2008  PROVOST’S  UNDERGRADUATE  RESEARCH  AWARDS
Supplemental Information for Faculty Sponsors
December 19,  2007


I  Selection Committee
Because we seek to encourage research from across the undergraduate population, the selection committee will be broadly based.  The Vice Provost for Research will chair the committee and each year will invite representatives to the committee from Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, and Peabody.  One Arts and Sciences representative will be invited from the humanities and one from the sciences.  Other faculty members may be asked to serve formally or informally on the committee as dictated by the composition of proposals.

II Faculty Sponsors
Faculty sponsors are critical to this program.  Any full-time faculty member can serve as a sponsor.  A sponsor’s responsibility will be to review the candidate’s proposal, write a letter of support, and be available for consultation with the committee between March 25 and May 14, 2008, if required.

The faculty sponsors for selected projects will monitor and support the project as it progresses.  Funds from the award are available to the student and the faculty member to defray the costs of this support.

Finally, sponsors will participate in the Spring Recognition Ceremony program and reception.  All awardees will present their research results at the time of the Poster Session.  Faculty sponsors, members of the academic administration, and others will be invited to attend.

III Awards Timetable

Summer  Proposal

Fall  Proposal

Processes

March 25, 2008  (noon)

April 18, 2008 (noon)

Proposals due in the Vice Provost for Research’s office, 265 Garland Hall.

March 26, 2008

April 21, 2008

Copies of all proposals distributed to the committee members for review.

March 27 - April 17, 2008

April 22 – May 9, 2008

Proposals review and selection of awardees.

April 21, 2008

May 14, 2008

Notification of successful candidates and faculty sponsors.

Thursday – April 17, 2008    (for PURA Year 2007)

Recognition program with presentations and reception.

IV Selection Criteria

We encourage a broad variety of proposals.  Committee members primarily focus on the excellence and creativity of the proposal.  Although the committee organizes itself as it deems appropriate, representatives from each division have a particular obligation to evaluate the proposals carried out in that division.  Advice and counsel of the faculty sponsors can then be sought prior to final selection.  The full committee concentrates discussion on selecting the best proposals from all areas.

Peabody proposals will, by the nature of their work, be somewhat different.  Thus Peabody undergraduates are eligible to submit proposals for the development and presentation of projects involving performance or original composition.

As secondary criteria, committee members consider the distribution of the awards.  Excellence being equal, we hope to see successful proposals coming from each of the undergraduate areas.

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the sixteenth Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards.  We appreciate your time.  Sandra Davis, at (410) 516-0146, can answer any questions you might have.


APPLICATIONS FOR 2008 PROVOST’S UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH AWARDS
FACULTY SPONSOR FORM


Faculty Name:_______________________________________   Phonetic Spelling: ______________________________

Dept./School:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Dept. Head/Dean:___________________________________________________________________________________

CAMPUS Address:__________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone:___________________________________   Email: ______________________________________________

Student Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________

Research/Project Title:______________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please state your evaluation of this research project.  Include information on its impact and importance in the field, in your department, and/or to your work.
 
 
 

Please comment on the feasibility of this project with the time and funding allocated.
 
 
 
 

Please comment on this student applicant and his/her ability to complete this project.
 
 
 
 

If this student is selected as a recipient of the Provost’s Award, I agree to sponsor the above named research project.  I understand that my responsibilities will include overseeing and supervising the work as described, and providing the necessary support for its completion.  I agree to relay and enforce University protocol as applicable to any human or animal subjects.  I understand that oversight for spending will be vested in the normal divisional personnel.  The budget coordinator in my department is _______________________________.

________________________________________
                Signature of Faculty Member


 


2008 PROVOST’S UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS
January 2008


I.  Purpose
We believe undergraduates significantly benefit from direct involvement in research activity.  Students involved in this important aspect of the University’s mission not only enhance their learning experience, but begin to develop important skills in proposal writing, obtaining research funding, carrying out a project, and reporting the results.  As a research institution, we seek to nurture these activities.

At the Peabody Conservatory the focus is on excellence of performance, composing and conducting, the achievement of which requires intense research in the course of development and presentation of the end product.  Thus Peabody undergraduates are eligible to submit proposals for the development and presentation of projects involving performance or original composition.

II. The Award
Successful proposals will receive awards in amounts up to $3,000.  Funds can be requested to defray student, faculty, and departmental costs associated with the project, such as expendable supplies, small equipment, project related travel, and other miscellaneous costs.  Up to $2,000 of each award can be awarded as a stipend to the student if the student chooses not to do the work for academic credit.  The choice between a stipend and academic credit must be noted at the time of application.  The budget must be thoroughly itemized, and the approved portion for successful awardees will be credited to the budget of the faculty sponsor.  Oversight for spending will be vested in the normal divisional personnel.

If a portion of the award is taken as a stipend, it will be considered income for the student and will impact the following year’s financial aid packages accordingly.  Stipends will be paid to students who elect that option through the normal departmental financial procedures.

Proposals can be submitted on any appropriate topic, but must have a faculty sponsor.  Any full-time faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University can be a faculty sponsor.  For instructions on how to apply, see section V.  The scope of the project should be such that it can be substantially completed during the summer .   A recognition program will be planned in the spring.  At that time all recipients will prepare brief presentations describing their work to be displayed on a poster board, and they will be recognized by the Provost.

III. Who Is Eligible
 Any student who will be a sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate during the next academic year from any Hopkins division is eligible.

