University Park, Pa. -- Penn State offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work with faculty who are on the cutting edge of research and creative endeavors, and the Office of Undergraduate Education has created the Undergraduate Discovery Summer Grants program to help students take advantage of Penn State's research environment.
Supported by an endowment from the Penn State Alumni Association and funding from the vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education, the purpose of these grants is to promote faculty/undergraduate collaboration as students engage in original research, scholarship and creative work during the summer under the direct supervision of a faculty member.
Twenty grants are available for summer, and applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, to the Office of Undergraduate Education, 417 Old Main, University Park.
Student-initiated projects in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and arts are intended to provide experience in all facets of the research, scholarship or creative process. This includes conceptualization of a question or focus, proposal writing, identification and implementation of methods and communication of results (reporting, exhibition or performance). Projects should be primarily the student's own work. Although the project may be related to the supervising faculty member's research or scholarly interests, it should not simply provide assistance to faculty work.
Each grant is in the amount of $2,500 and may be used to cover living expenses and project costs (supplies, materials, books, specialized software, travel for the purpose of data collection, etc.).
Penn State undergraduate students from all campuses in all fields of study may apply for a grant. Students are eligible for grants in the summer following their first year through the summer before the year in which they will graduate (one grant per student). Eligible projects include laboratory and field research, scholarly inquiry and creative work in music, art, theatre and other fields. Students must have a faculty supervisor who is available during the summer to consult with the student and evaluate how the project was conducted.
Additional information about the Undergraduate Discovery Summer Grants, including application requirements, may be found at http://www.psu.edu/oue/su07grant.htm online/.
Questions may be directed to Mary Beth Crowe, assistant dean for Undergraduate Education at mbc5@psu.edu or (814) 863-1864.