Fellowship supports undergraduate research

During a lab internship last year, biotechnology major Gustavo German hit upon a novel idea to more efficiently target the insertion of genes into cells. Through a fellowship for undergraduate research, he has been able to test his idea — one that could be useful in gene therapy.

“Having this funding made my dream a reality,” said the graduating senior from Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Not only was I able to gain first-hand experience in what I want to do, that experience was helpful in getting me into Oxford, my first choice for graduate studies,” said German, who will study embryology at the prestigious University of Oxford in England.

Undergraduates conducting research under the guidance of a faculty member are often limited by the scope of funding available to a particular project. The President’s Undergraduate Fellowship (PUF) provides students with funding to pursue their own research ideas.

For all disciplines and majors

“There aren’t many programs out there that fund undergrads to pursue their passions, particularly in areas of humanities and social sciences,” said Gail Martinez, assistant vice provost of undergraduate studies and chair of the review committee for the fellowship program. “This gives them the opportunity to exercise their intellectual curiosity and creativity as well as to gain a sense of accomplishment.”

The fellowship program is open to undergraduates in all disciplines and majors who want to go beyond other research opportunities generally available through a course or internship.

Students may receive up to $2,000 to be applied to the direct costs of the research, with $1,200 being the average award. There are two award cycles a year, and about 20 students receive a fellowship in each cycle. The deadline for the next cycle of applications is April 17.

Benefits of experience

“The idea of conceiving and carrying out their own research project is a novel one to most students,” said Tammy Hoyer, coordinator for the program. “PUF gives students a chance to develop their skills in writing a research proposal that mirrors proposals they would write as a grad student.”

“They also gain the reward of building a strong relationship with a faculty mentor,” she added, “which is helpful for obtaining letters of recommendation for graduate or professional school and even a job.”

Students have two quarters to conduct their research — summer and fall or winter and spring. They must make a mid-project report and then submit their final findings.

Nicole Gallet of San Diego, also a fellowship recipient, is nearly finished conducting a comparative analysis of how perceptions of immigration differ between France and the United States — a research idea born during a year studying in Lyon, France.

The fellowship has allowed the sociology and French major to expand the research she began as an honors research project, and helps pay the costs of international phone calls and an online survey.

“A lot of little things add up; I couldn’t afford this out-of-pocket,” said Gallet. “This is an incredible opportunity for undergrads to get an idea of what research really is and made me think further about graduate school.”

Presenting findings

Gallet will be among a record 277 undergraduates to present their research at the Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference at UC Davis on April 25. The public is welcome to attend the sessions, held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Freeborn and Wellman halls. Gallet will also discuss her findings a week earlier at the National Conferences of Undergraduate Research at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Hoyer said the presence of the new Undergraduate Research Center on campus has increased the visibility of the fellowship program; the program received 63 applications in the last cycle, up from the normal 40 to 45.

Information sessions about the fellowship program are scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, April 6, and at noon on Thursday, April 9, in the Undergraduate Research Center in Suite 409 of Surge IV.

Even if students don't get funded on the first try, Hoyer encourages them to build a stronger research proposal and work closely with a faculty member to put together a budget.

“This provides students good practice in writing a proposal,” Hoyer said, “and being involved in research at this level is a strong indicator of academic success.”