Show me the money

1
Show me the money

• Where to apply for undergraduate research funds
  at MTSU and how to find summer research
  experiences on and off campus.

2
Why Do Research?

• Apply coursework to real world problems
• Technical experience
• Graduate school
• Build resume
• Soft skills
• Curiosity
• Have FUN!
• Get paid

3
Outline Two part talk

• On-campus opportunities
• Dr. Robertson
• Off Campus opportunities
• Dr. Friedli

4
URSCP Undergraduate Research, Creative and
Scholarly Activity

• University-wide all departments
• Academic year or Summer
• Two levels Scholars and Assistants
• Funding level 3150 (Scholar), 700 (Assistant)
• Supply funds Yes
• Next Deadline March 13 (for summer fall)
• http//www.mtsu.edu/research/urc.html

5
STEPmt through the Undergraduate Research Council

• Biology, Chemistry, Math, Computer Sci, ETIS,
  Geoscience, Physics, (Ag, Aero, Nurse)
• Academic year
• Two levels Awards and Assistantships
• Funding 1000 (Award) and (500) Assistants
• Supply funds (up to 300)
• Next deadline Fall 2006 (just had spring call!)
• http//www.mtsu.edu/7ecollbas/UndergradResearch/

6
STEPmt Summer research teams

• 5 teams each summer from STEM departments.
• Upper level and lower level MTSU undergraduates
• 4000 and 2000 stipends for 8 weeks

7
Find a professor with a grant!

• Advantage no application form!
• Summer stipends typically 2000-3500

8
Minority Student Opportunities

• TLSAMP (Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for
  Minority Participation)
• Ronald E. McNair Program

9
PART IIOff-campus opportunities
10
Why Research in Summer?

• More time for intense experience
• Experience another research environment
  (academic, government, or industrial)
• Preview of graduate school
• Employment
• Good pay

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Summer Research Options

• Academic
• STEP Summer Research Teams
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
• Government
• National Laboratories
• NASA Labs
• Industrial
• STEP Summer Research in Industry (STEP-IN)

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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Junior level student with GPA gt 3.0
• Applications due Feb 3 - March 15, 2006
• 2 mo - 10 weeks
• 3,000-3500 stipend with lodging provided,
  sometimes travel
• Variety of locations
• Jerry Oxsher jro2d_at_mtsu.edu
• Laura Whitson lbw2f_at_mtsu.edu

Cal State San Bernardino
13
Government Lab Research

• Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL)
• 2 -12 months
• 400/week stipend
• 75/week housing
• Feb 1 deadline
• NASA Laboratories (Marshall, JPL, Ames, Goddard,
  Langley, Johnson)
• Apply to individual lab
• 10 weeks
• 5000 stipend travel
• Jan 31 deadline
• Alice Quan awq2a_at_mtsu.edu

14
Industrial Research

• STEP-IN Summer Research in Industry
• Applications due March 24
• Interview with company
• Prefer junior GPA gt 3.0
• 10 weeks, usually flexible
• 5,000 stipend
• Internships
• Academic year co-op (paid/credit)
• Internship (credit) BRG
• Variety of local industries
• Jacob Acton jda2k_at_mtsu.edu
• Linda Talley lyt2a_at_mtsu.edu

Bridgestone Corp Headquarters
15
More Information

• STEPMT Faculty
• Dr. Friedli afriedli_at_mtsu.edu
• Dr. Rowell rowell_at_mtsu.edu
• Dr. Robertson wroberts_at_mtsu.edu
• Faculty in your department
• MTSU Office of Research research_at_mtsu.edu