Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative Funds 20 Projects, Announces 46 Honorable Mentions
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Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative Funds 20 Projects, Announces 46 Honorable Mentions Last fall, the Materials Research Society launched the Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative (UMRI) for which undergraduate students could apply for a $1,000 grant to support their materialsrelated projects. Beth Stadler of the University of Minnesota and chair of the MRS Academic Affairs Committee said that the committee wanted to offer an undergraduate-level award similar to that offered to graduate students, but that u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s involved in research would be unlikely to travel to MRS Meetings. She said that then Presi dent of MRS Robert Nemanich (North Carolina State University) encouraged the committee to p r o p o s e an a w a r d that teaches undergraduate students that MRS is all about materials research. The committee designed a research funding program for fiscal year 1999 to introduce undergraduate students to the excitement of discovery through research in materials science and engineering. Under the program, each undergraduate
awardee would receive a grant for the cost of a moderate research project of no more than $750 plus an additional award of $250 payable directly to each of the undergraduate researchers upon completion of the project. Stadler, along wich committee members Omar Manesreh (U.S. Air Force, New Mexico) and Susan Lord (University of San Diego), dedded to make the process as educational as the research. They formatted a program announcement after typical announcements of U.S. government agendes which they then posted on the MRS Website on November 1,1998. Stadler said, "We required the same procedures as Standard proposals, from description of ideas right down to Institution signatures. It seemed like a lot of work for such small grants, so we were thrilled when 125 very high quality proposals were submitted in January 1999. The proposals were submit ted by undergraduate researchers from 16 countries, and half of them were beyond a doubt worth funding. However, our bud-
get only allowed the top 20 to be funded, so another 46 w e r e given Honorable Mention." MRS Past-President Nemanich said, "One of our goals last year was to emphasize activities which contribute to building a professional identity of MRS as a Society which we belong to throughout our careers. We implemented this Initia tive to encourage u n d e r g r a d u a t e s to become involved in materials research." The grants were awarded in February. The final step for the grant redpients is to write a final report in the format of a pro fessional article such as a proceedings, letter, or Journal article. The students are encouraged to submit their reports to peer-reviewed Journals. On behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee, Stadler said, "We would like to thank everyone who submitted pro posals and congratulate you on a Job well done! These exceptional undergraduates, along with their advisors and institutions, are listed in this article."
Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative Grant
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