Loyola University Chicago

• Application (Microsoft Word)
• FAQs
• Mentors
• Questions?
• Process for Evaluation
• Stipend and Course Credit

This program is designed to provide Loyola University Chicago undergraduate students with opportunities to gain research experience by working closely with faculty mentors in the areas of the faculty mentors' scholarship.

There are two programs, one during the academic year and the other an intensive summer program. Students will apply for these research opportunities in early March, and will learn of their acceptance into the program by early April. Summer projects are expected to begin shortly after the end of the Spring Semester and will continue through the summer, culminating in a summer undergraduate research symposium poster presentation in early September. The academic year program begins at the start of the Fall Semester, and will continue through the Spring Semester where students will present their findings in a poster session at the undergraduate research symposium in May.

Mentors

We suggest that faculty mentors engage students in research projects that they are already conducting, or are planning to conduct, rather than taking on projects that are of interest to the student, but are not directly related to the faculty member's central research expertise. This provides the student with a project that already has some background information and development, structure and context. It also increases the likelihood that the work conducted by the student may be of publishable quality, or otherwise of value both to the student, and to the faculty member's research program.

We suggest that individual faculty mentors set guidelines and expectations of their students (in a written or verbal agreement) so that the students know how much time each week is expected of him/her towards the project, and they understand their responsibilities to the research project. A timeline of expected milestone achievements over the entire research period can also be very helpful to the student and the faculty mentor.

Process for Evaluation

A group of faculty comprised of various disciplines and schools will evaluate each submitted proposal. The decision to fund a project will be determined based on the following criteria:

• Content of project description: Clearly written, purpose of study, anticipated results, student and faculty mentor roles detailed
• Faculty letter of support: Role of student and mentor, viability of project and ability of student to complete the proposed study

Stipend and Course Credit

Students will receive $1,000 stipend for participating in the Provost Fellowship Program.

Additionally, up to $1,000 will be available for travel and supplies to be used for your research project.

If students want to obtain college credit for conducting this research, there are many mechanisms in place that make this possible. The discipline/school/department that the faculty mentor belongs to will have formalized courses or internships in the course offering guide for obtaining credit.

Questions?

For more information about the Provost Fellowship program, please contact Jessica Horowitz, Ph.D., Office of Research Services, at: 773.508.2476; or e-mail: jhorow@luc.edu.