Category Archives: Research Opportunities

Texas Student Research Showdown

The Oct. 5 deadline is fast approaching for submissions to the Texas Student Research Showdown! All undergraduate researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are invited to create a 2-minute video recap of their work, to be voted on by UT students. The top submitters will present to a live audience and judging panel Nov. 12 for a chance to win up to $1,500 in awards.

Please join us for a workshop on creating short research videos Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 3:30-4:45 in the PCL Media Lab (register here).

The Showdown is open to any current UT undergraduate involved in research or creative activity in any major. Your work can be an independent project, or a collaboration to which you have made substantive contributions.

The 2015 Texas Student Research Showdown Final Round is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Avaya Auditorium (POB 2.302).

For more details, visit http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/our/showdown.

20th annual undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill

Dear student researchers,

In the Spring of 2016 the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) will host its 20th annual undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  There will be an evening poster session and reception where students will have the opportunity to speak directly to members of Congress and demonstrate how they have been impacted by program supporting research.

Submission Process: Applications due Wednesday, November 4, 2015, including letter of recommendation

Students: The Council on Undergraduate Research invites students to submit an abstract for the 20th Annual Posters on the Hill. Your research should represent one of CUR’s Divisions (Arts and Humanities, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geosciences, Health Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physics/Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences). Abstract submissions should describe your research, scholarship, or creative activity and discuss its significance to society (i.e. what larger issues or problems were you trying address or understand?; how does your work relate to current policy issues?).

Review Process:

Reviewers are CUR members and Councilors in our disciplinary divisions. Your application will be reviewed by these individuals within the same discipline as you indicate on your application. The reviewers are asked to consider:

The readability of the abstract to an educated audience outside of the discipline

The student’s demonstrated ability to present to a non-technical audience

The technical merit or methodology of the project

The broader interest of the project

Is the research complete or is it reasonable to assume that the research will be completed by April?

The primary selection criteria include:

project quality, (e.g. timeliness, level of completion, and interest to both the scholarly and general communities),

communication skills (e.g. being understandable by any educated person), and

disciplinary and geographical distribution.

It is unlikely that more than one student project will be selected per school, but up to four students may be associated with a project. The University of Texas at Austin has an institutional membership to the Council on Undergraduate Research, so there is no need for submitters to have an individual membership.

For more information on the submission process, please visit http://www.cur.org/conferences_and_events/student_events/posters_on_the_hill_call_for_abstracts/

Robert V. Reichle, Ph.D.

Senior Program Coordinator

Office of Undergraduate Research

School of Undergraduate Studies

The University of Texas at Austin

robert.reichle@austin.utexas.edu

512.232.5792

Students compete for $1,500 at the Texas Student Research Showdown

All undergraduate researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are invited to compete for $1,500 in the Texas Student Research Showdown, a video and presentation competition this fall.

In the first round of the Showdown, entrants will create 2-minute videos about their research, to be voted on by UT students. In the final round, the top six students will give 6-minute research presentations to a live audience and judging panel. Winners will receive scholarships to recognize their excellence in research communication. A series of workshops offers support at every step of the process. The 2015 Texas Student Research Showdown Final Round is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Avaya Auditorium (POB 2.302).

Why enter?

We want to help UT’s top students sell their ideas—and their stories as researchers—to a general audience. All entrants will walk away with a 2-minute video that explains their work to friends, family, grad school committees, and future employers. If your video is in the top six, you’ll take part in the Final Round live competition on Nov. 12. A panel of judges will award scholarship prizes for 1st ($1,500), 2nd ($750), and 3rd ($250) place. Prizes will be awarded based on communication skill and the merit of the research.

Why short videos and mini-presentations?

Short videos are ideal for communicating on social media, and mini-presentations of a style similar to short TED talks are perfect for telling the narrative of your work without overwhelming a general audience. If you’ve never communicated in these formats before, that’s okay—we’ll help you learn how. Attend one of our workshops on making a knockout video and talk.

Who can enter?

The Showdown is open to any current UT undergraduate involved in research or creative activity in any major. Your work can be an independent project, or a collaboration with a professor to which you have made substantive contributions.

What are the deadlines?

First Round: Video submissions are due Oct. 5. Voting will take place Oct. 7-21.
Final Round: The live competition will take place Thursday, Nov. 12 at 3:30 p.m.

For more details, visit http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/our/showdown.

Call for Government Department Research Practicum The University of Texas at Austin Fall 2015 & Spring 2016

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This fall semester we are pleased to announce that the Government Department will be offering a research practicum under the direction of Dr. Michael Findley (Department of Government) and Henry Pascoe (Department of Government).

This course is the first semester of a two-semester program (with upper-division course credit) to introduce undergraduate students to the research process in the social sciences. In this program, students will get hands on experience by contributing to research projects

similar to the lab setting of the natural sciences. In the first semester, taken in fall semester, students will develop and present their own research proposal. In the second semester

(spring), students will complete and present their results.

Throughout both courses, we will discuss issues encountered when conducting applied social

We expect that students will engage in research about foreign aid, political violence, peace processes, and international development. Other topics of interest to students are also possible. Training in research methodologies and statistical analysis will be provided.

