Student Research Award

Research Award Requirements/Information

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• General Eligibility

  -All enrolled Otterbein students are eligible for SRF awards. Awards must be expensed within 24 months or by the date at which the student is no longer fully enrolled, whichever comes first.
  

  
  

  -Seniors and graduate students in their final semester may apply for SRF awards.

  
  

  -Research awards must be spent before the end of the first semester after graduation.

  
  

  -To be eligible for a Presentation Award, seniors and graduate students in their final semester must submit their paper or poster for presentation prior to graduation. Presentation Awards must be spent before the end of the first semester after graduation. For example, if a student graduates at the end of the Spring Semester, then the student must (1) submit the paper to a conference prior to the graduation date and (2) present the paper prior to the start of the Fall Semester.

• Eligible and Non-eligible Expenses for Research Awards

  Research funds can be used to purchase:

  
  

  - Materials and supplies to support research (including, for example, software, gift cards for study participants, test kits, surveys, books and DVDs, and art supplies related the project)

  
  

  - Equipment to support research

  
  

  - Travel related to data collection/research

  
  

  - Data analysis/technical services related to research

  
  

  - Training costs related to research

  
  

  - Matching funds for other research funding sources

  
  

  - Publication costs related to research

  
  

  - Equipment, books, texts, and software purchased with SRF Awards are the property of the University after the student’s research is complete. The original proposal may justify an exemption to this rule, which must be reviewed and approved by the SRF Committee.

  
  

  - Books purchased with Humanities endowment funds are the property of the student after the research is complete. See the Humanities Advisory Committee web page for humanities definitions.

  
  

  - Prize drawings are an appropriate and eligible expense when used as an incentive for participant involvement.

  
  

  - Research funds cannot be used to pay students to administer tests.

• Award Limitations

  -No requests for retroactive funding are eligible, therefore make sure to apply for funds prior to beginning your research activity.
  
  
  -Students may apply for only one research award and one presentation award per project during the academic year.
  -Students will receive only one Research Award at a time. 
  
  
  -A Presentation Award may overlap a second Research Award for another topic, but a student may not apply for a second Research Award until the first is completed.
  
  
  -The SRF Committee will make one of four determinations regarding  your proposal:
  -Approval
  -Approval, with conditions.
  -Decline, with encouragement to reapply with revisions.
  -Decline to fund.

• Proposal Contents

  Follow these instructions to complete your application for a Student Research Fund Award.
  A full proposal includes:
  - A completed SRF Application Form, also called the cover page.
  - A two-page project description, also called the narrative. See below for detailed instructions on what to include in the narrative for a research proposal.
  - One support letter from your research or creative work advisor. 
  - IRB or IACUC approval, if applicable (may be pending at the time of application).
  
  
  THE NARRATIVE must be no more than two pages in length, 12pt. font, and must address all areas listed below. 
  
  
  Goals and Objectives 
  - What is the aim of your research or creative work?  That is, what research questions do you hope to answer?
  
  
  Significance
  
   - Detail the importance of your project. How it is different than what has been done?
  - How is your project important for others in your field or for society?
  - Briefly describe how this project supports your professional growth and development.
  
  
  Methodology
  
   - Specify the process through which you are conducting your inquiry, or the frameworks or theories within which you are working.
  - Cite published references to establish your work within the context of your discipline. Include a works cited / bibliography section.
  - State your project timeline with specific attainable goals.
  - Refer to the items you will purchase with the Research Award.
  
  
  Project Evaluation/Assessment
  
   - What measures will be used to determine the success of your project?  How will you evaluate your performance?
  
  
  Budget Justification
  
  - A project budget must address the following:  total projected expenses, an explanation of the amounts budgeted, use of student research funds, additional funding and how it will be secured, and how your project will be modified if additional funding cannot be secured.
  
  - To explain the budget, applicants must complete the following Budget Table and address the additional questions in short answer format (see 6. Budget Narrative).

  
  Budget Table (Applicants must adhere to this format)

  
  

  Example

  Expenses	Calculation( cost per unit * units needed)	SRF Request	Additional Funding	Total
  Chemical Test Kit	$150  *  3 kits	$350	0	$350
  Machine Rental	$45/hr * 5 hours	$50	$175	$225
  	TOTALS:	$400	$175	$575

  
         

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Budget Narrative

  - Provide an explanation of the amounts budgeted for your research project or travel. How will additional funds be secured? How your project will be modified if additional funding cannot be secured?
  
   - For equipment requests, explain the need for new equipment and what department will accept responsibility for maintenance after its use for this project. Have you attempted to locate the same or a similar item already owned by Otterbein? 
  

• Letter of Support

  - Students are required to submit a letter of support from a faculty member who will advise them on their research. faculty should refer to SRF Policies and Procedures. 

• IRB and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

  -Students must adhere to Otterbein’s process for approving research conducted with humans and animals. Applications may be submitted while the IRB or IACUC reviews are pending; successful awards will be conditional until the IRB or IACUC approvals are received. 

• Application Requirements, Reimbursement for Expenditures, and Final Reports

  -Full budgets for all activity (Research and Presentation Awards) are required to ensure that the SRF Committee can reduce funding inequity between departments.

  
  

  -Expenditures will be reimbursed based on clear and accurate accounting with receipts to back up the claim for the expenditure.

  
  

  -Students are not required to submit a final expense summary, but ARE required to write “Final” on the final payment request.

  
  

  -Students are required to send a 200 word abstract to sum up their progress on the Research Award or describe the presentation at the conference for the Presentation Award.  The Office of Sponsored Programs will keep detailed expense records and will forward abstracts to the appropriate divisions and departments at Otterbein.

  
  

  -Awards must be used within 24 months or by the date at which the student is no longer fully enrolled, whichever comes first.

• Multiple Participants

  -The SRF Committee recognizes that several students may be researching similar aspects of the same project.  For requests for individual awards, students and their advisor must clearly define how each project is separate and does not overlap. 

  
  

  -Although one student will be named on the account for the award, each student must sign the application form and requests for reimbursement. Several students may apply for one award. All students will be recognized for their achievement at the end of the academic year. 

• Deadlines

  -There will be two deadlines each semester. Proposals will be due by 4:00 PM Thursday of the 3rd and 12th weeks of the semester. Plan carefully! Apply early in the semester for Research Awards to give yourself the maximum amount of time for your project. 

  
  

  -The last deadline of the academic year will have the least amount of funding available.