Ferguson Family Research Fund: Application for Graduate Students 2025
The Objective
The Ferguson Family Research Fund is intended to provide mentorship to undergraduate students by graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences. Funds shall be used to provide (1) stipends to undergraduate students while working on projects developed by graduate students and their faculty advisers, and/or (2) a limited amount of research supplies necessary for the undergraduate to contribute to the project, such as field gear. The goal of the fund is to enable undergraduate students to participate in a research environment, gaining valuable experience that can help them develop into practicing scientists. The hope is that a wide range of undergraduate students will participate in the program, and first-generation students are especially encouraged to apply.
Applications are initiated by graduate students and should include a project proposal that is approved by their major adviser (due date = March 2nd). Undergraduate students will then apply to work on the projects that are funded (tentative due date = April 1st).
Budgets submitted by graduate students should describe how many 40 hour blocks are needed for their project, keeping in mind that each undergraduate student will receive a stipend of $1,000 per 40 hours of work. The 40 hours could be spread across a month, a week or several weeks, depending on the project's needs. The maximum amount awarded per grant is $3,000. Funds can also be requested for the undergraduate’s supplies and would count towards the maximum of $3,000. We anticipate that the average funded proposal will be awarded ~$2,500.
*Important Note: The Ferguson Award is a merit based award and as such, undergraduates will be selected based on the strength of their application and will be matched with graduate mentors based on their experience and aptitude for the project. Graduate students will not be able to select individual undergraduates for mentoring, but rather, the award committee will match undergraduates to graduate student projects after the applications have been evaluated. (Previous experience working with a specific graduate student does not mean that the undergraduate will be selected to work with that particular grad student.)
*Important note about Eligibility: Undergraduate applicants must be continuing undergraduates in the fall. Students graduating in Spring 2025 are not eligible to apply.
The Application Process
Graduate Student Applicants should supply the following via the Jotform APP (one application per graduate student)
● Due date: March 2nd by 11:59 p.m.
● Project Description: 1,000-word maximum + References (no limit for references);
● Project Timeline: 200-word maximum; Include any major milestones or deadlines that should be met before completion of the 40 hrs.
● Provide justification for why you need a Research Assistant: 200-word maximum;
● Mentorship Plan: 200-word maximum,
(Please describe the ways in which you plan to instruct, supervise, and work with the undergraduate in a way that will impart new skills to the student.);
● Budget and Justification: (Remember that any supplies purchased should be intended for the undergrad to be able to complete their work);
● Graduate students can submit their application at:
https://form.jotform.com/cphbiogrants/ferguson-family-research-fund