CNS UNDERGRAD RESEARCH SUPPORT

The College of Natural Science (NatSci) offers several scholarships to support undergraduate students who are conducting research under the direction of an MSU faculty member.

*Scholarship Application Deadlines: September 15 for fall semester; January 15 for spring semester; March 15 for summer. *

Eligibility Requirements

*Enrollment as a full-time student at MSU with a primary major in the College of Natural Science. Students in Lyman Briggs, Engineering, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and other colleges are not eligible; please see your college for similar scholarship opportunities.
*Summer support requires full-time enrollment in Spring semester. May graduates are not eligible.
*A student’s faculty research mentor does not have to be appointed in NatSci but must be an MSU faculty member. 
*Students may receive an undergraduate research scholarship from NatSci a maximum of two times.
*Students cannot concurrently receive support from the Office of Undergraduate Research and NatSci.
*Students who have been appointed as a Professorial Assistant (PA) are not eligible for NatSci undergraduate research scholarships prior to fall semester following the end of their appointment as a PA.

*Scholarship Award Requirements *
Time Commitment
While students are not required to enroll for research credit, they are expected to engage in a research project for approximately 8 to 10 hours per week for scholarships awarded in fall or spring semester and at least 20 hours per week for scholarships awarded in summer.

*Presentation of Research *
Students who receive NatSci undergraduate research scholarships are required to present their results at a research forum, such as the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in April, Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences (MidSURE) in July, or a regional or national scientific meeting. The presentation should occur within two semesters after receiving support. A copy of the accepted presentation abstract should be submitted to Estrella Starn (starn@msu.edu).

Department/Faculty Mentor Contribution
Each scholarship award, except NatSci Research Exploration Scholarships, requires a sponsoring department or faculty mentor to contribute $250 (Fall and Spring) or $400 (Summer), either from a research grant or from a general funds account. The balance of the award will be provided from NatSci funds.
In addition, faculty mentors of scholarship recipients are required to judge at the annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in April.

Available Awards *
*NatSci Undergraduate Research Scholarships – (Fall, Spring & Summer) All NatSci majors. Approximately seven $1,000 awards are funded each Fall and Spring semester and approximately ten $3,500 awards are funded for the Summer research.
NatSci Research Exploration Scholarships – (Spring) All NatSci majors with no prior research experience who are beginning research under direction of an MSU faculty mentor in Spring semester. Up to five awards of $750 will be made.
*Larry D. Fowler Endowment Undergraduate Research Scholarships – (Fall, Spring & Summer) All NatSci majors. Approximately seven awards of $4,000 will be made to support undergraduate students participating in summer research in the Natural Sciences.
Laurence D. Harrup Undergraduate Research Scholarship – (Fall, Spring & Summer) Chemistry majors participating in research within the Department of Chemistry with an emphasis on pollution prevention (“green chemistry”). Up to two awards of $1,000 will be made in Fall and Spring and up to two awards of $4000 will be made each summer.
*Norman Spatz Endowed Research Scholarship – (Fall, Spring & Summer) Chemistry majors. Up to two awards of $1,000 will be made in fall and spring and up to three awards of $4000 will be made each summer.

Applications
Applications will open in MSU Scholarships (https://scholarships.msu.edu) approximately one month before the due date

To apply, search for College of Natural Science (CNS) Undergraduate Research Scholarships. A common application is used for NatSci Undergraduate Research Scholarships, Larry D. Fowler Endowment Undergraduate Research Scholarships, Laurence D. Harrup Undergraduate Research Scholarships, and Norman A. Spatz Endowed Research Scholarships. Applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

NatSci Research Exploration Scholarships have a separate application.
Applications require the following:
1. Applicant’s resume or CV
2. Research statement (1 page limit) – Evaluation criteria: 1) Explanation of purpose and significance of project; 2) Description of planned research, 3) Organization, clarity, and scholarship including relevant background with citations.
3. Letter of reference/support from faculty research mentor
4. Written confirmation of commitment to provide matching contribution from either faculty research mentor or unit chair/director for all scholarships except NatSci Research Exploration Scholarships.

Applications received without Faculty Research Mentor Reference Letter will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Applicants will be notified approximately 4 weeks after the deadline of the award status. Awards will be released when the mentor informs the NatSci Office of Student Affairs that the student has initiated their project.
Questions? Contact Estrella Starn (starn@msu.edu)