Instructions for Completion of the 2012 Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Application

The deadline for applications for the 2012 UROP Summer Fellowship has been extended to March 1st, 2012.

For the Summer of 2012, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) will fund a limited number of undergraduate student fellowship awards for projects mentored by VCU faculty. Successful student applicants will receive a cash stipend of $3000. The student's faculty mentor will receive an additional $500 to defray expenses associated with the fellowship project.

> Eligibility - Full time VCU undergraduates, receiving a Bachelors degree May 2013 or later.

> Application Process - The application consists of three elements:

1. The student and mentor together must write a maximum 5 double-spaced-page proposal, detailing:
   • The significance of the proposed work - briefly, what similar work has been done by others, and how has it contributed to human knowledge?
   • A research question - what do you propose to find out in your project?
   • The specific aims of the work - what objectives are you setting out to accomplish?
   • The methods to be employed - what will you do to answer the research question and to meet your specific aims?
   • Results expected - what outcomes do you expect from your project, and how will you know whether or not you have achieved them?
   • A detailed work plan: that covers the 10 weeks during summer 2012, assuming 20 to 40 hours of work per week.  The workplan must contain elements that correspond to the specific aims laid out in the proposal.
   • A statement wherein the student pledges to submit a mid-term project report by August 1, 2012, and to participate in the VCU Undergraduate Symposium/Poster Day in Spring 2013.
2. The student must write a maximum two-page personal statement addressing these questions:
   • What experience or qualifications have prepared you for the work you propose?
   • What will the Summer Fellowship do to help you advance your career goals?
3. The mentor must write a letter of support for the Summer Fellowship application, addressing the following questions:
   • How long and in what capacity has the mentor known the student applicant? Have you mentored this student before? 
   • What experience, knowledge, skills, or capacities does the mentor believe the applicant possesses that qualify the student to conduct the proposed work?
   • How does the mentor believe the Summer Fellowship experience will help the student meet his/her career goals?
   • A brief statement describing the mentor’s support for the workplan.
   Students must complete an introductory questionnaire located HERE.

Students must submit their completed application materials (including mentor’s letter of support) to the Dean’s Office of their academic major.  Applicants should submit both a hard copy and electronic copy by the new deadline of March 1st, 2012 for review.  Awards will be announced in mid-April, 2012.

For help in thinking about your Summer Fellowship project, or about other ways to participate in research or creative scholarship, visit the Resources for Undergrad Research web pages, especially the For Students page. If you have questions contact Herb Hill at hhill@vcu.edu

For a printable PDF copy of these instructions, click HERE.