Buffalo State Office of Undergraduate Research

Buffalo State Office of Undergraduate Research

Buffalo State Office of Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program, Summer 2016

REQUIRED SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES

  1. Orientation Meeting
  2. Complete and submit budget worksheet
  3. Complete and submit summer schedule

Note: The ‘window’ for researchis considered to be from May 16 to August 19. Extensions beyond August 26 must be approved by J. Singer.

  1. Complete IRS W-9 Identification form

Submit forms to Jill Singer during Orientation Meeting

  1. Before Research Begins
  2. Student completes 'Pre-Research Reflection' and forwards to mentor
  3. Mentor reviews student’s responses and schedules a meeting with the student
  4. Student and mentor meet to discuss student’s responses and any other questions relating to this reflection; identify any additional outcomes; and complete the short form about meeting.

Note: Any additional outcomes are added by the mentor to the short online form they complete; this will automatically add these outcomes to all subsequent forms competed by the student-mentor pair.

  1. Student and mentor complete the pre-research assessment and mentor contacts student to set up meeting to discuss responses
  2. There is a student and mentor version of this survey. Please do not complete them together. However, you should coordinate taking the surveys and decide when you are ready to complete them. You should complete the Pre-Research Assessment within a day or two of each other and then meet within a day or two to discuss how each of you scored each item.
  3. Mentor version of the assessment form includes ‘confidence levels’ for both the pre- and post-research assessments. For each of the outcomes, you’ll be asked to indicate your level of confidence in the score's accuracy. (5-Very confident; 4-Fairly confident; 3-Somewhat confident; 2-Not terribly confident; 1-Not confident at all).
  4. Student and mentor meet to discuss each other’s responses and why scores were same or different on outcomes; each completes a very short form summarizing meeting

After a – e are completed, the supply/travel money* will be issued to student(*if chemicals are being ordered, discuss arrangements with J. Singer)

  1. Research Can Begin!
  2. Start a journal to keep track of progress and reflect on experience
  3. Students are required to maintain a journal and mentors are encouraged to keep a journal or notes about student progress. The EvaluateUR website supports a password protected journal. You can also keep a notebook (lab/field) or sketchbook instead of an electronic journal. It is recommended that you date each journal entry and make entries every few days or at least once every week. You will be asked about your journal in the mid-research and end-of-research reports.
  4. Student’s first stipend check released in 2ndweek in June (adjusted to summer schedule if necessary). The stipend check will not be released until student has picture taken by Bruce Fox, College Photographer.
  1. Mid-Research
  2. Student and Mentor each complete a report, including the mid-research assessment. This is a fairly short report asking each of your to summarize progress to date, any significant changes in the research plan, and work to be completed in the second half of the summer. The student and mentor meet to discuss how each scored the assessment.
  3. Review of reports and release of student’s second stipend check (mid-July, adjusted to summer schedule and completion of student and mentor progress reports)
  1. End-of-Research
  2. Student uploads: 1) 4-5 page summary report (single-spaced) and include methodology, data, figures, pictures of works of art, and comprehensive summary of findings and 2) 2-3 PPTX slides (non-animated) highlighting project (the slides will be used to briefly describe the project and findings during the wrap-up session). Mentor reviews and approves the report and slides and help student make edits as needed. This should be a very high quality representation of the project conducted during the summer.
  3. Student completes an online application to present during the 19th Student Research and Creativity Celebration scheduled for Spring 2017.Mentor approves the online application (Note: the abstract can be edited by the mentor up until the deadline for abstract submission for the 19th SRCC, but in order for the final report to be considered complete, a mentor-approved abstract must be in the SRCC database).
  4. You do not complete another application in the Spring 2017 because you already will have a completed SRCC application
  5. Edits can be made by mentor to revise the SRCC application
  6. The SRCC title must be the same as the title used in the bio sketch. If different, the SRCC title will be revised to be the same (the title for the bio sketch/SRCC can change from the title used in the USRF application)
  7. Student and Mentor: 1)complete the final assessment; 2) meet to discuss how each scored the items in the assessment; and 3) complete a final report.
  8. The Mentor final report includes the short biographical sketch of the student researcher that is included in the program for the SRCC
  9. See examples for proper length and format for bio sketch. It should include: student name, major, mentor name, dept, project title, 1-2 sentences about student's education and future plans, 3-4 sentences describing research, findings, and any presentations related to research.
  10. Mentors should request input from the student, but mentors must prepare the bio sketch.
  11. Review and approval of student and mentor final reports and release of student’s 3rd stipend and mentor’s stipend (mid August to end of August, depending upon completion of project and final reports).
  1. Wrap-up session in early October
  2. During this session students give short summaries of what they did and major findings.
  3. More details about this session will be provided in mid-August
  1. Presentation during 19th Annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration

This is an expectation and requirement for students funded in this program, including students planning to graduate in December 2016. Faculty mentors are expected to stay in contact with their student during the Spring 2017 to respond to requests for biographical sketch and/or abstract updates. Students should provide their faculty mentor current contact information (email and phone).