UPDATED: Thursday, September 10, 2020
General Information
The purpose of this program is to encourage and support undergraduate research opportunities. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the academic year research grant program for 2020-21 will be limited to spring semester research projects with start and end dates of the first and last day of spring classes, respectively. If timing allows, projects may begin late in the fall semester with approval of the school director.
Proposals must include a plan for conducting research 100% remotely (using only IT resources from home or in campus residence) in the event that the University changes to remote instruction due to COVID-19.
Proposals must be:
- Developed in conjunction with a member of the Penn State Behrend faculty.
- Submitted electronically to your school director (with the approval of your cooperating faculty member). Visit the Student Research site for details, deadlines and application form. If multiple students (up to three) are working on the same project, only one application form should be completed.
And...
- No late submissions will be accepted.
- Awards will be announced prior to the end of the fall semester.
Research funding is limited to $600 per student for Academic Year Research.
Proposal Requirements
Eligibility
- Two- or four-year Penn State Behrend majors. Students must intend to complete their degree at Penn State Behrend. For research projects that require access to Penn State facilities or field research projects, funding priority will be given to students graduating on or before summer 2021 or students for whom research is a requirement of their academic program. There is no such preference for research projects that are conducted 100% remotely (using only IT resources available from home or in campus residence).
Criteria
- Scholarly merit
- Potential to expand undergraduate educational experience
- Relevance to cooperating faculty member(s) research activities
- Plan for alternative remote research
Review
- Prior to review by the associate dean, school directors should arrange for the review and priority ranking of proposals within their school.
- Prioritized submissions from each school should be forwarded to the associate dean.
- Approval of the project is contingent upon the availability of research funds.
- Awards will be made on a school-wide competitive basis.
SARI Training
Before research is begun or grant funds can be expended, the University requires that you complete the online training program (if you have not already done so) related to Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI). The training modules are located on the SARI Portal.
Reporting
A written accounting of your research program should be forwarded to the associate dean. Please complete the Undergraduate Student Research Project Final Report (Word) and submit it electronically to [email protected].
Undergraduate Conference
All students receiving grants are expected to present their results in a formal setting such as the Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference held in April at Behrend.