Grant Opportunities

Eligible Students Must:

• Be a single author on project. Group projects are not eligible for this award
• Have sophomore status or higher at the time of application
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
• Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student during project completion semester
• Have the project endorsed by a faculty/staff member holding at least a 50% appointment

Preferences:

• Preference will be given to students who are returning to UW Whitewater for the following academic year
• Preference will be given to students working with a Faculty member returning to UW-Whitewater for the next academic year
• Preference will be given to students who have not received a SURF grant in the past

The Following Students Are Ineligible:

• Current or upcoming McNair Scholar students
• Students enrolled in the summer semester for course credit for research projects
• Group projects

Application materials are due by 5 pm on the following date:

• 2024 SURF Grant Applications are due March 31, 2025

Students Submit the Following Online:

• A proposal up to 5 pages and 12 point font, including the following sections:
  • A statement of goals and objectives for the project with a clear research question appropriate for the discipline.
  • The two sets of goals and objectives connecting the summer work and the academic year work.
  • An outline of the method or design for carrying out the project including participants, data collection, and analysis procedures (should be the largest section of the proposal).
  • A statement of the anticipated significance of results (i.e. briefly describe possible outcomes of the project and why they are likely to be of interest).
  • A brief explanation of the preparedness to undertake the project.
  • A statement of how this research aligns into your future career or postgraduate study plans.
• A complete timeline using the template below (include step-by-step actions to meet the goals, objectives, and results of the project in both the summer and academic year):
  • Timeline template
• A complete itemized budget and justification using the template provided below. All supplies should be listed with their estimated costs, justification, and web link if applicable. Travel costs must comply with university travel reimbursement requirements. Budget should not exceed the funds of the project
  • Budget template
• A letter of commitment and recommendation from your mentor.
  • Mentors, this letter should be limited to one page endorsing the student, the feasibility of the project, the scholarly merit of the research, and your commitment to supervise this project.

Reviewers of SURF applications will be done by members of the Undergraduate Research Program, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and UWW's Research Council. The reviewers may ask applicants to provide further information regarding the proposal if needed. The selection committee will evaluate fellowship applications on the following criteria:

• The applicant demonstrates that the project is feasible and has scholarly or creative merit
• The applicant demonstrates that they will acquire significant new skills or experiences as a result of this project
• The applicant presents a clear and compelling case for how the fellowship will allow them to continue their undergraduate research during the academic school year and how this summer fellowship will contribute to their career or post-graduate study plans
• The applicant demonstrates that they can successfully complete most of the project over the summer and finish it during the academic year
• The applicant is prepared for the fellowship (coursework, experience, etc.)
• Letter of support from the applicant's mentor attesting to the merit of this project, student’s enthusiasm and appropriate experience, and time commitment to supervise this project

Please address any questions to the Undergraduate Research Program at urp@uww.edu.

Below outlines how the stipends will be set up for the student and faculty mentor and how expenditures can be spent:

• Student Research Fellows will receive a stipend of $5000
• Faculty mentors will receive a stipend of $2500
  • Faculty/staff members can earn an additional $2500 stipend from ORSP during the 2024-2025 academic year if they use results from this fellowship project and commit to apply for an externally funded grant in the following academic year
• The student and the faculty/staff mentor will receive their URP stipend over the summer and stipends will be taxed as income
• The number of hours per week the student will work are to be determined by the mutual agreement between the faculty/staff mentor and the student research fellow. The student must work a minimum of 300 hours throughout the summer.
• Students cannot receive academic credit over the summer for being a part of this program
• A majority of the research must take place throughout the summer.
• Expenditures (up to $1000) can be used over the summer or throughout the academic year. The final deadline to use expenditures is May 1, 2025. Expenditures can be:
  • Materials for conducting research project (software, equipment, supplies, etc.)
  • Conference presentation travel outside of the travel if approved by URP
  • Publication fees

Awarded Students Must:

• Attend a grant orientation meeting in the late Spring 2024 semester. Time and location will be announced when acceptance letters are sent.
• At the end of the summer submit a one-page report, which includes research findings and information on the number of hours worked over the summer. This letter is due to the URP Director at URP@uww.edu by August 31, 2024.
• Commit to continuation of their summer projects during the academic year
• Submit an abstract and present results at both Fall and Spring UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Research Days
• Submit an abstract and present work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) or the Universities of Wisconsin Symposium in the Spring 2025 semester
• Complete a web survey at the end of the academic year
• Become a member of the Student Research Organization (SRO)
• If research involves human or animal subjects, you must hold or obtain approval from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). Undergraduate Research Program award funds will not be disbursed to you until you provide the appropriate protocol number from ORSP to URP.
  • Human Research Compliance Policies and Process
  • Animal Research Compliance Policies and Process

