Dr. Alex Hills Engineering Research/Service Project in the Community Award

Dr__Alex_Hills_Engineering__Research_Service_Project_in_the_Community_Award
Dr. Alex Hills Engineering Research/Service Project in the Community Award

This competitive grant supports service projects that actively involve and meet the needs of community partners. The ultimate aim will be to define and address a pressing community problem; do engineering work that produces a public good; or conduct engineering work that contributes to a community-identified issue. The award funds the actual costs of the project up to $2,000 plus a $500 student stipend. Proposals are solicited in the fall semester.

Deadline: The Fall 2013 deadline will be announced.

Eligibility: Students must be accepted in an associate or baccalaureate degree-seeking program at the University of Alaska Anchorage and must be enrolled in at least 3 credits at UAA for the duration of the research (excluding summer).

Proposal Guidelines:

The project should reflect an original research question that will extend knowledge in your area of interest. Your proposal should consist of the nine (9) items listed below. Please include page numbers.

1. Dr. Alex Hills Engineering Research / Service Project in the Community Award Cover Sheet (see below) - Include the project title, student's name, and student's signature. The faculty advisor's name and signature should be included, certifying that they have reviewed the proposal for content and that the student is capable of performing the research, and that the faculty member agrees to mentor the student for the project. The Research Integrity and Compliance checklist, included on the cover sheet, must also be completed. For more information on research ethics and integrity, please visit the UAA Research Integrity and Compliance website at www.uaa.alaska.edu/research/ric.

2. Abstract and Specific Aims (approx 1 page) - A one paragraph summary of the project proposal and a summary of project goals.

3. Introduction (1-2 pages) - A review of the literature that supports the need for your research. Proposals should include (a) a statement of the research question, problem and/or hypothesis; (b) a historical discussion of the impacts; and (c) a discussion of present understanding and/or state of knowledge concerning the question or problem.

4. Experimental/Project Design (1-2 pages) - Proposals should include a detailed description of how the research project will be completed including (a) a sampling protocol and/or design plan; (b) the methods and/or procedures to be used; (c) the data reduction and statistical analysis to be conducted or a description of the final form of the product.

5. Anticipated Results (1 page) - Provide the reviewers with a list of the results expected. Proposals should include an interpretation and explanation of results as related to hypothesis tested. Also, students may want to discuss or suggest further work that may help address the problem they are trying to solve.

6. Project Budget (allow one page for the budget and one page for budget justification) - Include the cost of personnel, supplies, equipment and travel, and a brief justification for each item. Please note the following:

  • The student stipend should not be included in the project budget.
  • Travel will be allowed only if it falls within the same academic year as your research and there is a direct relationship between the research and the travel being proposed (e.g. for the purposes of conducting research, or to present results at a conference). Funding for travel to a conference will be granted only if the student is accepted to present at that conference.
  • Expenses that will not be allowed include:
    • Compensation for the student's time
    • Tuition to get credit for the project
    • Amounts for supplies or equipment that exceed reasonable and customary expenses
    • Per Diem
  • Equipment purchased with the grant will belong to UAA after the research is concluded.
  • Proposed expenses must be in accordance with UA Policy and Regulation, and funds must be expended as specified in the proposal.
  • For this reason, please be as accurate as possible in estimating your expenses. Do not over-inflate your budget; conversely, do not underestimate what your actual costs will be.
  • If the project has funding from an external source outside of OURS include an appendix with information about the funding (e.g. grant proposal, contract, etc.), a short narrative that explains how the proposed project meshes with the external source, and a budget that shows what will be funded by the OURS grant and the external source.

7. Project References (1-2 pages) - Use the standard convention of discipline including the author, title or article, journal title, volume, pages, and date.

8. Project Timeline - Outline the anticipated dates of completion of various stages of project. For example: When do you anticipate completing background research , fieldwork, lab work, budget expenditure, etc. Be sure to include in this timeline the following dates:

  • Mid-April 2013 - Presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
  • May 15, 2013 - Expenditure deadline
  • May 30, 2013 - Final written report deadline

9. Appendix (up to 2 pages) - Student's resume.

Visit the Success Stories Website to view the proposals from the previous winners.

Instructions for Completing the Cover Sheet:

  1. Download the interactive .pdf file.
  2. Either (a) complete the form electronically and print or (b) print the form and complete it by hand.
  3. Collect necessary signatures.
  4. Either (a) submit completed, signed cover sheet and all application materials to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship in RH 115 or (b) scan completed, signed cover sheet and submit all application materials by email to uaa_research@uaa.alaska.edu.

Download:

Dr. Alex Hills Engineering Research / Service Project in the Community Award Cover Sheet