ATU - Institutional Research and Assessment

Faculty Undergraduate Research Grant

The Arkansas Tech University Undergraduate Research Office invites applications for funds to support undergraduate research for the 2007-2008 academic year. For 2007-2008 academic year, a total of $34,000 in internal funds will be available to the ATU Undergraduate Research Office to fund twelve [12] undergraduate research proposals. The maximum budget allowed for each proposal will be in the $2,500-3,500 range.

Following is a description of the support available and application process. Applications should be submitted to Dr. Mostafa Hemmati in McEver 32 no later than October 5, 2007. Please call Dr. Hemmati at 968-0340 if there are questions.

Faculty Research
Research proposals in ALL academic disciplines will be considered for funding. Proposals may focus on investigation of questions of interest to the faculty member or development of instructional material for a course. The ideal proposal will include both components. Faculty undergraduate research grants are subject to the following conditions.

Faculty are expected to have one or two students applying for stipends (stipends are required to be handled as student labor) at the same time. Faculty will serve as mentor for the selected student(s).
Individuals receiving funds from the Arkansas Tech University Undergraduate Research Office will present their results in the Arkansas Tech University Senior Honors and Undergraduate Research Symposium (student presentations are preferred). This will serve as a forum for presentation and discussion of research and dissemination of results.
Grants will extend from the date of the award (approximately October 20) to June 30 of the next calendar year.
A maximum of $2,500-3,500 is anticipated for each grant. Allowances are as follows: non-work study for student stipends - $2,000; supplies $400-800; and travel $100-700.
A final report containing research results will be submitted to the Undergraduate Research Office by June 30, 2008.

Student Stipends
Students who have an interest in these stipends must be sponsored by a faculty member applying for a faculty undergraduate research grant. All full time students are eligible to apply. Student grant awards are subject to the following conditions:

Recipients are expected to perform mentored research; assist mentors in preparation of reports, papers, proposals, and presentations; make a presentation at the on-campus Senior Honors and Undergraduate Research Symposium or other appropriate meeting.
Students with cumulative grade point of 3.00 or above will be given first consideration in making a grant award.
Students must have completed a minimum of fifty university credit hours.
Student grant awards are limited to $2,000 or less per student. Student compensation will be through the non-work study budget category.

Of the total $34,000 available to the ATU Undergraduate Research Office, the ATU Center for Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies (ACENRES) will contribute $9,000. Therefore, three of the proposals will be supported by ACENRES. Proposals considered for funding through ACENRES must support the Center's mission of promoting research in the broad spectrum of energy, natural resources, or aspects of the environment. Proposals fitting any of these categories are required to have a paragraph in their proposal emphasizing how their research will meet the goals of the Center. As with other research funded through the Undergraduate Research Office, individuals receiving funds from ACENRES will present their results in the ATU Senior Honors and Undergraduate Research Symposium. However, in addition to the presentation, the faculty member directing the research project will be required to submit a 1-2 page report to Dr. Steve Kline, Director of ACENRES, no later than May 15, 2008 summarizing the research conducted and the results, for inclusion in the ACENRES Annual Report.

Review Process
A proposal review committee consisting of ATU faculty and administrators will use the following criteria to evaluate faculty research proposals.

Scientific or academic merit of the proposed research.
Appropriateness of the scope of the proposed activity in the grant period.
Perceived potential for further research and funding from other sources after the end of the grant period.

Faculty planning to submit a proposal are asked to download the cover page and proposal outline from the following link.

Application for a Faculty Research Grant

For additional information, contact: mhemmati@atu.edu