The Undergraduate Research Grants (URGs) available from Northwestern University in Illinois are designed to allow students to immerse themselves in scholarly research projects. The grants can extend into the laboratory for science, into the library for fact-based research and even into studios for the more creative.
Students who earn an Academic Year Grant earn up to $1,000 for research expenses for a quarter-long project. Summer grants provide $3,000 for research and living expenses for research projects that run full-time through the summer months during which classes do not meet. Conference Travel Grants are available for up to $500, and will cover travel expenses for students who present creative projects or findings from research subjects to academic conferences across the country or around the world.
Any student may apply for the grants; each student is able to win up to one Academic Year Grant and one summer grant during their undergraduate career at Northwestern. The grants cannot be used toward research that will take place post-graduation.
Northwestern University
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 467-0499 (for grants)
northwestern.edu/undergrad-research
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale offers a number of undergraduate research grants, as well as a variety of opportunities for undergrads to work on external projects with professors or mentors. Most majors at the school also offer credits for hours spent doing independent research.
One of the most prominent grants awarded at Southern Illinois University is the Research-Enriched Academic Challenge, or REACH awards. REACH grants are available to students who are conducting scholarly research or creative projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The awards include a funding grant of up to $1,500 for expenses, and also come with a 10-hour undergraduate assistantship opportunity. Students can apply as individuals or as research teams of two.
Southern Illinois also offers other undergraduate research grants, as well as travel support for research or presentations and financial support for those studying abroad.
Southern Illinois University
Office of Research and Development Administration
Mail Code 4709
900 S. Normal Street
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 453-4540
http://reach.siuc.edu/funding.html
Carnegie Mellon University boasts of students building robots, filming documentaries and developing new technology with the help of the school's undergraduate research grants. The college's Undergraduate Research Office offers assistance in the form of grants, proposal help and advisor aid to all fields of study.
The Small Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG) offers financial support for "research, scholarly, or artistic activities that lead to the production of new knowledge; to increased problem solving capabilities, including design and analysis; to original, critical or historical theory and interpretation; or to the production of art or artistic performance." Researchers can apply as individuals (up to $500 in funding available) or in research teams (up to $1,000 available), and the money can be used for any expense incurred related to the research.
CMU also offers summer fellowships for full-time research in the summer months, and presentation awards to help students who travel to present research or projects at academic conferences.
Carnegie Mellon University
Undergraduate Research Office
5000 Forbes Avenue
Warner Hall 531
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 268-5702
www.cmu.edu/uro
The Office of Undergraduate Research at North Carolina State University offers a number of undergraduate research grants each year, ranging in value from $500 to $1,000. In the 2008-2009 school year, 121 undergraduates received these grants.
All undergraduate students at North Carolina State University who are enrolled in at least six course hours are eligible to receive these grants. Applicants must also have a faculty sponsor and a letter of recommendation. Students lose their eligibility for the grant if they complete their requirements for graduation and intend to graduate before the research project will begin. Students can win these grants more than once, but preference is given to students who have not been previously funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research.
North Carolina State University
Office of Undergraduate Research
414 Clark Hall
Box 7576
Raleigh, NC 27695
(991) 515-2011
ncsu.edu/undergrad-research/Studentsa/undergrad-research-awards.php