Research Funding for Leavetakers: The Basics

Hello, dear readers!

My name is Cristian Loor (they/them/theirs), and I am the Leavetaking Coordinator for the Curricular Resource Center (CRC) for Peer Advising. Regardless of where you are in the leavetaking process (considering, in the middle of, or returned from leave), I can help connect you to resources and other students with similar experiences. In this Leavetaking x FIRe post, I will consider students’ unique circumstances researching while on a leave of absence. These experiences are surprisingly common; many students decide to secure an on-campus opportunity and end up interning for a professor or working as a research assistant at a lab.

As you may already know, the early SPRINT deadline of February 9 has passed. This date includes the early deadline for LINK awards and the only deadline for UTRAs and Signature Awards. You can find more information here. Thankfully, if you are already on leave or plan on taking it during the fall 2022 semester, this deadline does not apply to you. According to Dean Oludurotimi Adetunji, whom I spoke with during a recent info session on UTRAs, students in these situations are not eligible for this funding.* According to Dean Vernicia Elie, the reason for this restriction is that SPRINTs, like most University funds, fall under federal regulations that stipulate active enrollment. Students on a leave of absence are not actively enrolled and, thus, lose access to most–if not all–University funds.

Brown University is not unique in this regard; most universities require that students be enrolled (if not there, then elsewhere) to access any funds or even research opportunities. For example, consider Boston University’s policy: “Students on a leave of absence are not eligible to apply for funding.” So what should you do if you want to research while on leave but need money?** Well, you have several options. You might be able to finesse Brown funds if you act while still enrolled–money you can then use while away. Dean Elie can be helpful in this endeavor, especially if your research relates to your concentration. (I highly recommend talking to her overall. She has a kind and bubbly personality. You can find her hours here and set up an appointment. Dean Elie can do either online or in-person, though she prefers the latter.) Alternatively, some students explore outside identity- or hometown-based scholarships (you can find a great list of the former here, though many also require active enrollment) to offset living costs or purchase necessary equipment. Yale University also has an excellent page on external scholarships to which students on leave can apply. Finally, many students work part-time.

Although your options are limited, the bright side is that you still have some. The main takeaway is that you should think as far ahead as possible. Finally, you can always reach out to me if you need help planning. You can find me at the CRC every weekday from 4-6 PM EST or email leavetakers@brown.edu to set up a remote appointment or ask quick questions.

Stay safe, and happy researching!

* You may also remember that the soft deadline for declaring a personal leave of absence for the fall is May 1, which is far later than February 9. What would happen if you secured a UTRA but ended up taking a personal or even medical leave? Dean Adetunji said you might have to return the money, so be careful if you already applied for a UTRA.

** I assume you either do not have access to funding from the opportunity itself, or the funding available is insufficient. For example, many research assistant jobs pay an hourly wage or a stipend. Other research undertakings might have accompanying scholarships for needs like housing. A note about not having enough money is that if your opportunity already pays you, you might not be eligible for outside funds, similar to how Brown’s LINK award demands that you work in a low-paying or unpaid internship. Always remember to read the fine print!

Finding Undergrad Research Opportunities!

Hello readers!

My name is Ijeoma Meremikwu (she/her/hers) and I wear multiple hats. Two of those hats are that I am a senior here at Brown and I am the Fellowships, Internships, and Research Experience (FIRe) Coordinator at the Curricular Resource Center (CRC) for Peer Advising. I am here to give advice and to also help my peers get into and thrive in research opportunities and fellowships! Whether you have never heard of research or have thought of trying it out but don’t know where to start, I am here to help and guide you through the process.

Research can look different across fields, the type of questions, and also the person. It is a personal journey where mentorship and academic support are needed for growth. In a sense, it really does take a village of people to help and give you guidance. Here at Brown, some opportunities are available and some that may be hidden, just like the “hidden curriculum”. My goal is to illuminate those hidden paths for students, emphasize important ways to navigate research spaces, and also nurture good mentoring relationships with those in the research community!

But first things first, how do you get into a research opportunity here @ Brown or elsewhere?

I created an infographic called “FIRe ROADMAP”. It is a general guide for undergraduates to follow to find, apply, and get into research opportunities for the summer or here at Brown!

I encourage you to look over the guide, click on the links, and start your own research journey! Also, come to my open office hours with the FIRe Coordinator Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm at the CRC (167 Angell Street). If you want help looking for opportunities, drafting emails, reflecting on the next steps on your own research journey, or anything else, please stop by, drink tea/cocoa, and sit on the couch while we chat about potential exciting opportunities. 

Go to RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TAB to find the Resource!

Email fire@brown.edu if you have any questions!

Research 101: What is Research?

