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Research Grants for the 2020-2021 Academic Year

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is pleased to provide scholarship grants to UNF undergraduate students engaged in UNF faculty-mentored research across all academic units, including the STEM fields, professional fields, social sciences, humanities, and the arts.
 
For academic year 2020-2021, OUR research grants will be awarded in amounts up to $2,000 for projects with a single faculty-mentored student researcher, also known as the principal investigator (PI). The OUR will also consider grant applications for research projects with more than one student researcher, or co-PIs. These projects may receive awards in amounts up to $3,500. Projects proposed with co-PIs should utilize a single application, but each student investigator must play a principal role and must meet and fulfill all eligibility requirements. The submitted project proposal and budget must clearly explain and support the need for co-PIs.

 

OUR research grants are awarded selectively. Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee of UNF faculty members with active and successful research agendas. The grants are awarded for research purposes only, and are intended to enrich the undergraduate experience of UNF students. 

But can we do research while we're following COVID restrictions?

Yes. Research, scholarly, and creative activities (RSCA) can be framed or designed to accommodate the current COVID restrictions. One approach is to address certain portions of your overall research -- such as the literature review -- before you begin original work. Please consult with your faculty mentor for guidance, or email Dr. Karen Cousins (karen.cousins@unf.edu) to make an appointment to brainstorm ideas. 

 

For specific information about conducting laboratory or field research now, please see the Fall 2020 COVID-19 RSCA Guidelines, RSCA Project Safety Plan and Approval Form, and UNF Coronavirus Safety Policy. Questions about these policy documents should be addressed to Dr. John Kantner, VP Research, at j.kantner@unf.edu.

 

Student eligibility and requirements 

  • You must be a degree-seeking undergraduate enrolled in at least six credit hours at UNF during the semester in which you make application for the research or creative and special project grant
  • As a general rule, you may not apply for a research or creative and special project grant in your final semester (see more details on the grant application)
  • You may only receive one research or creative and special project grant per academic year
  • You must have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher
  • You must be working with committed faculty mentor
  • You must schedule an appointment with a staffer at the UNF Writing Center for review and endorsement of the grant application before submission
  • You must submit all required components of the research or creative and special project grant application package
  • If you receive a research or creative and special project grant, you will be required to sign a scholarship acceptance letter provided by the Office of Undergraduate Research
  • If you receive a research or creative and special project grant, you will be required to present a poster at the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) in April
  • Eligibility parameters and submission requirements apply to each student researcher, investigator, or creative project principal named in the research or creative and special project grant application (see the application's Student Eligibility and Requirements page for more detail)

Student applicants who do not meet eligibility requirements cannot receive a research or creative and special project grant. Students who receive a grant but subsequently fail to present at SOARS are ineligible for any future funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research. This restriction includes but is not limited to research grants, creative and special project grants, conference and travel grants, and participation in other funded activities. 

Faculty mentor eligibility and requirements

  • Faculty mentors must ensure that the mentored student complies with the requirements above
  • If a research or creative and special project grant is awarded and the mentored student fails to comply with the subsequent requirements, other students supervised by the faculty mentor may also be ineligible to receive funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research 

 

Deadlines

Fall 2020

Submission deadline: rolling

Faculty-mentored students who apply for a Fall 2020 research or creative and special project grant will be awarded funding before the end of the Fall semester.

Spring 2021

Submission deadline: Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 5:00 PM

Faculty-mentored students who apply for a Spring 2021 research or creative and special project grant will be awarded funding before the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2021).

Research Grant Application 2020-2021

To apply for a research grant through the Office of Undergraduate Research, student and faculty must submit:

The complete research grant application packet should be emailed to the OUR director, Dr. Karen Cousins, at karen.cousins@unf.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive confirmation once I submit my grant application?

Yes, correctly-submitted grant applications will receive email confirmation of receipt within two business days. If you do not receive such confirmation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research at OUR@unf.edu. 


When will I find out if my grant application was successful?

Grant applications go through several stages of review and approval before funding is awarded. This process may take up to two months. Dr. Cousins, the OUR Director, will be happy to respond to student inquiries about grant application status, particularly if the process is taking longer than expected. 


Will I be awarded the amount for which I asked?

The Office of Undergraduate Research receives a high volume of grant applications, and thus cannot always award the requested amount. Compelling, well-written and supported, carefully-detailed applications are more likely to be awarded the requested amount, subject to available funds and the competitiveness of other grant applications. If your application has been approved for funding at an amount less than you requested, you may choose to decline the award in writing. You may apply again during the next application cycle in the hope that the full amount will be funded. 


If I receive a research or creative and special project grant, how will I receive the funds?

The OUR disburses grants directly to eligible student recipients in the form of a scholarship. If the student grant recipient is ineligible for a scholarship, or if a portion of the grant is for faculty-procured expenses, some or all of the funds may be transferred to the department, and any compensation portion of the grant disbursed to the student as income. 


Will I receive feedback about my grant? Will I see my scores from the reviewers?

An important part of writing a grant application is learning from reviewer feedback. All applicants will receive comments and scores from the reviewers. 


If my grant isn't funded can I reapply next semester?

Yes. We recommend using the feedback you received from the reviewers to make your grant application stronger. You may also work with the Office of Undergraduate Research staff or the Writing Center to improve your grant application. 


Where do I find a copy of my unofficial transcript?

MyWings > Student tab > Student Self Service > Student Records > Academic Transcript > Select "Undergraduate" and "Official" and Submit. Once your transcript appears, CTRL + P > Change printer to PDF and save document.