Summer 2008  VANDERBILT UNDERGRADUATE  SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM (VUSRP)

Goal: The goal of the VUSRP is to enhance joint student-faculty research efforts.

Program:

• The major component of the program is the scholarly work done by a student in collaboration with a full-time faculty member.
• The VUSRP involves full-time work. Participants cannot enroll in summer session courses.
• The program lasts ten weeks, June 3, 2008 - August 8, 2008.
• Five informal seminars are planned for students in the VUSRP.
• A poster session, open to the Vanderbilt community, will be held in the Fall featuring the work done by VUSRP participants.
• It is anticipated that at least 52 awards, including two Littlejohn Summer Resarch Scholars, will be made this year.

Student support: A $4000 stipend will be provided for each student.

Faculty support: Some faculty members are eligible to apply for supplementary research funds for themselves, in connection with the VUSRP, under the Undergraduate Research Supervision Grants (URSG) component of the Research Scholar Grants Program, information about which can be found at:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/dsr/intramural.php

Eligibility:

• Vanderbilt students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs are eligible.
• Priority will be given to students who have at least a 3.0 GPA computed over the last three semesters. Applications from others, however, will be considered.
• Although the program is primarily for rising seniors, exceptional applications from others will be considered. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
• Research within the VUSRP is not restricted to work within a student's major area of study, but is restricted to work with a full-time faculty member who either holds an appointment in one of the four undergraduate schools (i.e., Arts and Sciences, Blair, Peabody, and Engineering), or is a core faculty member associated with the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS).
• New this year, faculty mentors may sponsor up to two VUSRP applications for this year's competition. However, given a priority to distribute awards across the University, it should be noted that only in exceptional cases will more than one Fellow will be given an award to work with the same mentor in a given year.
• To get an idea of projects the Program has supported in the past, you can download (MSWord) listings of award recipients, their project titles, and their Faculty Sponsors from the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 competitions.

Information meetings: Information meetings will be held in each of the four participating undergraduate schools to explain the program to students and to distribute application forms. Members of the VUSRP Coordinating Committee will conduct these meetings in early February.

Application procedure:

• The three-page application form (MS Word) includes sections to be completed by the student, by the faculty research sponsor, and by the student-faculty team.
• Submission of the application on time is the student's responsibility. The entire application must be endorsed by the faculty sponsor. Faculty members may endorse only two applications (see eligibility section above).
• Seven copies of the application form plus seven copies of the the student's official transcript (1 original) should be submitted by Friday, February 29, 2008 4:00 p.m. to:
  Professor Craig Smith, Chair, VUSRP Coordinating Committee,c/o Sharone Hall, 101c or 105 Jesup Hall, Peabody Campus

Application review:

1. The VUSRP Coordinating Committee will review the applications.
2. The review will consider
   1. the extent to which the proposed work will enhance joint student-faculty research
   2. the degree to which the research setting and work plan meet the student's stated goals
   3. the role that participation in the VUSRP plays in the faculty member's program of academic work and research.
3. Awards will be announced by April first.

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is another good resource for students interested in scholarly pursuits.

Information Meetings || Application || Vanderbilt Home || VUIIS Faculty|| Faq

Any questions or comments about the presentation of this material should be directed to craig.a.smith@vanderbilt.edu