IGERT Undergraduate Program

Research Funding for Undergraduates on a Genes to Environment Theme
Applications Due Nov. 30, 2007 for funding in 2008.

NAU undergraduate students are invited to apply for grants supporting cutting-edge research exploring links between genes and the environment. This undergraduate program is intended to:
1) promote the intellectual development of undergraduates by providing a venue where undergraduates will work closely with faculty and/or graduate student mentors to develop a project of which they will take ownership
2) complement NAU’s recently funded “Integrative Graduate Research, Education, and Training Program: Integrative Biosciences: Genes to Environment” Program by broadening campus participation

NAU received funding in 2006 for a PhD program which explores how genes affect environmental processes. While graduate student funding from the National Science Foundation grant is limited to the PhD majors of biology and forestry, the program also draws on fields such as mathematics, chemistry, engineering, and geology. Hence, this undergraduate funding is available to undergraduates in any major who are interested in a project that can be related to the “Genes to Environment” theme. Undergraduate projects will not necessarily be expected to span the entire genes to environment spectrum, but they should make a significant contribution to advancing a broader research effort that relates to IGERT themes. Excellent mentoring must be available to participating undergraduates by some combination of faculty, graduate students, and staff. Students must present their results at the CENS Undergraduate Research Day. Funding may be used for the undergraduate student’s hourly wage, research supplies, and travel. The maximum budget request is $5,000. Awarded funds must be spent by December 2008.

Application Process
Due date: November 30, 2007
Submission: by email to Amy.Whipple@nau.edu and Catherine.Gehring@nau.edu (the signed application form may be scanned and emailed or mailed to Amy Whipple @ NAU PO BOX 5640)
Application Components:
1) A completed application form (attached).
2) A student authored research proposal of up to 4 pages. The proposal should provide background context for the research; explain the links to the genes to environment theme; describe the research question, hypothesis, and methods; and include a timeline and budget. Mentors are encouraged to discuss research ideas with the applicants and edit proposals.
3) A letter of recommendation/support from the student’s mentor.
Review Committee: IGERT graduate students and faculty.
Factors in Application Evaluation: Proposal quality, student academic strength and commitment, feasibility of the project, and degree to which IGERT research and education goals will be advanced.