Opportunities and Support at WSU and Beyond
Individuals and organizations recognize the value and importance of undergraduate "research" (research, scholarship, and creative activities), and they provide funding to support the work of those involved.
That means that in addition to conducting individual research under the mentoring guidance of a professor here at WSU, there are some special programs available at this university as well as programs available beyond WSU—in the U.S. and overseas. A good reason to consider applying to these programs is that they offer funding to support your research efforts. Tips include ...
- Experience is a prerequisite for some funded programsm so getting experience with a mentoring professor is always a good place to start.
- Proficiency in a foreign language may expand your opportunities.
- Be sure to check each program for application deadlines and requirements.
At WSU
Auvil Fellowships: Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters
Named for donors Grady and Lillie Auvil, these WSU awards support both start-up as well as experienced researchers. Applications are usually sought for fall, spring, and summer semesters, and the award is administered through WSU Undergraduate Research. Most awards are for $1,000 per semester.
Cougar Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE): Summer Semesters
Since 2007, WSU's Office of Undergraduate Research has offered the Cougar Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)—a one-week research fundamentals program—to WSU students ready to enter their sophomore year in college. The program focuses on introducing participants to the jargon and methods of research, and it is typically offered immediately following the close of spring semester. Mentoring and scholarship support of $1,500 each for up to 20 students is offered.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Summers only
The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. WSU students can participate in several summer REUs at the Pullman campus, or they can go for a summer to more than 100 campuses in the U.S. to conduct NSF-funded REU mentored research. In addition, students from around the nation come to research with professors in Pullman.
REUs at WSU
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Laboratory for Atmospheric Research *NEW in SUMMER 2009
- Mechanical Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Physics
- Chemistry *NEW in SUMMER 2009
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): Summers only
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program at WSU in pharmacology/toxicology provides hands-on research experiences in summer for WSU students with an outstanding scientific aptitude and interest in a research career in the pharmaceutical or biomedical sciences. Preference is given to juniors and seniors.
Interdisciplinary Plant Genomics: Year-round at WSU
A $2.3 million National Science Foundation five-year grant (2006-2011) supports a plant genome research project. Several WSU undergraduates have the opportunity to participate year round as researchers; in the summer a few students from California State University colleges join the project with Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funding from NSF. Small groups have been able to conduct research at Kyushu University in Japan.
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships for Biotechnology: Summers only
The Center for Integrated Biotechnology at WSU offers mentored Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships in Biotechnology. The fellowships run for at least eight weeks. The deadline to apply for summer 2009 is April 15.
Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences: year-round at WSU
This Interdisciplinary Training of Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences program (UBM) for WSU undergraduates involves faculty from many disciplines working to increase student participation and training. The program is funded by a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation. It includes cross-disciplinary training in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and biology; collaborative research projects in biomathematics; and curriculum development.
National Beyond WSU
NASA Grants: Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters
The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) offers awards to students researching in fields of interest to NASA. Many NASA labs have openings. The NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP), for example, offers mentored internship experiences at NASA Centers and research support facilities in fall, spring, and summer. The Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS) program offers fall, spring, and summer internship opportunities in Virginia. Through the Washington Space Grant office, Woodruff Scientific and Tethers Umlimited are two Washington companies offering summer 2009 internships to students in NASA Space Grant Consortium member institutions (including WSU).
NIST Internships/Fellowships: Summers only
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers fellowships in all NIST laboratories. Students apply through WSU's grants office.
NSF-Sponsored Statistics Explorations at UC Berkeley: June 13-20, 2009
Explorations in Statistics at the University of California at Berkeley is a seven-day program in June exploring scientific questions using statistical approaches. Participants' round-trip travel to Berkeley, and room and board, are paid by the program. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Application deadline: April 6, 2009.
NSF/AAAS-Sponsored International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge
In a world where science literacy is rare, illustrations provide an immediate and influential connection between scientists and other citizens. They also nurture popular interest and are necessary for public understanding of research developments. The National Science Foundation (NSF), and Science magazine (published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) created the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge to communicate about science, engineering, and technology for education and journalistic purposes. Five winners will be in each of five categories: photographs, illustrations, informational graphics, interactive media, and non-interactive media. Winners will be published the journal "Science" and "Science Online." Guidelines for submissions and entry forms are available, with deadlines set for Sept. 15, 2009.
Cold War Essay Contest
The John A. Adams Center at the Virginia Military Institute will award prizes for the best unpublished papers dealing with the United States military in the Cold War era (1945-1991). Any aspect of the Cold War is eligible, with papers on war planning, intelligence, logistics, and mobilization especially welcome. Please note that essays which relate aspects of the Korean and Southeast Asian conflicts to the larger Cold War are also open for consideration. The top papers in 2008 came from civilians and officers at institutions as disparate as East Carolina University, Henry Ford Community College, Norwich University, Spring Hill College, Texas A & M University, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Entries should be sent to the Adams Center at VMI by June 15, 2009; submissions must use Microsoft Word and be limited to a maximum of 25 pages of double-spaced text, exclusive of documentation and bibliography. A panel of judges will, over the summer, examine all papers and announce its top rankings early in fall 2009. The Journal of Military History will be happy to consider those award winners for publication. Please direct questions to:
Professor Malcolm Muir, Jr., Director
John A. Adams ’71 Center for Military History and
Strategic Analysis
Department of History
Virginia Military
Institute
Lexington, VA
24450
muirm@vmi.edu
540-464-7447/7338
Fax: 540-464-7246
Overseas Opportunities
WSU undergraduates have many chances to apply for research experiences around the world. Talk to your mentors and advisors, search the Internet, and explore the possibilities. Some include UREKA and SURE in Ireland, and RISE and UROP in Germany.