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Online Submission Opens February 18, 2013
Summer Deadline: March 27, 2013
Academic Year Deadline: April 12, 2013

  Objectives / Type of Award / Eligibility / Guidelines / Review Criteria / Reporting Requirements

Introduction

The University of Iowa strives to provide a high-quality educational experience for its students. Participation in research and scholarly activities represents an opportunity, uniquely available at research universities, to enhance the overall undergraduate experience. The Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU) Fellows program encourages the direct involvement of undergraduate students in the scholarly efforts of faculty by providing financial support for a student involved in research.

Objectives

Faculty members in all disciplines are encouraged to consider involving an undergraduate in their research projects. Proposals that seek to involve students in intellectual scholarly work, experimental and laboratory-based research, and/or creative work in the arts are eligible. Applications that fully engage the student in the work, from contemplation of the work, through analysis and presentation of results, are of most interest. Work that can lead to an honors thesis, publication, or other form of recognition for the student is encouraged and is given high priority. Proposals that involve a student in only a limited aspect of a project, such as retrieving references or assaying samples, will not receive priority but may be funded. Regular opportunities for the student to interact with and be mentored by the sponsoring faculty or staff member are crucial in all cases.

Type of Award

The ICRU Fellows program is a student support award. Students are provided a scholarship of $2,000 for the academic year award, $1,000 for either the fall (only) or spring (only) award, or $2,500 for summer research.  Students must work at least 10 hours per week during the school year and 20 hours per week in the summer. The award must be used to pay for involvement of the student and is not meant as a prize, honor, or reward for work already completed. No supply money is available for this award.

Eligibility

All Faculty or Professional and Scientific Staff are eligible to apply for this program, including those that have supported an undergraduate through ICRU awards during the previous semesters. Only University of Iowa undergraduates registered as full-time students with at least a 3.0 GPA may be supported through these awards. Only one ICRU Fellows application per faculty member per semester will be awarded and students may only be supported by one ICRU award per semester.

Proposal Guidelines

Applications are submitted online via UIRIS. This is a secure site. To gain access, you must use your HawkID and password. The proposal, as described below, should address all points listed and be written for an audience of professionals outside of the investigator's field of study.

To be prepared by the Principal Investigator:
No more than one page (single-spaced, no less than 11 pt. Times New Roman font, with margins at least 0.75 inches).

1. Experience of Principal Investigator in Undergraduate Research Mentoring
   1. Provide a short descriptive summary of your research or scholarly work.
   2. Highlight your experience as a mentor of undergraduate research.
2. Form and Nature of Student Involvement
   1. Describe the work that the student will perform.
   2. Describe the level of the student’s involvement in the overall project; how will the student be integrated into all aspects of the work.
   3. What interaction will the student have with the Principal Investigator and any other project personnel?
   4. Provide a timeline for the work, showing as appropriate the student’s preparation, involvement, and follow-up activities.
3. Student Recruitment and Selection
   1. Identify the specific student to be supported as an ICRU Fellow.
   2. Why was this specific student selected for the project?
   3. How will the involvement benefit the student; this may include the opportunity to graduate with honors and preparation for graduate or professional work?

To be prepared by the Student to be supported:
No more than 250 words (roughly one page double-spaced, no less than 11 pt. Times New Roman font, with margins at least 0.75 inches)

1. Student Goals Statement
   1. Describe your academic and career goals.
   2. How will participation in the ICRU Fellows program help you to further these goals?

All applications and materials must be submitted by the Principal Investigator. In the online application, you will need to:

1. Complete all sections of the OVPR Internal Funding Initiatives Proposal Submission.
2. Select summer, academic year, or fall or spring semester support.
3. Submit the Proposal, Student Goals Statement, and Principal Investigator CV.  These will need to be attached as three separate PDF documents.

To access the application:

• Go to UIRIS
• Login using a HawkID and password
• Select OVPR Internal Funding Initiatives Proposal Submission Form
• Click on the ICRU Research Fellows 2012-2013 Funding Program

 Review Criteria

The peer review of proposals will consist of assessment of:

• Existence of a suitable context for involvement of an undergraduate in a research project or scholarly activity.
• Prospect for a meaningful student experience. Upon completion of its review, the committee will submit recommendations to the director of the Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates, who will make final award decisions.
   

Reporting Requirements

Students supported as ICRU Fellows are required to submit a report to ICRU at the conclusion of their project. These reports can be in simple letter format describing the work done by the student (one paragraph) and should provide an assessment of the value of the experience, including contributions to the sponsoring faculty member’s work (one paragraph) and should highlight any publications, presentations, performances, etc. Students are encouraged to present their work at the annual Spring Undergraduate Research Festival and the Fall Undergraduate Research Festival. ICRU Fellows are also invited to apply for the Research in the Capitol event held in mid-spring each year. More information on these presentation opportunities is available at www.uiowa.edu/icru

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