The Office of Student Research offers financial and academic support to help students interested in developing and executing research and mission-related creative and scholarly projects. OSR initiatives support students at each stage of the research process, from connecting with mentors and securing funding, to gaining research skills, to sharing results with the Roosevelt University community and beyond. The OSR also provides professional development, graduate school preparation resources, and information on nationally competitive summer programs and fellowships.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Applications are open for the 2019-20 Research and Scholarship awards. Applications due September 30, 2019. See more, below.
Community-based Research Fellowships (Year-round applications, availability based on funding/project)
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Available to all Roosevelt University students who wish to conduct applied, collaborative, community-based research. Students awarded these fellowships will join existing university-community collaborative projects, working as part of a team. Please go to Career Central to look for current opportunities.
Student Research Fellowships: Fellowship application funding deadline (for late Fall 2019/Spring 2020) is September 30, 2019. Access applications beginning August 29, 2019, here
- Exploratory Research and Scholarship Fellowships (up to $1,000)
- Available to all Roosevelt University students, especially first- and second-year undergraduate students, to begin research and creative scholarship early in their studies.
- Scroll down for eligibility requirements:
- Advanced Research and Scholarship Fellowships (up to $1,500)
- Available to all Roosevelt University students, especially third- and fourth-year undergraduate students and recent transfer students, to conduct advanced research and complete creative scholarship. Several fellowships are reserved for graduate students who wish to conduct research early in their studies. Fellowships will not fund thesis completion.
- Scroll down for eligibility requirements
Eligibility, Application Information, and Expectations for Research and Scholarship Fellowships
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should possess a 2.8 GPA and above.
First-year and Transfer students are encouraged to apply for Early Research and Scholarship Fellowships.
Transfer students, Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to apply for Exploratory or Advanced Research and Scholarship Fellowships, according to the stage of their project.
Seniors may apply for research fellows for the spring semester, provided they are enrolled in the spring semester during which they plan to complete their research prior to graduation.
Graduate students may apply for a Advanced Research and Scholarship Fellowships early in the graduate career. Such fellowships are not intended to fund thesis or dissertation research. Graduate students receiving Graduate Assistantships are not eligible.
While most applicants will undoubtedly submit research proposals in their field of study, interdisciplinary proposals are acceptable, as long as the student is deemed qualified to carry out all the project’s components–or is part of a collaborative group whose members collectively possess the expertise necessary for the successful completion of the project.
Applicants must be enrolled as a Roosevelt student throughout the period of the award.
It is preferred that applicants secure a full-time Roosevelt faculty member’s written agreement to serve as mentor for the project prior to submitting a proposal. Faculty will need to provide a letter of support and agree to offer guidance and direction to the student over the course of the project.
Research conducted through the University must be carried out in keeping with ethical norms and federal regulations. Proposed research involving the use of human subjects requires approval from Roosevelt University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Please contact RU’s IRB Administrator, Deidra Somerville at dsomerville@roosevelt.edu. Funds will not be dispersed until IRB approval is received or an IRB determination of exemption is made.
Award Cycle
For the 2019-202- cycle students and mentors will be notified of awards by October 15.
Deadline
September 30, 2019. Applicants can apply for funding for Fall, Spring or Summer 2019.
Selection Criteria
Award selection is competitive and based on the overall quality, creativity, and feasibility of the project; the faculty mentor’s letter of support; and the student’s academic record.
Although awards are typically granted on an individual basis, several students may apply for joint funding (e.g., particularly appropriate for interdisciplinary projects) provided that each group member’s role and contribution to the overall project is spelled out.
Students are eligible to receive one award for each academic year at Roosevelt. However, awardees of Exploratory Research and Scholarship Fellowships may apply for the Advanced Research and Scholarship Fellowships related to the same or a new project in different academic years. Please note that priority will be given to new projects over applications for funding for a previously funded project, now at a different stage.
Students receiving research funding from other sources (e.g., McNair, Honors) can apply for Research and Scholarship Fellowships, however, students without previous funding will be given priority. Students must note in their budget if they are receiving funding from other sources.
Funding provided through the various types of awards may be used for a variety of expenses. Students can elect to have most of the award go to a stipend, to allow time to work on the project. Students can split the funding between a stipend and other expenses needed for the project. Applicants should work with their mentor and OSR staff on creating a realistic budget.
These awards are not intended to fund conference travel.
Application process
The application consists of three components: an online application, which includes a research proposal, and a statement of support from a faculty mentor. Each component is described in detail below and will be completed separately. Students can apply through the link on the website; completed applications will be forwarded to recommenders to fill out and submit the recommendation form.
-The application will be sent to the OSR twice: once when the applicant submits and once when the recommender submits. Applicants and recommenders will receive notification of receipt of application. Please note this process has changed from 2018-19.
The Online Application Form
This section will contain:
- Title of project.