IV. Criteria
We appreciate and encourage proposals from all disciplines.  Faculty sponsors must be full-time faculty, but can be from any division of the Johns Hopkins University.  Research (or Peabody projects) can take place at any division of JHU.

A small panel of faculty chaired by Ted Poehler, Vice Provost for Research, will review the eligible proposals and make the final selections.  Each proposal must be sponsored by a faculty member, who may be called on to provide insight into the project.  Primary consideration will be given to excellence and creativity of the project, faculty recommendations on the merits of the project and the potential of the student.  Some consideration will also be given to the distribution of proposals among undergraduate divisions.

Priority will be given to new proposals for which significant progress can be expected within the summer semester.  However, proposals for continuance of work in progress will also be considered.  Students are also invited to request funding for travel to report results of their research at conferences or meetings.  Students can apply more than once, however, preference will be given to students who have not yet received an award.  Only one Award will be made to a single individual in a twelve-month period.  In the case of travel funds for reporting research, requests will be considered on their merits without regard to the twelve-month period.
 


 

V. How To Apply
 Applications should be no longer than three pages plus a one page faculty recommendation.  A cover sheet for the proposal is attached to this document.  Entries longer than four total pages will not be considered.  (12 point font, 1 inch margins.) The following guidelines should be used in developing a proposal:

· Objective: What question or problem does this project address?  What hypothesis, if any, is to be tested?

· Significance: Why is this study or work important?

· Project Design: How do you plan to execute your project?  What will be your methods and timetable?

· Background: What courses or experience do you have which could prepare you to undertake this project?

· Results: What is the expected outcome?

· Presentation: What form will your final report/project take?

· Budget: How will the funds be used and by whom?  Are you requesting course credit or a stipend?  You must show

    complete detail.

· Evaluation: By whom will the project be evaluated and according to what criteria?

· Originality: The work must represent the originality and creativity of the student.

 Faculty recommendations must not exceed one page and should note the following:

· Name, department, telephone contact for the time period of March – May, 2008.

· Sponsor’s impression of the impact/importance/feasibility of this work in this field and the abilities of the student to

    prepare this work.

· Sponsor’s agreement to oversee and sponsor this student’s work as outlined in the proposal and agreement to provide

   necessary support for this work (note: funding from the award is available to sponsoring faculty member and student to

   defray these costs).

·   Sponsor’s agreement to teach and enforce University protocol as applicable to any human subjects or animals.

Summer  Proposal

Fall  Proposal

Processes

March 25, 2008  (noon)

April 18, 2008 (noon)

Proposals due in Theodore O. Poehler's office, 276 Garland Hall.

March 26, 2008

April 21, 2008

Copies of all proposals distributed to the committee members for review.

March 27 - April 17, 2008

April 22 – May 9, 2008

Proposals review and selection of awardees.

April 21, 2008

May 14, 2008

Notification of successful candidates and faculty sponsors.

Thursday – April 17, 2008    (for PURA Year 2007)

Recognition program with presentations and reception.

If you have questions, please contact Sandra Davis at (410) 516-0146, in the Office of Vice Provost Ted Poehler, in 276 Garland Hall.


Student Application for 2008

Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards


                                Must be filled out in its entirety, including all addresses and phone numbers

Mr./Ms./Miss: ______________________________*CAMPUS Address:______________________________
Off-Campus Address:________________________________________________________________________
Home Address:_____________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:____________________________  Phonetic Spelling of Name:  _________________________
Telephone Number: _________________________  Social Security Number:  __________________________

* Please be sure to contact our office with changes in residence, email, or telephone.
Undergraduate School/Major__________________________________________________________________
Current class year:   Freshman ___     Sophomore ___     Junior___
Research/Project Title:  ______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________
Faculty Sponsor for this project_________________________________________________________________
Sponsor’s Dept./School_______________________________________________________________________
Sponsor’s CAMPUS Address___________________________________________________________________

Apply for:  Summer 2008 ___   Fall 2008 ___ Requesting:  Stipend ___ Credit   ___  Total Requested: $ ________
Have you submitted this proposal to any other individual or organization?    Yes     ____    No ____

If yes, where? _______________________________________________________________________________

Please attach your proposal to this cover sheet.  Proposals should be no more than four total pages; up to three pages can be used to describe the research proposal, and a one page faculty sponsor recommendation must be included.  Applications longer than four total pages (excluding this cover-sheet) will not be considered.  Proposals without a faculty recommendation will not be considered.

 The following guidelines should be used in developing you proposal:

·      Objective: What question or problem does this project address?  What hypothesis, if any, is to be tested?

·      Significance: Why is this study or work important?

·      Project Design: How do you plan to execute your project?  What will be your methods and timetable?

·      Background: What courses or experience do you have which could prepare you to undertake this project?

·      Results: What is the expected outcome?

·      Presentation: What form will your final report/project take?

·      Budget: How will the funds be used and by whom?  Are you requesting course credit or a stipend?  You must show complete detail.

·      Evaluation: By whom will the project be evaluated and according to what criteria?

·      Originality: The work must represent the originality and creativity of the student.

If selected as a Provost’s Award Recipient, I agree to complete the research/project described herein.  I agree to abide by any and all University procedures as applicable to human and animal subjects.
                                                                                            Signature of student:    _________________________

Questions concerning this proposal should be directed to Sandra Davis (410) 516-0146, in the Office of Vice Provost Theodore Poehler, 276 Garland Hall.

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