Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP)
Introduction
The Undergraduate Student Research Program provides financial support for all undergraduate students in the sciences to collaborate on research projects with a faculty mentor. The funding for this program is provided by the Fairbanks Foundation.
All eligible undergraduates undertaking research in the sciences are encouraged to apply for a $2,500 stipend to support a research project through the academic year (students will only receive one award during their tenure at Butler University ). The definition of science is sufficiently broad to encompass natural, social, and mathematical sciences. If there are questions about whether the project falls within this definition please contact the Institute for Research and Scholarship at 940-9766
Facts
- Students who are interested need to find a faculty mentor and discuss a possible project.
- The proposal includes a proposed project title, abstract, background, objectives and hypothesis, methods, timeline, expected results, references.
- Stipend will be $2500 for the year.
- Faculty mentor receives $1000 for professional allowance for support of the project or for professional development.
- The program entails approximately 10 to 12 hours of research per week.
- Work accomplished through this program can be used as part of an honors thesis.
- Students working on an honors thesis for no credit can apply to this program.
- To be eligible for this program, students doing research for credit will be required to do an additional 10-12 hours of research above that which they are presently doing.
Mentor Information for the Undergraduate Student Research Program
- Assist student with development of research project
- Review finished proposal prior to submission to ensure that it meets HUG review standards
- Write a letter of recommendation that will include a review of the student's preparation to fulfill the requirements of the proposal
- Mentor student throughout the academic year (student research expectation is approximately 12 hours/week)
- Receive a $1000 professional development award. Funds to be expended on student research–related activities or professional development activities for the mentor.
Proposal forms will only be accepted from students who have submitted a proposal to the HUG Committee by the appropriate deadline. After the Committee has reviewed the proposals, letters of decision will be sent to the students.
For additional information on the Undergraduate Student Research Program call 317-940-9766.
Guidelines
The purpose of these guidelines is to help students in the preparation of their USRP proposals. Because of the diverse nature of projects proposed, specific details will differ from proposal to proposal. If a student has questions about a specific proposal, he or she should consult with Robert Holm in the Institute for Research and Scholarship (940-9766) or their faculty mentor.
Students are expected to write their own proposals, making use of all the skills they have honed in courses such as EN102 and ID103. The student's prospective mentor should review finished proposals prior to submission to ensure that they meet these standards. Finally, the proposals should be written for a well-educated general audience, not for experts in each particular field. The total length of the proposal, including pertinent literature, should not exceed six pages, double-spaced.
Please note that we ask each mentor to write a letter of recommendation that will include a review of each student's preparation to fulfill the requirements of the proposal. The signature of the mentor on the letter of recommendation will indicate acceptance of the mentorship role. Each prospective mentor will receive a letter detailing what is expected to be included in the letter of recommendation
Part I -- Significance of Project:
This section should be a brief description of the project as a whole, including any pertinent background information. It should discuss how the project fits into the field. It should also include how the educational goals of the student are tied into the contribution to the field.
IMPORTANT
The description should indicate if the project will involve the use of human subjects, animals or recombinant DNA. The use of any of these subjects will require approval from one of the following committees prior to the start of the project:
- Institutional Review Board
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
Part II - Statement of Research Objective:
Two sentence maximum: Clearly describe the central objective of the proposed project.
Part III -- Methods:
This section should be a concise description of the methods, or theoretical approach, involved in the creative experience or experimental plan. This section should also describe how the information/skills would be acquired, and used, to accomplish the project goal(s). It should be written so that an educated non-expert can understand it.
Part IV -- Progression of Project:
The student should describe the progression of the project through the academic year. If it is helpful to project planning, this section may be presented as a month by month plan. This should also include a way to verify that you have made progress toward the project goals. It is important that access to necessary equipment, supplies, or other resources will be available for the student's use during the period of research. If these resources are not available at Butler, the student or faculty member should secure assurances from the holders of the resources in the form of a letter to be included in the proposal package. It is also important that the student state explicitly how long he/she will be off campus to use those resources.
Part V -- Pertinent Literature:
The student should submit an annotated bibliography of literature relevant to his/her project. The annotations should be a brief description of the content of the citation and its relevance to the proposed project. If, after consulting with his/her advisor, the student feels this is not appropriate for his/her particular project, a justification should be provided.
Part VI -- Personal:
The section should include a narrative highlighting the relevant coursework that has prepared the student to undertake the project he or she is proposing. In addition, the student should describe his/her interest in conducting this project. If other personnel are involved in your project, and its progress is dependent upon their involvement, please list them and describe their role. A copy of the student's unofficial (available through PeopleSoft) transcript should be attached as an appendix to the proposal.
Part VII -- Evaluation/Culmination:
In order to share their research or creative work with others, students are expected to present their findings in a culminating presentation / event that is appropriate to their field of research. It is understood that some projects may have more to report than others and not all presentation methods are appropriate for all work. The work, even work in progress, should be shared with the community. In consultation with the mentor, the student should describe in detail what form the final evaluation or culmination of the project will take. A summary report of research activities (2-3 pages) should be submitted to the BIRS Office 60 days after the completion of the Program. Presentation documentation should be submitted to the Institute for Research and Scholarship, JH 240.
All presentations, papers, culminating events etc. should acknowledge funding from the Fairbanks Foundation.
Forms: