Undergraduate Research Assistantship Application Spring 2013
Undergraduate Research Assistantship Application
Spring 2013 Awards
Due Friday November 30th, 5:00 PM
Due Friday November 30th, 5:00 PM
The Biology and Chemistry/Biochemistry Departments invite applications for their Spring 2013 Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program. These Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URAs) are competitive awards. The awards committee will evaluate capacity for success in research (not simply GPA). We especially encourage you to apply if you are a student of color, a student from an economically disadvantaged background, or a first generation college student. Students that currently have a URA must reapply if they wish to receive support for a second semester. In most cases, URAs are limited to a maximum of two per student.
Students selected for this program will receive a stipend of $650 to conduct research with a faculty mentor during the Spring 2013 semester.
General information on the research program and descriptions of individual faculty member’s research projects are found on the Undergraduate Research webpage: http://www.gonzaga.edu/undergradresearch
Biology Majors: Any biology major pursuing the Research Option Concentration can apply. For more information on the Research Option Concentration, talk to your advisor or click here. Students who receive a URA will register for BIOL 395 (for 0 academic credits).
Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors: All full-time Gonzaga students are eligible to apply, except chemistry and biochemistry majors completing their senior thesis requirement (CHEM 498A and 498B). Students who receive a URA will register for CHEM 395 (for 0 academic credits).
In addition to the general URA awards described above, two research positions may be awarded with preference given to students who have an interest in a specific field. More information on these two awards is given below.
The Tripp Award is specifically for student research in biochemistry, with preference given to a student who also has an interest in philosophy. Note that it is not necessary to be a biochemistry major to be considered for this award. If you are interested in being considered for this award, please arrange for a letter of recommendation from a member of the Philosophy Department that should be submitted to Dr. Glass at the time of application. Also, be sure to include your interest in philosophy in the essay portion of your application, in section 4, and check the correct box listed there.
The St. Francis Award is specifically for a student who is interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. If you are interested in receiving the St. Francis Award, please ensure that you check the correct box in section 4, and describe in the essay section your interests in veterinary medicine and any previous experience you have in this field.
Additionally, if you are interested in doing research with any of the WWAMI faculty, please complete this on-line application and then send an additional email to Dr Glass. Your email should include the name of the WWAMI faculty member you have contacted and any other specifics about the position, such as whether you would like to do research for credit, stipend, or as a volunteer. Please note that HHMI funds can not be applied toward research in WWAMI labs at this time.
Program expectations include the development of research goals and timelines, assessment of program activities, a poster presentation of the student’s final research results, and/or a final abstract and report. Students are expected to work an average of five hours per week for 13 weeks. Details of the research experience will vary with faculty mentors, however, and students are advised to clarify expectations with their assigned mentor prior to accepting an award. As a part of your URA, you are also expected to participate in a Science Education Outreach program (Science in Action! or a similar program) for 16 hours a semester. Please see Rachel Zack for additional information if you have any questions about how to fulfill this requirement.
To get involved in research simply requires an agreement between you and a faculty mentor. If you do not receive a paid assistantship, other options for getting research experience include volunteering in a lab or earning academic credit. In some cases, your mentor may have alternative resources to pay student research assistants.
Contact Christy Watson for more information (watsonc@gonzaga.edu).
Applications are due Friday November 30th by 5pm.
It is recommended that you compose your answers in a word document, and then cut and paste into this form just prior to submission. Incomplete forms will not be saved.
Dr. Glass will acknowledge the receipt of all applications by email.
Note that the last question is for data-gathering purposes, is voluntary, and will not be seen by faculty other than the program director (Dr. Staub) and program officer (Dr. Glass).
