much will I receive?

Unfortunately, URCI funds do not allow the university to fully support every student who is eligible. This means that your request to URCI may be only partially funded; and this is subject to the availability of funds.

When granting a travel award, there are three factors the committee considers:

  • Applicant’s financial aid need;
  • Distance to the conference or meeting; and
  • Cost of the conference or meeting registration

Please be sure to apply for a travel grant as soon as you have the confirmation that your presentation has been accepted and students are eligible to receive travel funding only once per academic year.

application process

  • Please fill out the online application form. You will need the following information: proof of presentation acceptance as a PDF file, amount of conference registration (student rate),  and the conference website.
  • You and your faculty mentor will be notified of the status of the award via TU email according to the schedule below.
Apply by notification by
1st of the month 15th of the month

award conditions

  • Within a month of your return from your travel, you must submit (to ) two photos from your conference presentation experience. These photos will be used to promote undergraduate research and creative activity via social media.
  • You are also required to present a poster at the next Research & Creative Inquiry Forum.