• Rising juniors will be prioritized but seniors will also be considered. **Prior recipients will need to demonstrate productivity and compliance with grant expectations during the first year of funding in order to be considered for renewal.** 
• Students must be full-time students at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
• Applicants must have at least six months of undergraduate research experience in the same lab as their application research project prior to the start of the funding cycle (June 1).
• The proposed research project must be STEM-related or within an NSF-GRFP funded field, defined as:
  • Chemistry
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Geosciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Materials Research
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Physics & Astronomy
  • Psychology
  • Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
  • STEM Education and Learning Research

• Student Form describing prior and ongoing research experience and future goals. Be prepared to upload 2-page project proposal and transcript.
• Progress Report to be completed by students applying for a second year of support.
• Advisor Form describing undergraduate research history and training plan for the applicant.
• Certification Form to confirm expectations of grant recipients.

The Student Form and Advisor Form are due by March 15, 2025.

Students are expected to:

• Submit an external fellowship application (NSF GRFP or similar) prior to graduation.
• Acknowledge the funding source (Mizzou Forward Undergraduate Research Training Grant) in publications and presentations.
• Present the work at appropriate venues at least once during each funding period.
• Submit a Progress Report at the end of each funding period, describing activities and outcomes resulting from the funding as well as copies of manuscripts, grant proposals, patent applications, etc. (when available).
• Inform the Training Grant Coordinators of their post-graduation placement.
• Report publication/s or funding resulting from this fellowship to the Training Grant Coordinators in a timely manner.

Mentors agree to:

• Train the awardee and help them prepare a fellowship for external funding.
• Commit to reviewing future applications (once per funding period).
• Use the funds only to pay for student salary, at an hourly rate of at least $15/hr. Award funding will be provided via a departmental transfer; any unused funds must be returned at the end of the award period.

• When does the funding have to be spent?

The funding must be spent between June 1 and May 31; there are no other restrictions (for example, it could be used for 30 hours per week for ~12 weeks in the summer, or for ~15 hours per week only during the school year).

• What happens if the entire $5000 is not spent by May 31?

Any remaining funds revert to the training grant.

• Can the money be spent on things besides student salary (supplies, travel to conferences, etc.)?

No, the funds are earmarked only for student salary.

• If the funded student graduates or leaves the lab before May 31, can any remaining funds be used to support another student in the lab?

No, the funds are tied to the student whose proposal was funded.

• What if I have other sources of salary funding?

You cannot draw salary on the grant at the same time as you are supported by another source (a Cherng summer fellowship, a departmental summer fellowship, etc.)

• Will the MISC-4800 class affect my other courses?

The course has no hours or tuition associated with it, it is only used for bookkeeping. It will not affect any of the other courses on your schedule.

• I don’t see the MISC-4800 course available for next semester?

The course is sometimes not added until closer to the effective term, check back closer to the start of the term you will register for it.

• Do I need a permission number to register for the course?

   No.

• What fellowships meet the requirement?

Prestigious external fellowships that meet the requirement are listed in the Award letter; we also encourage you to make an appointment with the Fellowships Office early to identify opportunites you are eligible for. While the NSF-GRFP is preferred, other qualifiying scholarships include:

• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• Ford Foundation Fellowships
• Hertz Fellowship
• Knight-Hennessy Scholars
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF)
• NIH Graduate Partnership Program
• SMART Scholarship for Service

• I am a junior this year and not eligible to write an NSF-GRFP. What can I do?

There are other opportunities that juniors are eligible for (e.g. Goldwater fellowships, DOD-RISE fellowships) which we encourage you to explore as they will add to the likelihood of writing a successful NSF-GRFP or other external fellowship as a senior. If you are funded as a junior and you do not apply for or do not receive continued funding next year, it is still expected that you will write a fellowship during your senior year.

• How do I arrange for the student to be paid from these funds?

You will need to contact your department’s fiscal personnel to hire the trainee and arrange the MoCode with the Provost’s Office once the funding is awarded.