- Name(s) of the student applicant(s)
- Basic information on the student (e.g., major, Student ID, contact information)
- Expected Graduation Date
- Amount of funding requested.
- Faculty mentor’s name, email address and department.
Application Components
The proposal should be both concise and intelligible to an audience of individuals within and outside the student’s discipline (i.e., write for a broad audience who may not specialize in your field of study). The proposal must contain the following elements:
Title:
Provide a brief project title.
Project Overview:
--Brief project summary that details for a general audience the purpose, significance, methods, and anticipated outcomes, including dissemination, of your research or creative endeavor.
With whom or what do you propose to work and what do you propose to do? (500 words)
A brief, specific statement of the issue, problem or creative endeavor that the student seeks to explore.
Any relevant background information, with proper citations, to contextualize the project within the student’s disciplinary field(s).
What are the specific project goals, research questions or hypotheses? (300 words)
Address research questions the project will address; or
A brief summary of objectives for the proposed research or creative endeavor;
A list of expected outcomes from the proposed research or creative endeavor.
Please describe the methods you will use to answer your research questions OR the activities you will carry out to develop your project. (500 words)
A specific description of the research or creative methods being applied in the project.
An assessment of resources required for project planning and implementation.
A discussion of any potential project challenges.
An assessment of whether the project involves human subjects or personal data. Discussion of steps being taken to obtain Institutional Review Board’s approval, waiver, or anticipated approval. (IRB approval must occur before project begins.)
What is important or significant about the project? What will it contribute? (500 words)
A clear and concise statement of why the project is important (e.g., within the field of study).
Address how the project is expected to contribute to the generation of new information, scholarship, knowledge, or creative work.
Hours allocated to project, weekly
-Indicate number of hours that will be allocated to project, weekly.
Please provide a timeline, including the chronology and duration of activities.
Prepare a detailed, week-by-week timetable outlining the specific steps and duration of your proposed course of action for carrying the project to completion. Please note when your project begins and concludes. All projects must be carried out during the term for which the applicant is applying. While projects may continue beyond the award term, applicants should describe the portion that can be completed during the award duration.
How does the project further your academic, creative or professional development? (300 words)
-Please consider how this fits into your interests and plans for your academic and professional career.
How have you prepared to carry out this project? How does the project further your academic, creative or professional development?
--Here you may consider course work, prior research, professional experience or other personal experiences, skills and interests that prepare you to carry out your project.
Faculty Mentorship
Students must arrange to have their faculty mentor submit a statement of support by the proposal deadline, indicating their evaluation on the merit and feasibility of the project as well as their willingness to mentor and guide the student(s) during the duration of the project. The online application system will prompt you to enter your faculty mentor’s contact details and solicit a letter from them. Faculty can prepare their answers by
Additional Budget Request
Students awarded a Research and Scholarship Fellowship will receive a stipend. The stipend is intended to provide the student adequate time to complete the project.
Award recipients will be able to apply separately for up to $200 in a research budget, upon notification of award receipt. Students and mentors must submit a budget request form to osr@roosevelt.edu that specifies the items required for project completion and documentation of item price. Once the budget request is approved, the student and mentor must work with OSR staff on purchasing items.
Award Dispersal
Successful applicants receive their awards in three installments. One-third is awarded at the beginning of the project, one-third midway through and after receipt of progress report, and one-third based on completion of project and presentation at the Annual Research Day symposium.
Expectations
Students receiving Research and Scholarship Fellowships and their mentors are responsible for developing mutual expectations together. Students awarded the fellowship will be asked to fill out a Learning Agreement with their faculty mentor. However, during the application preparation process, students and mentors should clarify the expected outcomes are, the role each plays in this process, and the best way to communicate.
Research and Scholarship activities require a time commitment. The stipend that is provided to the student is intended to free up time to intensive work on their projects. Mentors and students should work on a timeline and agree to regularly meet to assess progress. While students are not required to turn in hours, a full award is intended to fund 8-10 hours per week over the course of the semester. Ultimately, the time commitment varies and is ultimately up to the Learning Agreement between the student and mentor.
Students receiving fellowships are required to participate in three workshops or online modules in the Research Academy over the course of the term or academic year (students are welcome to participate in as many as they want). These workshops or modules are meant to bolster research and presentation skills. The OSR will schedule these throughout the term, giving students several opportunities to participate.
Research and Scholarship Fellowship recipients are expected to participate in the Annual Research Day. All fellowship recipients are expected to share their research or scholarly activity either in an oral presentation, poster presentation, or disciplinary-specific demonstration. OSR encourages fellowship recipients to present their work at other conferences. Students should work with their mentors for feedback and recommendations.
All award recipients are expected to turn in a final, stand-alone research or creative inquiry product. That is, a demonstration of the work conducted that does not require the student be present to provide an additional narrative. Awards recipients are expected to work with faculty mentors and OSR staff to establish expectations for a final product for their specific project.