Awarded Mentors Must:

• Attend a grant orientation meeting in the late Spring 2024 semester with your mentee. Time and location will be announced when acceptance letters are sent.
• Co-sign the end of summer one page report and affirming the student’s summer hours committed to the study
• Provide student with mentorship throughout the research project
• Assist the student and provide feedback on required reports, abstracts, and presentations
• Complete a web survey at the end of the academic year

Faculty/Staff mentors must apply for this grant. There must be a significant travel component to the project.

Complete the Travel Study Application. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.

On the application Faculty/Staff mentors must submit a document that:

• Describes the purpose of the travel grant funding. This statement should, at minimum, include:
  • A detailed budget of expenses
  • The number of students that will be traveling
  • Names of the students who will be traveling (if known at this time)
  • The estimated cost per student for this travel
  • The dates of travel
  • The location of travel
  • The purpose of travel
  • If applicable, a sylabus for the course

Projects are reviewed by Undergraduate Research Program.

Projects are scored on the following criteria:

• Travel is a necessary component of the sholarly, reseach, creative, or innovative project

• Budget clearly outlines the purpose of the funds being requested

• Project is realistic given the time frame and amount of funding

• If applicable, syllabus outlines travel itenirary

Permitted Expenditures:

• Materials for conducting research project(s) (software, equipment, supplies, etc.). All materials purchased with grant funds belong to the university. Funds must be spent following regular university guidelines and within the university's fiscal year.
• Group travel expenses (group airfare purchased via Fox World Travel, payment to travel vendors, etc.), to bring down the total cost of the travel study course. No funds will be allocated to individual students

Prohibited Expenditures:

• Salary/wages for students, mentors, and/or participants
• Furniture

If awarded, all students enrolled must:

• Attend a travel orientation meeting. This will be arranged by URP staff.
• Submit an abstract and present results or showcase the project at a URP sponsored event
• Complete a web survey at the end of the academic year
• If research will entail or entails human or animal subjects, you must hold or obtain approval from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). Undergraduate Research Program award funds will not be disbursed to you until you provide the appropriate protocol number from ORSP to URP.
  • Human Research Compliance Policies and Process
  • Animal Research Compliance Policies and Process

If awarded, faculty/staff mentors must:

• Attend a travel orientation meeting. This will be arranged by URP staff.
• Provide students with mentorship throughout the project
• Provide students with feedback on required abstracts and presentations
• Complete a web survey at the end of the academic year

• What is it?
  • The Sustainability Award supports students who are engaged in research dealing with environmental and sustainability issues.
• Who is eligible?
  • The proposed research can be conducted by either a single or multiple student investigators who are working with a faculty or staff mentor.
  • All rules governing Undergraduate Research Grant projects apply to recipients of the Sustainability Award.
  • Multiple awards may be given each grant competition period.
• How to submit.
  • The itemized budget must provide details on costs related to the research project. This award will provide up to $500 in addition to the $500 from the URP (total award up to $1000)
  • To apply for this grant, fill out the UR Grant application and check the appropriate box for funding in the survey

What is it?

   • The Discovery Endowment Award supports students who are engaged in course-based research projects.

   • Students enrolled in an Independent Study (Research 498 (R)), Honors Thesis, or a Research Methods course may request up to $500 in approved research-related expenses in addition to the $500 maximum research budget allowed under the Undergraduate Research Grant.

   • The proposed project can be conducted by either single or multiple student investigators (with one student applicant clearly identified as the lead student investigator).

   • All rules governing Undergraduate Research Grant projects apply to recipients of the Discovery Endowment Awards. Only one Discovery Endowment Award may be offered per academic year.

Who is eligible?

   • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (note this is higher than the minimum GPA requirement of a regular Undergraduate Research Grant) as stipulated by the donor of the award.

   • Student must be enrolled in an Independent Study (Research 498 (R)), Honors Thesis, or a Research Methods course.

How to submit!

   • The itemized budget must provide a clear justification for the need of a larger budget (up to $1,000 instead of $500 total).

   • The letter of support from the mentor must clearly indicate the student applicant(s) is enrolled in 498(R) or a specific Research Methods course during the semester of the grant application.

