Research Funding Opportunities

• Curent full-time, degree-seeking Honors College student
• Any major and academic year are eligible, but student must not graduate before the fall semester of the year they participate in the program. Student must not have previously earned a Masters Degree or higher.
• Student must not have any outstanding disciplinary issue
• Student must be working under the guidance of a mentor who may be a UAH faculty, research, staff, or professional community member. Applications involving a non-UAH mentor must be approved by the Honors Dean.
• Students selected for this award must be willing to present/publish their work at applicable dissemination events/publications including, but not limited to: the end-of-program poster session, Research Horizons Day, the Alabama System Honors Research Day, Honors recruiting events, other professional symposia.



Things to Note:

• Students selected for this program are also eligible to apply for one Mini-Grant and one Travel Award during the academic year to help cover additional costs associated with the project, if needed.
• Students participating in this program are required to attend the writing workshop sessions, and are strongly encouraged to submit a manuscript to Perpetua, UAH Journal of Undergraduate Research.
• Participants receive a stipend to offset living costs during this rigorous program. Therefore, they are strongly discouraged from having other employment commitments during the 10-week program. Likewise, participants are encouraged to focus their time and energy on their research, and so are also strongly discouraged from taking academic classes during the program.
• Participants with compelling reasons for exceptions to the employment/academic class restrictions must discuss this with their mentor and the program director for official approval BEFORE the start of the program.
• Participants are responsible for checking with the Financial Aid Office to see if the stipend award impacts their financial aid status.

Students will apply online for this program using the Apply Now button above. Students will need to approach and work directly with a faculty or research staff mentor to write a one-two page proposal for consideration by the selection committee.

With the application, please be prepared to submit:

• A one-two page, single-spaced description of the project. This description must:
  • be understandable to a non-specialist
  • include the project's schedule including the start and end dates (approx. 10 weeks between May and August)
  • be written by the student in consultation with the mentor; the mentor must review the application to ensure that all appropriate information is included,  and sign off on the proposal’s accuracy and practicality as a capstone project.
• Participant’s cumulative GPA
• One letter of support from the mentor submitted via email to the Honors Dean. The letter should confirm the legitimacy and practicality of the proposed project as a capstone project. This letter must be received by the Honors Dean by the application deadline. Applications without a letter of support will not be considered. 

1. How long is the program, and can I work and take classes at UAH while participating in the program?

• The program lasts 10 weeks and matches the dates for the UAH Summer Semester term. Participants are strongly discouraged from having employment commitments or take academic classes during the 10-week program. If a student want to do either, they MUST have the permission of their research mentor BEFORE the program starts.

2. How many students will be awarded this grant?

• Awards will be given until funds are exhausted (approximately 10 awards).

3. Can I be awarded this grant multiple times?

• No, students can receive this award only once during their undergraduate careers.

4. Can I apply as an international student?

• International participants are eligible to apply and must provide proof that they are eligible to receive funds from the Program. Accepted International participants must report to the Office of International Student Services to determine the method of receiving the stipend. Nationality and visa status may affect the payment method and amount of the stipend.

5. Is room and board provided for this program?

• Housing/meals are not provided by the HCR, but the stipend is meant to help cover housing costs, either on or off campus, if needed. Likewise, the stipend can be used to purchase a university meal plan, if desired.

• Current full-time, degree-seeking Honors students
• In good standing in the Honors College
• No outstanding disciplinary issues
• Be working under the guidance of a mentor (UAH faculty, research staff, or professional community member) on any scholarly, research, or creative project
• Have received no more than one Research Mini-Grant during each academic year.

Students will apply online for this program using the Apply Now button above. Students will need to approach and work directly with a faculty or research staff mentor on their application.

With the application, please be prepared to submit:

• A one page, single-spaced description of the project. This description must:
  • Be understandable to a non-specialist
  • Include project's start and end dates
  • Be written by the student; however, the mentor should advise the student and review the application and budget to ensure that all appropriate information is included. The mentor must sign off on the proposal's accuracy and practicality (see below).
  • Include an itemized and detailed budget with all figures rounded to the nearest $1. A sample budget and application is available for students to consult. This budget should provide a detailed justification for the requested resources, indicating their relevance and cost. Students are advised to rank expenses based on level of importance to the project (this is important in case the proposal cannot be fully funded). Please note that the Committee expects students to put forward a plan to use the funds as cost-effectively as possible. Students are also expected to see if departmental funds are available and, if available, explain how they will be used.
• Student's cumulative GPA
• One letter of support from the faculty/research staff mentor submitted either in hard copy in a signed and sealed envelope or via email to the Honors Dean. The letter should confirm the legitimacy and practicality of the proposed project and the project budget, AND the UAH account and administative contact for transfer of the proposed funds.

