Description: The goal of this program is to enable research opportunities for students who face financial and time constraints that otherwise prevent them from participating in research. Up to three students will be selected for this program, which is aimed at attracting those who might otherwise be unable to participate in faculty research laboratories because of time constraints associated with securing their financial support (e.g., working a part-time job). In addition to laboratory research involvement, the program features monthly group coaching, social support, and professional development meetings led by a graduate student research assistant who helps undergraduate students navigate first-time lab involvement. The awardee must register in a PSYC 290 research experience for both semesters.
Timing/Funding: This scholarship would support two semesters of undergraduate research involvement and is open to students who are Sophomore standing or above by the start of the Spring semester that they begin the research experience. Students awarded this scholarship would receive $1,000/semester for two semesters, contingent in the second semester on the student maintaining support of a faculty research mentor (and associated PSYC 290 enrollment). The graduate student mentor will receive $250/semester towards research or professional development.
Match to Mentor: Students must identify a mentor at the time of application. The research mentor, in turn, must identify a graduate student mentor for the potential awardee by the beginning of the spring semester.
Eligibility: Undergraduate majors in Psychology or Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
Application Process: Students should apply for this scholarship in the fall semester, before starting the research experience in the subsequent spring semester. Application materials include a one-page personal statement, an undergraduate transcript, and one letter of support (e.g., from a professional reference, an academic advisor, an instructor, a faculty research advisor, etc.). The personal statement should indicate the faculty mentor’s lab the student intends to join, and it should explain how the scholarship will allow the student to increase the amount of time they spend on research by reducing their need to seek outside employment to address financial challenges. All application materials should be sent electronically to the Undergraduate Studies Office at psych-awards@mx.uillinois.edu. The deadline for applications is December 1.
Selection Process: Selection of awardees will be made by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with the Undergraduate Studies Committee. The scholarship winner(s) will be announced before the start of the spring semester.
Progress report and payment structure: The scholarship will be dispersed after the half-way point of each semester, contingent on satisfactory progress in the PSYC 290 experience. Awardees must submit a progress report by October 15 (Fall semester) or March 15 (Spring semester) that consists of a paragraph describing the awardee’s research progress since the previous report. The student should send this to the faculty research advisor, who should then forward it to the Undergraduate Studies Office with a brief confirmation of the student’s progress.
Description: One student will be selected for the Advanced Research Opportunity Honors Scholarship, which is intended to enable research opportunities for students who face financial and time constraints that otherwise might prevent them from participating in the in-depth research process associated with completing a Bachelor’s thesis. This scholarship provides financial support over three semesters of undergraduate research conducted towards the completion of Bachelor’s thesis in psychology.
Eligibility: Applicants should be majors in Psychology or Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Applicants should apply for and subsequently enroll in the three-semester honors sequence as part of this program (PSYC 398). Alternatively, students may enroll in a PSYC 290 research experience in the Spring semester, followed by application and enrollment in the two-semester sequence of the Capstone Undergraduate Research program (PSYC 492). More information and application procedures for these programs can be found here.
Timing/funding: A student awarded this scholarship would receive $2,000/semester for three semesters, beginning in the Spring of their Junior year and continuing through Spring of their Senior year. Continued funding is contingent on the student maintaining progress towards completion of the Bachelor’s thesis. Faculty research mentors are required to meet with scholarship awardees at least twice a month and will receive $500/semester towards their research funds as compensation and/or a contribution towards any costs associated with the student's honors project.
Match to Mentor: Students are expected to have identified a potential research mentor prior to applying to this scholarship program.
Application Process: Students apply for this scholarship during the fall of their junior year. Application materials include a one-page personal statement, undergraduate transcript, and a letter of support from their chosen Faculty mentor. The personal statement should explain how the scholarship will allow the student to increase the amount of time they spend on research by reducing their need to seek outside employment to address financial challenges. All application materials should be sent electronically to the Undergraduate Studies Office at psych-awards@mx.uillinois.edu. The deadline for applications is November 30.
Selection Process: Selection of awardees will be made by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with the Undergraduate Studies Committee. The scholarship winner will be announced before the start of the spring semester.
Progress report and payment structure: The scholarship will be dispersed after the half-way point of each semester, contingent on satisfactory progress towards completion of the Bachelor’s thesis. A progress report should be submitted by October 15 (fall) or March 15 (spring). It should consist of a paragraph describing the awardee’s research progress since the previous report. The student should send this to the faculty research advisor who should then forward it to the Undergraduate Studies Office with a brief confirmation of the student’s progress and the faculty-student meeting structure.