Overview (About Grants)

American University is pleased to offer undergraduates the opportunity to apply for small grants in order to conduct research or creative projects. The Dean of Academic Affairs invites full-time undergraduates to apply for one of the three types of awards outlined in detail in the links below: a Summer Research Fellowship, a fall or spring term Student Research Award, or for smaller funding, a grant through the revolving Student Research Expenses Fund.

Why apply for an undergraduate research grant? Recipient Trent Buatte explains in the following video:

Students are encouraged to study the eligibility guidelines carefully for each competition and to reach out and collaborate with faculty sponsors. Students must meet the deadline for applying online specified for each competition. The university urges students to participate as the awards are designed to assist qualifying undergraduates to enrich their academic experience. Use the links at the above left to explore the specific options available after reading the bulleted details below.

These research grants are available to ALL undergraduate students, subject to the particular specifications of each competition. Overall criteria are:

  • Students must be full-time undergraduate students at American University in good standing.
  • Applications will be submitted to the University Honors Program, which administers the competition for the Dean of Academic Affairs, in Hurst 206, by the date specified in the Guidelines Document(PDF).
  • Faculty members who direct projects may be full or part time and will be eligible for stipends or research funds as specified.
  • Sponsoring faculty must write a statement of support for the student's proposed research and it must be submitted with the application.
  • Applications will be screened by a panel of faculty and staff from American University academic affairs offices. Decisions will be announced as soon as they are determined.
  • Students are eligible for a single award from this competition; there is no restriction on funding from other sources, nor upon being awarded funds from other sources concurrently with an Undergraduate Research Support award.
  • All research or creative activities must be consistent with the university's policies and requirements on research, and all international travel must conform to the policies on travel and international travel. It is the awardee's responsibility to consult the appropriate documents.

To view undergraduate research grant winners for previous years, select the year below and click the download button.

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Summer Grants

Official Name:
Summer Research Fellowship

Purpose:
To support undergraduate students in pursuing large directed research or creative projects in the summer following their sophomore or junior years.

Description:
This competition will fund up to five students for research or creative work on projects directed by a faculty member. The supervising faculty member must support the student’s application in writing. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 of support as a stipend or for research expenses (such as travel), or any combination of these. The application should include a simple budget proposal detailing all anticipated expenses. Sponsoring faculty members will receive $500, payable as either a stipend or as research funds to the faculty member.

Proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of university faculty and staff. Highly ranked proposals will be forwarded to the dean of academic affairs for consideration. Decisions will be announced as soon as they are made.

Please direct inquiries to the University Honors Program via e-mail at honors@american.edu, or by phone at 202-885-6194.

Eligibility:

  • Students must be full-time current sophomores or juniors at American University in good standing.
  • Applications will be made online and submitted to the University Honors Program.
  • Faculty members who direct projects may be full or part time and will be eligible for stipends or research funds as specified.
  • Students are eligible for a single award from this competition; there is no restriction on funding from other sources, nor upon being awarded funds from other sources concurrently with an Undergraduate Research Support award.
  • All research or creative activities must be consistent with the university’s policies and requirements on research, and all international travel must conform to the policies on travel and international travel. It is the awardee’s responsibility to consult the appropriate documents.

Applications:

To apply for this grant you must complete the following two forms in accordance with the specifications and due dates contained within the Guidelines Document (PDF).

Deadline:
Applications for research to be conducted in summer 2010 will be due to the University Honors Program by February 16, 2010.  A final report on summer 2010 research activities funded by the grant will be due in the University Honors Program on November 1, 2010.

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Fall/Spring Grants

Official Name:
Fall/Spring Research Awards

Purpose:
To support undergraduate students in the sophomore or junior years in research or creative projects during the fall or spring academic semesters.

Description:
This competition will fund up to 20 students for approved research or creative work directed by a faculty member. The supervising faculty member must support the student's application in writing. Students will be eligible for up to $1,000 of support as a stipend or for research expenses (such as travel), or any combination of these. The application should include a simple budget proposal detailing all anticipated expenses. Sponsoring faculty will receive $500, payable as either stipend or as research fund to the faculty member.

Proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of university faculty and staff. Highly ranked proposals will be forwarded to the Dean of Academic Affairs for consideration. Decisions will be announced soon after they are made.

Please direct inquiries to the University Honors Program via e-mail at honors@american.edu, or by phone at 202-885-6194.

Eligibility:

  • Students must be full-time current sophomores or juniors at American University in good standing.
  • Applications will be made online and submitted to the University Honors Program.
  • Faculty members who direct projects may be full or part time and will be eligible for stipends or research funds as specified.
  • Students are eligible for a single award from this competition; there is no restriction on funding from other sources, nor upon being awarded funds from other sources concurrently with an Undergraduate Research Support award.
  • All research or creative activities must be consistent with the university’s policies and requirements on research, and all international travel must conform to the policies on travel and international travel. It is the awardee’s responsibility to consult the appropriate documents.

Application:
To apply for the grant you must complete the following two forms in accordance with the specifications and due dates contained within the Guidelines Document (PDF).

Deadline:
Applications for research to be done in spring 2010 will be due to the University Honors Program by November 3, 2009.

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Expenses Fund

Official Name:
Student Research Expenses Fund

Purpose:
To support undergraduate student research or creative work with funding for small expenses throughout the student’s career at American University. May be used for projects, whether attached to courses, conducted independently or as part of other research or creative requirements like senior theses or Capstones.

Description:
This resource will enable students to apply directly for reimbursement of small expenses attached to research or creative activities, up to $500. The application must come directly from the student and include a statement on the project and the nature of the expense attached.

Eligibility:

  • Students must be full-time current sophomores or juniors at American University in good standing.
  • Applications will be made online and submitted to the University Honors Program.
  • Faculty members who direct projects may be full or part time and will be eligible for stipends or research funds as specified.
  • Students are eligible for a single award from this competition; there is no restriction on funding from other sources, nor upon being awarded funds from other sources concurrently with an Undergraduate Research Support award.
  • All research or creative activities must be consistent with the university’s policies and requirements on research, and all international travel must conform to the policies on travel and international travel. It is the awardee’s responsibility to consult the appropriate documents.

Application:
To apply for the grant you must complete the following form in accordance with the specifications and due dates contained within the Guidelines Document (PDF).

Deadline:
There is no deadline for receipt of the application for research or creative project expenses. Funds are limited by the available budget and the demand. Requests for research expense will be reviewed by a committee of university faculty and staff and forwarded to the dean of academic affairs for consideration. Decisions will be announced as soon as they are made.

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