Allowable costs include supplies inextricably bound to the conduct of the project. Such as:

• Disposable/consumable materials for the lab or studio
• Tools
• Specialized software
• Rental of equipment

Non-Allowable costs include:

• Items that are available from university resources (e.g., books in the UAH library)
• Printing or binding of honors project paper
• Student or faculty/research staff salary
• Secretarial support
• Expenses associated with completing degree requirements or meeting licensing/certification requirements
• Incentives or gifts
• Any costs associated with living expenses or for charges incurred for UAH courses

Things to Note:

• Small equipment (books, DVD, hard drive, iPad) can only be considered if it remains the property of UAH at the end of the project (see below). Students may not keep these materials.
• Copying expenses for research materials may be considered if justified.
• All requested costs are to be detailed and justified in the budget and budget narrative.
• This is only for "new" supplies for the project. The Honors College will not reimburse costs already incurred by the department or the student prior to the project proposal.
• Be sure that the department or research center has and/or would allow access to any materials and supplies needed.

The Mini Grant, once approved, will provide funds to a UAH account specified by the mentor (UAH faculty or research staff). Students will receive the materials through their project mentor, who will receive the funds.

• Approved items in the Mini-Grant proposal must be purchased by the mentor through a UAH account (discretionary accounts including startup, PI, professional development, college, department, residual funds, and some internal research accounts, etc.)
• When all documentation is received, funds will be paid to the UAH account specified by the mentor by means of budget transfer.
• All items purchased belong to UAH. The student researchers and mentors are responsible for seeing that purchased items are accounted for properly.

Download a Mini-Grant sample proposal and budget.

• Current full-time, degree-seeking Honors students
• In good standing in the Honors College.
• Have no unresolved disciplinary issues.
• Be working under the guidance of a mentor (UAH faculty, research staff, or professional community member) on any scholarly, research, or creative project.
• Have received no more than one Travel Award during each academic year.
• Be attending an academic presentation, performance, or exhibit to present work done at UAH (for example, presenting research at a regional or national conference).
• Have already submitted applications both to their home college (the department in which the work was done) and other funding sources
• Must have used any available funds they have from grants and other funding sources
• Submit an application (including a letter of support) at least two (2) calendar weeks BEFORE the proposed travel. If 2 weeks before the travel date is on a weekend, national holiday or during a UAH holiday period, the deadline is the next prior working day.

Students will apply online for this program using the Apply Now button above. Students will need to approach and work directly with a faculty or research staff mentor on their application.

With the application, please be prepared to submit:

• A one page, single-spaced description of the proposed travel in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. The description must:
  1. state the purpose of the trip
  2. include an itinerary of activities during the trip
  3. be written by the student; however, the faculty mentor should advise the student and review the description, itinerary, and budget to ensure that all appropriate information is included.
• An itemized budget and detailed budget justification with all figures rounded to the nearest $1. Students are required to put forward a plan that uses the funds as cost-effectively as possible (stay at hostels, cheapest airfare, etc.).
• One letter of support from the faculty/research staff mentor submitted via email to the Honors Dean (Please CC David Cook: dac0010@uah.edu). The letter should confirm the legitimacy and practicality of the proposed travel. The letter must also include the name and contact email for the department staff who will oversee the travel documents and budget transfer from the Honors College, if the award is funded.

Awards may be used to pay for:

• Conference registration
• Food
• Transportation
• Parking
• Lodging

The travel award cannot be used to purchase:

• Luggage or clothing
• Passport
• Immunization fees
• Etc.

• If awarded, the student and mentor will be informed of the amount.
• In the Letter of Support provided by the Mentor in the application, the Mentor must provide the name of the contact and email address within the department who will oversee the travel documents and the budget transfer from the Honors College.
• Based on the information provided, the Honors College will transfer the amount awarded to the department.