Undergraduate Research Creative Activities

The initial application for each URCA Fund Type, which is to be completed by the student applicant, is comprised of mostly the same questions, including:

1. Student Name
2. Student Email Address
3. Student Major
4. Anticipated Student Graduation Date
5. Primary Investigator (PI) Name
6. Primary Investigator (PI) Email Address
7. Primary Investigator (PI) Department
8. Co-Investigator(s) Names(s), Department(s), and Email Address(es)
9. Title of Project
10. How long have you worked with your Primary Investigator (PI)?
11. Has the student completed all relevant safety and/or ethics training to conduct the specified research activity? (yes, no, not applicable)
12. Is the student currently enrolled in directed studies/directed methods/or other relevant research course designation with the listed PIs? (yes, no, not applicable)
13. Project Narrative (Must be written by student. The combined word count from the following five sub-sections cannot be more than a total of 750 words.)
    • BACKGROUND. Provide brief, relevant scholarly or research context, including citations, that demonstrate how the research makes a unique contribution to the area of inquiry
    • KEY RESEARCH QUESTION AND/OR CREATIVE PROJECT GOAL
    • METHODS
    • RESULTS (OR ANTICIPATED RESULTS)
    • CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION
14. Does this research project align with any of the Research Communities?
15. Are you currently receiving any other research funding?
    • If yes, please list
16.  References
    • Please upload a document list of references used in this application in the citation style used in your discipline (for example, MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)

Additional Questions based on URCA Fund Type:

• Research Stipend URCA
  • How many total hours for the semester are you scheduled to work?
    • Provide a detailed description of what you will be doing during those working hours (typically 150-300 words)
  • Please provide the Office of Undergraduate Research a brief justification as to why you should receive a stipend for the research work instead of completing a directed study (or equivalent) course to help you earn credit towards your degree (300 words max)
• Conference Registration & Travel URCA
  • Is this funding application request for Individual Travel or Group Travel?
    • If Individual Travel, questions 1-4 will remain the same
    • If Group Travel, questions 1-4 will be a repeatable section and must be completed for each student presenter
  • Conference Presentation Date
  • Budget Table
    • The current budget table template can be downloaded from the application main page, under "Supplemental Documents" or from within the application itself.
    • Excel files only
  • Conference Acceptance
    • You must attach a copy of the conference acceptance which shows all accepted student presenters to the application, or the application will be denied.
• Supplies, Incentives, & Publication Costs URCA
  • Budget Table
    • The current budget table template can be downloaded from the application main page, under "Supplemental Documents" or from within the application itself.
    • Excel files only
  • Quotes and Supporting Documents (one file)
    • If your budget table includes incentive gift cards, you must include the following: IRB Approval or Exemption AND Fiscal Compliance Approval

As a reminder, the application answers should be written in your own words, even when in collaboration with your Primary Investigator.

The Primary Investigator (PI) Section on the applications for each URCA Fund Type, which will be auto-routed once the student section is submitted, is comprised of mostly the same questions, including:

1. Primary Investigator (PI) Statement (Written by PI; 300 words max)
   
   • Describe your research portfolio (manuscripts, grants, presentations, awards, etc.) as well as your experience incorporating undergraduates into your research activities.
2. How does this project meet the definition of undergraduate research as defined by the Council on Undergraduate Research: "A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge." (Written by PI; 300 words max)
   
   • Briefly describe how this project meets this definition (application may be denied if criteria are not met).
3. Institutional Impact Statement (Written by PI; 200 words max)
   • Describe the benefit to the institution related to this research activity (preliminary data for pursuing external funding, plans to publish/present, development of intellectual property, collaboration with reputable institutions, etc.).
4. Student Impact Statement (Written by PI; 400 words max)
   • Describe how this work will positively impact participating undergraduates immediately and in their future endeavors.
5. Has this project been granted approval by the IRB?
   • If yes, please provide the approval number
6. Previous Office of Undergraduate Research Funding
   • Name of previous funding
   • Total amount of funding received
   • Deliverables that emerged from the work on the funded project

Additional Questions based on URCA Fund Type:

• Research Stipend URCA
  • Research Stipend Justification (200 words max)
    • The Office of Undergraduate Research requires justification as to why the student should receive a stipend for the research work instead of completing a directed study (or equivalent) course to help them earn credit towards their degree

As a reminder, the application will not move forward into the review stage until the PI section is completed. It is requested that PIs complete their section within 7 days to avoid funding delays.

Students

• Students must be current undergraduates at 最色导航.
• Students who have graduated one semester prior are eligible for conference registration, travel to present at a conference, and publication costs only (in other words, the project is finished, and the only part left is presenting or publishing).
  • The following criteria must be met by students who have recently graduated and are applying for URCA funds:
    • They are KSU students at the time they have done the work, submitted to the conference or journal, and applied for the URCA
    • They list KSU in their affiliation on posters/PowerPoint/conference registration/badges, etc.
    • They are covered by KSU insurance, or they sign a waiver releasing KSU from responsibility
    • It is no later than one term after graduation (summer if they graduate in spring; fall if they graduate in the summer; spring if they graduate in fall) 

Primary Investigators (PIs)

• PIs must be under contract at 最色导航.
• PIs can be full-time faculty, staff, and postdoctoral researchers

The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research will review applications with input from faculty experts. URCA submissions are evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Quality of writing
• Scholarly merit
• Impact on undergraduate researcher
• Primary Investigator (PI) track record (or potential track record for new PIs)
• Consideration will be given to feedback from end-of-year reports received by the Office of Undergraduate Research
• Consideration will be given to use of previously awarded funding and their deliverables from the Office of Undergraduate Research