Research 101: A Conversation About Navigating the Research Process

Check out our slides that explain what is research and how to navigate the different opportunities within your field. Gaining research experience in undergrad can help students understand what career path they would want to focus on.

Check out these slides!

FIRE Guide For Undocumented Students

The Undocumented Student Resource Guide is a guide of fellowships, internships, funding, and research opportunities open to undocumented students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.  These opportunities are both Brown-specific and unrelated to Brown and include opportunities for graduate school preparation and funding, special projects, public service, law, government, health, medicine, and general resources.

The list is not extensive (i.e. if there is an opportunity at Brown that is not listed on this sheet, it does not mean that it is not open to undocumented/DACA students). Although this guide was created to make resources more accessible to undocumented and DACA students, it can also be used for people with other legal statuses and work permits. This guide will be continually updated.

For a paper copy, please visit the Curricular Resource Center, the First-Generation Low-Income Student Center, or the CareerLAB.

 

 

 

Post Baccalaureate Fellowship Program

The Carnegie Foundation offers a Post Baccalaureate Fellowship Program, a paid, two-year program that provides recent college graduates with a chance to learn from and contribute to the Foundation’s efforts in the field of education and, more specifically, networked improvement science in education.

Post-Baccalaureate Fellows serve in full-time appointments at the Foundation and are placed in different programs and departments and are assigned a supervising mentor. Fellows gain a range of widely applicable professional skills in research, communication, group facilitation, teamwork, project management, writing, and leadership.

Fellows must be willing to commit to the two years of the fellowship program starting July 2017, must have obtained their Bachelor’s degree, completed within the past two academic years (May 2016-June 2018), and must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the U.S.

Applications are received on a rolling basis. You can apply here.

Research Opportunity: The Immigration and Border Community Research Experience for Undergraduates

This research opportunity allows undergraduates to learn social science research methods while collaborating with local organizations to conduct in-depth research about the unique challenges faced by border communities in the Paso del Norte region of southern New Mexico, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez.

Successful applicants will spend 10 weeks in the El Paso/Cruces/Ciudad Juárez region during the summer from May 21-July 28, 2018. Positions are fully from by the National Science Foundation through a stipend of $5,000 and meal expenses. In addition, students traveling from outside the region will receive accommodation and $500 towards their travel expenses.

Applicants must be at least sophomore standing in a social science discipline (Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography) or related field, and have a GPA of at least 3.0. Spanish language skills are preferred by not required. Students must be currently enrolled; recent graduates are not eligible. Due to federal regulations, students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents, and have valid passports.

Applications are due on March 1st, 2018.

To learn more visit this link. For more information and for any questions or concerns, please contact Neil Harvey at (575) 646-3220 and nharvey@nmsu.edu or Jeremy Slack at (915) 747-6530 and jmslack@utep.edu.

Mellon Mays Application Tips with Dean Asabe Poloma

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) aims to increase the number of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the academy. Rising juniors across eligible fields are invited to apply. As a private university, Brown’s MMUF program is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, DACA and undocumented students. Applications are due March 5, 2018 through UFUNDS.

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Application Tips from Mellon Mays Associate Director Dr. Asabe Poloma:

1) What is the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship?

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is two-year research fellowship that sponsors students who are interested in pursuing a research project, particularly centered around issues of race, equity, and access. The program makes up a nationwide network that hopes to establish a cadre of young and aspiring scholars that want to contribute to the research enterprise across disciplines. Fellows should be prospectively interested in academic careers.

2) When should students begin thinking about this opportunity and their application?

It is never too early to start thinking about this opportunity. For first-year students, this means starting to think about what are your academic interests are and what interests you hope to pursue at Brown. When you engage in seminars and classes, what are the intellectual questions that draw your interest? If you were to design your own seminar, what scholarship and tools would you want to use?

In the fall semester of your second year, talk with your professors, faculty members, and those in your advising network about academic careers. Ask about what an academic career entails, not simply in relation to research but also teaching and service. What were their pathways? Start to think about what your driving focus could potentially be within and beyond your concentration. How would the Mellon elaborate on those interests? How can your current academic interests be a clear pathway to an academic career and a world beyond Brown?

If you enjoy the courses you are taking, talk to graduate students and faculty mentors; start engaging with the program through an information session and a meeting with the program director.

3) What does the selection process for the MMUF program look like?

The selection process is a very competitive process but also a very clearly outlined process. There are two main steps. The first involves applying to the program. The admissions committee, comprised of Brown faculty members across a range of disciplines, then review the applications thoughtfully and carefully and from an applicant pool, invite shortlisted candidates to interview. After the interview process, the pool is narrowed down to the finalists who are made the offer.

4) What qualities make an application stand out?