   • To apply for this grant, fill out our UR Grant/SURF application and check the appropriate box for this funding!

What is it?

   • A total of six awards are available per academic year, and each award request can be up to $500 in research budget (on top of any other grant budget request).

   • Applicants are selected among eligible and successful undergraduate research proposals that show high quality of research and justification for increased research budget.

Who is eligible?

   • Biology majors conducting Biological Sciences research.

   • Students with at least a sophomore standing.

   • Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above.

How to submit!

   • To apply for this grant, fill out our UR Grant/SURF application and check the appropriate box for this funding!

*If you are interested in applying, please email the Undergraduate Research staff at urp@uww.edu. Applications are reviewed by the URP staff.

Who is eligible?

   • A registered student at UW-Whitewater.

   • All candidates must be a native of Wisconsin (preference given to candidates from Wautoma, WI).

   • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.

   • The candidate may be a sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of application.

   • Students need an approved faculty mentor as part of URP and must be conducting academic research.

   • The candidate should submit a completed application a semester prior to receiving the scholarship.

Selection process

   • The selection of the candidate(s) will be made by the Director of the Undergraduate Research Program, with input from other appropriate persons with regard to finalist candidates and the criteria below must be adhered to.

   • After finalist candidates are selected, if there is a candidate from Wautoma (Waushara County), that candidate will receive the scholarship.

   • To be considered as a finalist candidate, student(s) must have a superior research project proposal, provide prior evidence to suggest high-caliber work will be completed, and have a demonstrated passion for research.

How to submit!

   • To apply for this grant, fill out our UR Grant/SURF application and check the appropriate box for this funding!

What is it?

• This program provides financial support of up to $800 each for students to travel with a faculty mentor to present their research at a professional conference.
• At most ten travel grants will be awarded annually.
• This award supports and encourages research by our most talented undergraduate researchers.
• This program is intended to complement the experience students gain by presenting at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research.

Who is eligible?

• Students must be enrolled full-time in a College of Letters and Sciences major.
• Applicants must be juniors or seniors.
• Students need a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
• Mentors must be College of Letters and Sciences faculty, or academic staff members holding at least a 50% appointment. Support for travel by mentors should be requested through the College Professional Development funds or funded extramurally.

The following criteria will be considered in awarding travel grants:

• Student GPA
• Role of the student in the research project/scholarly activity and presentatio
• Student interest/success in research (participation in the UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Research Program for multiple years and work toward a research-based honors thesis are especially relevant
• Faculty history of successful mentoring of research students (including student authorship on publications, student conference presentations or other relevant activities
• Faculty mentor must attend the conference with the studen
• Only one student per paper/presentation will be funde
• Distribution of funds among mentors and departments/program
• Cost-effectiveness of travel arrangements

How to submit.

• Requests will be accepted on a rolling basis, but application materials must be received no later than 90 days before the scheduled conference travel.
• Faculty mentors must submit the L&S Travel Award application on behalf of their student presenters using the form available here.
• Include a copy of the student's unofficial transcript, the student's CV, a description of the research project/scholarly activity to be presented highlighting the student's role, and a brief mentor CV.
• Provide a copy of the acceptance letter or preliminary conference program that lists the student's role as a presenter. The application will still be reviewed if this documentation is not yet available, but the documentation MUST be provided to receive the award.
• Email the complete application file as a single document to urp@uww.edu with "L&S Student Travel Award Application" in the subject line.
• The URP Director will make recommendations to the L&S Associate Dean. Award decisions will be announced by email as soon as possible, and awards are available until funds are exhausted.

Travel Arrangements and Reimbursement

• ALL travel arrangements must follow university travel policy or YOU WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED. Airfare must be purchased using the Concur booking tool or by calling a Travel, Inc representative at  877-811-9898. Lodging must be booked directly through the conference or through the Concur booking tool.  For questions about travel policy, travel authorization and reimbursement procedures,  please refer to travel support  and a guide to infrequent travelers .
• Once you have been notified that you are an award recipient, you will need to complete an electronic Travel Authorization form. This must be completed at least three weeks prior to your travel. To learn more about this, go to  travel support and scroll down to Travel Authorization . Should you have questions about how to proceed, please work with your mentor who will likely be able to assist.
• Upon return from your conference, submit an electronic expense report, also known as an eTER, to get reimbursed. All eTERs must be submitted no later than June 1st of the academic year in question.
• All reimbursements must follow state and UW System guidelines. Please see our FAQ page for additional information: FAQ.