Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) invites applications for ten-week mentored summer research. 6 fellowships will be awarded with stipends of $3000. In addition, up to $500 in funding for supplies, services and travel expenses. Mentors of selected research fellows will receive a summer stipend of $2500.

The most important factor in proposing a successful project is your enthusiasm for the project itself and for working with the mentor. SURF is not 'just a summer job'; a project should have significant intellectual and creative content. For more details, please consult the FAQ section. For suggestions on how to compose a successful proposal, please consult this guide.

Eligibility

• Current UWW Sophomores and Juniors who are enrolled full time through Spring 2013, and Seniors who are enrolled full time through Fall 2012 (Students do not get course credit for their summer projects)
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in major and minor

Application Process

A complete application consists of

• A completed application form. Available here
• A copy of the student's Degree Progress Report
• Summer Research Fellowship Proposal (no more than 4-pages double-spaced)
• Timetable of project activities (no more than 1 page)
• Proposed itemized budget for supplies, services and travel (if applicable). Use budget form provided here with a justification of how you will spend these funds and why they are necessary (this can be an additional page)
• 2 Confidential Letters of Recommendation. Letters of Recommendation should be submitted directly to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at ehlend@uww.edu
  • At least one Letter of Recommendation should be from the proposed UWW faculty mentor. This letter should address their assessment of the student's project and ability to complete the project, the mentor's commitment to supervise this project, and the experience of the mentors in supervising student research and/or creative inquiry projects.
  • The other Letter of Recommendation can be from any instructor or employer who can address the scholarly merits of this project and the personal or academic background of the applicant

The proposal should be as specific as you can make it as it will be read by URP Council members with some knowledge of your field. It must outline what you plan to do, and why addresses important research questions in your field. The outline consists of the research design (what you propose to do, the methodology for the research, how you will analyze the results, etc.) how the work fits with important questions in your field and how you will accomplish this during the summer (this last section should align with your proposed timetable of project activities). Your proposal should also address how, and if, this project will continue during the 2012-2013 school year and how it fits into your future career or post-graduate studies plans For further guidelines on writing an excellent proposal, please consult the 'SURF Proposal Writing Guidelines.'

Summer Fellows Expectations

• Fellows will devote 10 weeks of full time effort (40 hours per week) to their project. If they hold any other employment or take any courses during the period of their fellowship they must submit a separate document by May 15th detailing their summer obligations and how they will fulfill the goals of their fellowship. This document must be approved by their project mentor and the director of URP.
• Fellows will submit a mid-term report due early July, 2012
• Fellows will complete an evaluation of their fellowship experience by early September, 2012
• Students will also be expected to present the results of their research at the September 2012 undergraduate research day and the Spring 2013 Undergraduate Research Day if they have received additional funding for supplies, services and/or travel.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Undergraduate Research Program. Up to fifteen finalists will be invited to a 20-minute interview with the selection committee. The selection committee will evaluate fellowship applications on the following criteria and will also consider representation of different disciplines among the supported summer fellowships:

All application materials are due March 10, 2012 and should be submitted to ORSP ehlend@uww.edu

Please address any questions to Catherine Chan, Interim Director, Undergraduate Research Program, urp@uww.edu or chanc@uww.edu