Academic promise. One quality that we look for is for applicants to demonstrate academic promise. In many ways, Mellon is not a just a meritorious award based on past accolades, but also about fellows’ imagined possibilities and potential impact as future scholars, mentors, and critically engaged educators. Intellectual creativity, risk-taking, and thinking about the world and engaging social and critical issues are academically promising qualities. We want to understand how students have mapped their academic experience and where they see them taking them.

Conceptualizing the power of academic tools. Another quality has to do with how students have started to think of the tools of their academic discipline to construct and deconstruct new forms of understanding about the world and what they care about. Students should see where the academic opportunities and gaps are. Take what you have learned and think about what you want to gain from the Mellon in terms of a personalized map for yourself, networks, advisors, and meeting other Mellon fellows.

Self-reflection. We want to see students who engage in a lot of self-reflection in the contemporary moment but also looking forward. In that reflection process, we want students to demonstrate how their individual reflection goals are related to larger social goals. How do you see your research contributing to important social justice issues and advancing racial justice?

5) Do you have any general tips for potentially applicants?

Develop and leverage a network that is informed about and would help you craft a competitive application. Talk about your work, talk about what upsets you, what excites you, and talk about how they could be used for a research agenda. Be comfortable with soliciting and seeking advice or feedback whether it be current fellows, faculty mentor who are familiar with other fellowships, and think about how you might conceptualize this in a proposal.

Develop nonacademic habits. As a Mellon research fellow, develop the other nonacademic habits that are integral to a successful research career. The ability to adapt, be coached, and self-reflect all are important to the process.

Keep your research a dialectical process. Research is not a solitary enterprise, especially if it is research dedicated to solving issues of racial and social justice. Mellon is based on the principles of community engaged scholarship, as well as community and peer collaboration. As individuals move through the process, it is such an important skill to be able to connect bridges, for people to give you feedback and translate the project for the communities you hope you are either representing or giving voice to. Think about your research as an intellectual application.

6) Is there anything else you want to say about the Mellon Mays Fellowship?

The Mellon cohort is one of the most tangible and long-lasting impacts of the program that students don’t always see. The cohort serves as a model for a group of peers to practice supporting each other’s intellectual process of discovery and also to have a community of like-minded individuals that can serve as a powerful antidote to what can be a solitary or isolated research process. Mellon is composed of people who are idealistic and passionate, and hold space for critical engagement and learn from each other. I don’t think a lot of students realize that when they are inducted into the Mellon family, their fellowship will translate to lifelong friendships.

For more resources, see this writing sample of the MMUF essay application.

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Targeted Fellowship, Internship, and Research opportunities for Students from Historically Underrepresented Groups

Don’t you love diversity?

There are many fellowship, internship, and research opportunities out there (far too many to list on this blog), and a significant portion of these are specifically for students from groups that have had a historically small presence within particular disciplines and within the university overall. Historically Underrepresented Groups (HUGs as they are called institutionally) can include any number of populations but is associated overall with students from marginalized minority groups, particularly:

• Underrepresented Minority Students (Usually referring to Black, Latinx, and Native American, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander students, but can be expanded to other groups depending on how it is defined).
• First-Generation College Students (This term is used pretty generally, but can refer broadly to students who are of the first-generation in their family to attend a four-year college in America).
• Low-Income Students (This one is also used pretty generally and can be relative based on the environment one is from and where one goes to college).

There are other opportunities that can also be looking for women broadly (especially in STEM fields), LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities.

Here we hope to list some of what is out there, especially ones for Brown students. We will try to keep this post updated as we become aware of new opportunities and hope this can be a resource as you try to figure out what you can and should be applying for.

Biomedical Science Summer Research Opportunities

Check out this great list of summer research opportunities in biomedical science all across the United States

https://www.aamc.org/members/great/61052/great_summerlinks.html

Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program

INTERNSHIPS

The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program provides a career exploration opportunity for diverse undergraduate and graduate students ages 18-25 in historic preservation/cultural resources work. The program places interns with National Park Service park units and administrative offices, other federal agencies, state historic preservation offices, local governments, and private organizations. Intern sponsors provide work experiences that assist interns with building their resumes in this field.

This program serves two purposes:

(1) Diverse undergraduate and graduate students ages 18-25 gain exposure to and experience in the historic preservation/cultural resources field.

(2) National Park Service and partnership organizations have the opportunity to meet promising young people who might choose to work in the field.

Internships are offered during the summer (10 weeks). Projects include editing publications, planning exhibits, participating in archeological excavations, preparing research reports, cataloguing park and museum collections, providing interpretive programs on historical topics, developing community outreach, and writing lesson plans based on historical themes.

 

 

http://www.nps.gov/history/crdi/internships/intrnCRDIP.htm