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Dean's Undergraduate Research Fund

Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund Grants

DURF Q&A Workshops
Come learn about the nuts and bolts of the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund Grant. Learn what the Committee seeks in proposals, how to best position yourself for an award, what to consider in putting together a budget, and what is required of grant recipients. Come with lots of questions!
 
Monday, October 5
12:30 – 1:30pm, Silver 907
or
Tuesday, October 13
6:00 – 7:00pm, Silver 714
or
Tuesday, December 1
5:00 – 6:00pm, Bobst LL150
 
 
Since research often requires financial support, the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund was created in 1996 to assist students in funding their projects. A committee of faculty reviews all DURF applications and makes awards which range from $250 to $2,000. Applicants must be current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or first-term seniors in the College of Arts and Science. A DURF grant may be used to support the purchase of necessary equipment, travel to conferences or collections, computer time, or any other reasonable and justified expense (including money to replace necessary income from a summer job). DURF grants may be expended during the fall, spring, or summer terms.
 
Applications can be submitted for:
 
  • Individual Research Grants which are open to all students including freshmen and sophomores who have developed the skills to undertake an independent research project.
  • Team Research Grants designed for projects in which the individual strengths of the collaborating team members are essential for attaining the project’s goals.
  • Freshman and Sophomore Training (FAST) Grants that are specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores to provide funds needed to learn fundamental research skills.
  • Conference Grants for students to attend national or international meetings to present their work.
 
All applications require a project proposal, a proposed budget, and an assessment completed by the mentor. The entire proposal must be submitted online. Please click on the links above to access individual applications which detail specific requirements.
 
Students are encouraged to pursue their own independent research projects. However, projects that are offshoots of ongoing faculty research will also be considered for funding. If a project emerges from topics examined in a course, the research for which a DURF is awarded must not fulfill regular course or seminar requirements, but rather involve directed research, honors thesis, independent study, internship, or some similar course of study.
 
All grant recipients are required to participate in the spring CAS Undergraduate Research Conference (for which a separate application must be submitted). In accepting a grant, the student also gives the College permission to publish the abstract online and in print in Inquiry, the College’s undergraduate research journal, and to share information with the donor of the particular research grant. The student must submit to the Dean’s Office a written report after the completion of the grant explaining how the funds were expended, a paper describing the results of the research, and a 150 to 200 word abstract of that paper.
 
Deadlines for the DURF application for the 2009-2010 academic year:
November 2, 2009; February 1, 2010; April 2, 2010.
(Conference Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.)
Please note that the online Mentor Assessment must be completed by:
November 9, 2009; February 8, 2010; April 9, 2010.
 
In accepting a grant, the student gives the College permission to publish the abstract online and in print in Inquiry, the College's undergraduate research journal, and to share information with the donor.
 
If you have any questions or would like assistance with developing a proposal, please contact:
 
Dr. Ruth Shoemaker Wood, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Students
100 Washington Square East
Silver Center, Room 909B
212-998-8131
ruth.wood@nyu.edu
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