Students gathered for a workshop in the Skutt Student Center on Wednesday to break down the requirements of their proposal, and what is to be expected in order to apply for the CURAS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.
For students hoping to gain undergraduate research experience to become more qualified for future endeavors such as graduate programs or research positions in their relevant field, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship discussed the elements of a strong proposal that must be submitted for a chance to be accepted to the program.
A strong proposal should be composed of recommendation letters and a thoughtfully planned project to make a case for the significance of the research question of each student’s choice. The proposal is designed to screen an applicant’s skills, resourcefulness and academic seriousness that is integral to successfully carry out the project.
Andrew Hogan, an assistant professor of history who has served on review boards more than five times, explained how “having research experience as an undergraduate is very unusual for an undergrad student.”
“The workshop gives students the opportunity to get some perspective from some people that who review the proposals and organize this program, as well as get the students a little more excited,” Hogan added.
Students at the workshop listened intently to what was to be expected if they decided to pursue this fellowship opportunity. Some students expressed concerns about the workload, while some had more specific questions about certain components of the proposal.
Daniel Owen, a junior at the College of Arts and Sciences expressed how the workshop helped him get a better idea of what kind of qualities are expected of each applicant.
“You’ve got to focus on being a good writer, knowing what you’re doing and being passionate about it when writing a proposal,” Owen said.
The fellowship is an opportunity for students to get a leg up on their future. In addition to creating a more well-rounded resume, students are able to take a glimpse into the research environment and test the waters. Julie Soukup, director of CURAS and professor of biochemistry, stressed that it is important for students to really experience it to see if it’d be something they’re interested in for the future.
“Students really learn if they like that environment or not,” Soukup said. “It gives you an idea to try out things if you’re interested in graduate school. It also give you a chance to have focused time for research and is a great learning experience.”