Undergraduate Research Support
Scholarships and Grants
The CNS Office of Academic and Student Affairs helps students by providing funding to support undergraduate research activities. Three awards provide different levels of funding for students to work on research teams with MSU faculty mentors. All CNS students are encouraged to apply for these awards.
Although Lyman Briggs students are no longer eligible for CNS scholarships, they can apply for scholarships through Lyman Briggs College.
Application
To apply, you must be enrolled as full-time students in CNS, except during the summer. Students eligible for summer support must have been enrolled as a full-time student during the prior Spring semester and not have graduated. These awards do not require that the faculty mentor(s) be CNS faculty.
Deadlines and Award Timing
Applications for these awards will be accepted until the 10th business day of the Fall and Spring semesters, and awards will be made by the fourth week of the semester.
For the summer, applications are due April 1 and awards will be made before the start of summer semester.
Time Commitment
While you would not need to enroll for research credit, you would be expected to engage in a research project for approximately 8 to 10 hours per week during the academic year and at least 20 hours per week during the summer.
Required Presentation of Work
Students who receive funds are expected to present their results at a local research forum, such as the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum held in early April, a similar departmental program, or at a regional or national meeting. This presentation should be within two semesters after receiving support. If you receive support for more than one semester during any academic year, you would be required to give only one presentation for that year if the support is for the same research project.
4 Award Programs
Different parameters govern each award. Three programs pay “stipends” (student salary support) and one pays for material support (supplies and travel). You may apply for multiple awards, but the Fowler and CNS awards will not be awarded to the same student simultaneously.
Larry D. Fowler Endowment Undergraduate Research Stipends
Approximately seven awards of $3,500 will be made each summer to support undergraduate students participating in summer research in the College of Natural Science. The funds from the Fowler Grants are to be used for student stipends. Awards will be released when the mentor informs the CNS Office of Student Affairs that the student has initiated their project.
Awardees will have demonstrated merit in their studies. Any student in the College of Natural Science can apply.
Deadline: April 1
Download the APPLICATION (Word format).
MPI Research Inc. Undergraduate Research Grants
Four $500 awards are available each Fall and Spring Semester, and two $1,000 awards for the summer. The funds from the MPI Grants can be used laboratory consumables, poster or publication costs, and travel to local or national meetings. Funds for this award cannot be used for student stipends. Awards will be released when the mentor informs the CNS Office of Student Affairs that the student has initiated their project.
Recipients of this award will be selected from high-achieving applicants majoring or having a concentration in Neurobiology and Animal Behavior, Physiology, Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, or Zoology. Ideally, the students’ work will have a focus on bioanalyticals and qualitative analysis with tissues and biological fluids or small molecule identification. Recipients are expected to present their results to representatives of MPI Research Inc., in addition to one of the research forums mentioned above.
Deadline: 10th business day of the Fall and Spring semesters; April 1 for Summer semester0th business day of the Fall and Spring mesters
Download the APPLICATION (Word format).
CNS Undergraduate Research Support Program
Approximately eight $1,000 awards are funded each Fall and Spring semester and approximately five $3,000 awards are funded for the summer semester. Funds from these awards are generally to be used for student stipends; exceptions should be explained and justified. Awards will be released when the mentor informs the CNS Office of Student Affairs that the student has initiated their project. Student awardees and their mentors are required to file a brief assessment report as a follow-up to their projects. Additionally, each mentor is required to provide one judge for the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum in April.
Each award requires a sponsoring department or faculty mentor to contribute $200/semester (Fall and Spring) or $300 (Summer), either from a research grant or from a general funds account. The rest of the award will be provided from CNS funds.
Any student in the College of Natural Science can apply. Awards will be selected on the basis of both merit and financial need.
Deadline: 10th business day of the Fall and Spring semesters; April 1 for Summer semester0
Download the APPLICATION (Word format).
Lawrence G. and Eveline L. Mullica Research Award
One $750 award is funded each Fall and Spring semester in the form of a student stipend. While demonstrated academic success is important, financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and the availability of the research award to students with diverse academic abilities is of equal or greater importance.
Recipients are required to express acceptance and appreciation of the award in writing to the donor within six weeks of notification of the award. Funds will be released when the mentor informs the CNS Office of Student Affairs that the student has initiated their project and after the Office of Student Affairs receives a copy of the acceptance/appreciation letter.
Deadline: 10th business day of the Fall and Spring semesters; this award is not available Summer semester
How to Apply for these Awards
- Complete the appropriate Undergraduate Research Support Application(s) and print out a copy of the completed form. Obtain the signatures indicated on the form.
- Fowler Application (Word format)
- MPI APPLICATION (Word format)
- CNS APPLICATION (Word format)
- Mullica APPLICATION (Word format)
- Write a one-page description of your research project and proposed use of the funds. While not required, mention any previous research experience and address financial need (if applicable).
- SAMPLE research statement (PDF Format)
- Obtain a letter of support from your research mentor. This letter should also address financial need (if applicable).
- Submit the completed application, one-page description and letter of support to:
CNS Student and Academic Affairs
103 Natural Science Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
Fax (517) 432-1054
You may also scan and email your application to roache@msu.edu if you prefer.
Applications for the CNS Undergraduate Research Support Program and the MPI Research Inc. Undergraduate Research Grants will be accepted until the 10th business day of the Fall and Spring semesters; awards will be made by the fourth week of the semester. Summer applications for these two scholarships and the Larry D. Fowler Endowment Undergraduate Research Stipends are due April 1 and awards will be made before the start of summer semester.