Application Guidelines

General Information

The Seretean Nutritional Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholars Award provides three $1,000 one-year awards to Nutritional Sciences undergraduates to conduct research under the guidance of a departmental faculty member during the 2008-2009 school year. A faculty panel will determine which proposals are to be funded based on the quality of the student’s proposal and the student’s interaction with the faculty mentor. The amount of the stipend has been set to include $200 for research supplies or expenses. The student and mentor will be asked to indicate an acceptance of such arrangement.

Students chosen for an award must arrange with their faculty mentors to receive one hour of academic credit for the project during the fall 2008 semester and spring 2009 semester. During the end of the first semester and before the second semester stipend is approved, the research scholar must submit a progress report to the faculty mentor, the Department Head, and the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. A final report will be due at the end of the spring semester. Furthermore, the research scholar is required to give a poster presentation about his/her research project during OSU Research Week in March 2009 and during HES Celebration of Excellence week in April 2009.

Am I qualified? To qualify for participation, you must be:

What kinds of projects are eligible?

"Research" means any scholarly or creative activity ranging from traditional scientific experimentation at molecular or cellular levels to clinical and community nutrition areas.

How much can I request?

You can request support up to $1,000 for the 2008-2009 school year.

Application:

The Application consists of:

1. The completed and signed Application Cover Page (click here to download the Application Cover Page)
2. A résumé
3. A typewritten essay not to exceed two single-spaced pages in 12-point font.

Step 1: Interested student must meet with the Nutritional Sciences faculty mentor to discuss ideas regarding a potential research area. If a student requires assistance identifying a faculty mentor appropriate for the student’s research concept, the student can meet with the Department Head to discuss topic and plans.

Step 2: After a faculty member has agreed to serve as mentor, the student must complete the application cover page, essay, and résumé. The applicant must submit a complete application packet to the office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies by the deadline.

The Essay

The essay is an important basis for the evaluation of your application. It should be clearly written and substantive. Include items such as why you want to perform research in this area, your current career goals, what interests you about research, which subjects interest you most and why, and budget. In other words, tell us your idea and how much will it cost. Describe why your background and interests prepare you for this scholarship. Explain why you should be selected over someone else and how you are prepared to undertake the project. The length of the essay should be no longer than two typed pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, with 1” margins.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. The student’s qualifications to successfully conduct the project.
2. The student’s career ambitions, as discussed in the essay.
3. The likely educational value for the student.
4. The faculty mentor’s availability to oversee the research.

Application Deadline and Scholarship Information

For more information, please contact:
Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies
139 HES
Phone: 405-744-8551
Fax: 405-744-1180
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