The application period for the summer research grant program opens TODAY, Monday February 20th, and the deadline for applications will be 11:59 pm on March 13th, 2023. It is expected that applicants will be conducting research with IBACS faculty members, focusing on any research area associated with the IBACS mission.  Faculty sponsors will need to supply a letter of recommendation. Once the applicant lists the faculty advisor of the project in the form, an email will be sent to the faculty member with directions for how to submit the letter. Applicants must fill out the online application, submit a relatively short research plan and a budget that explains in detail how the funds will be spent.

The budget should be constructed in the following manner:  The total award will be for up to $5,000. $3,500 should go to providing the student with a summer stipend, and it is expected that the student will spend at least 10 weeks of the summer working on this project at UConn.  Up to $1,500 can be allocated for any supplies or materials that contribute to the research, including software, participant costs and any animal expenses. 

Students who received a Fall 2022/Spring 2023 IBACS grant are eligible for the summer award. However, students cannot take the summer IBACS award in combination with any other major summer award (e.g. SURF). Thus, a student can apply for multiple awards, but can only accept one. The results of the grant review will be given to the student awardees in time for them to make a decision about which grant they will accept, in case they receive more than one. 

The IBACS undergraduate award applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:

• The project description is well written and clearly explains the project.
• The project clearly focuses on a research area associated with the IBACS mission.
• The budget is itemized, appropriate to the project described, and reports the total cost of the project (even if it exceeds the funding requested).
• The advisor is familiar with the student’s project and rates the student’s work to date highly. 
• Where project applications are equally meritorious, the reviewers will take note of how the student’s project will contribute to the advisor’s research goals.
• The student and his/her project meet the eligibility criteria.
• The student has secured research compliance approval(s) if necessary for the project. No award will be issued until documentation of approval(s) is received.