Past iterations of the research practicum have proven very successful for students. Last year, four students in the course were accepted to present their research at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago, IL. Two students won best project awards at this year’s undergraduate research fairs. Students have gone on to terrific internships in Washington D.C., Uganda, Senegal, Timor Leste, Mexico, and numerous other countries. And in years past, some students have gone on to publish their research in high profile academic and policy outlets.

Please contact Dr. Michael Findley (mikefindley@austin.utexas.edu) or Henry Pascoe (hbpascoe@utexas.edu) as soon as possible if you have any questions or if you would like to participate in the course. Only a limited number of seats are available in the course.

Schwarzman Scholars

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Dear Friends,

Schwarzman Scholars is pleased to announce the application is now open for exceptional students, recent alumni, and young professionals to apply for its inaugural class.

Inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars is a highly selective international scholarship program designed to prepare future leaders for success in a world where China plays a key global role.

The program will give the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through a fully-funded one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University – one of China’s most prestigious universities. For those ready to make their mark on the world, Schwarzman Scholars is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to:

·         Access World-Class Curriculum and Faculty  

·         Learn Beyond the Classroom and Experience the Real China

·         Engage in Multi-Dimensional Leadership Training  

 The application is now available, and the deadline is October 1, 2015. Additional information on the application process, including key dates, requirements and eligibility criteria can be found on our website.

Schwarzman Scholars is seeking high-caliber individuals who will represent the world’s next generation of leaders in business, politics, and civil society. We invite you to circulate this announcement to students, young professionals, and recent alumni from your institution.

We will host a prospective student webinar on April 23rd from 5:00-6:30PM (EDT). Please pass along the following information to any students or alumni who are interested in learning more about the application process.

Open to interested applicants: To register, please click here.If you do not have a Google account, you may view the webinar via YouTube.

For additional information and updates we encourage you to:

·         Stay informed by filling out the inquiry form

·         Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

·         Contact us with any questions

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Schwarzman

Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the “Bobby R. Inman Award” for Student Scholarship on Intelligence

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The Intelligence Studies Project of the University of Texas at Austin announces the inaugural round of an annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security.  The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.  This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2014-15 academic year.  The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2015. 

The Intelligence Studies Project was established at the University of Texas at Austin in 2013 as a joint venture of the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William P. Clements, Jr. Center for History, Strategy and Statecraft in collaboration with the LBJ School of Public Affairs. The Project’s mission is to improve understanding of intelligence activities and institutions through research, courses and public events bringing intelligence practitioners together with scholars, students and the public.

The award recognizes more than six decades of distinguished public service by Bobby R. Inman, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.).  Admiral Inman has served in multiple leadership positions in the U.S. military, intelligence community, private industry and the University of Texas.  His previous intelligence posts include Director of Naval Intelligence, Vice-Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the National Security Agency and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence.  He continues to serve as a teacher and mentor to students, faculty members and current government officials while occupying the Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School.

Additional information on the Inman Award competition and the Intelligence Studies Project is available at www.strausscenter.org/inmanaward

Need Partner for the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program

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My name is Jackie Chorush and I’m looking for a partner for the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program this summer that was included in the latest Herald. I already have my business idea: a hostel which runs based on a cooperative business model. I’ve been living in a cooperative for a couple of years now and I’m pretty familiar with the local cooperative scene. But I’m still open to other suggestions. I think this will be a fun, useful project and a cool opportunity. Please get in touch with me! jchorush@utexas.edu

Apply Now for SW360/WGS345 and Join Peers for Pride!

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Students, apply to be a part of this small and engaged course to get upper-division credit and build performance-based education around LGBTQA people’s realities!

“We are helping educate people and facilitate discussions that lead them to becoming advocates for LGBTQ rights.” (Peers for Pride Student Facilitator)

Apply now to be part of the 2015-16 Peers for Pride facilitation team!

Application & interview required to enroll in SW360/WGS345: Confronting LGBTQ Oppression. This two-semester course prepares student facilitators to create and facilitate interactive performances across the UT campus. No experience required! Peers for Pride is a program of the Gender & Sexuality Center: Serving Women & LGBTQA People.

Join a thoughtful and creative team to learn to use theatre for dialogue about LGBTQA realities.

You’ll learn to engage audience participants in performance-based dialogue around:

·      What empathy and ally-ship with LGBTQA people looks like;

·      What LGBTQA oppression looks like in daily experience;

·      How these systems of oppression are affected by racism, sexism, classism, & ableism; &

·      How to interrupt oppression and build dialogue with & among LGBTQA people.

Applications due by either April 15, 2015 (to schedule an interview before registration closes on May 1) or May 1, 2015 (to schedule an interview before the end of the semester on May 19).

“Peers for Pride has been one of my most meaningful experiences in college. I have become much more comfortable having difficult conversations with people, have an easier time expressing my opinion on different topics, and feel that I have grown not only as an ally to identities that I did not know much about before, but that I am now able to help others begin or advance their personal journey of allyship.” (Peers for Pride Student Facilitator)

We look forward to hearing from you!

Questions? Email Kristen Hogan: hogank@austin.utexas.edu.

Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program

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The Inaugural Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program is taking place in Austin beginning June 1. This six-week fellowship includes housing, a food stipend, and hands-on venture creation experience with educational content provided by the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, all free of charge to the students.

Deadline to apply: April 22

Info session: April 13

Details at http://swicorps.org/sefhome/

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

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The Fulbright U.S. Student Program promotes personal growth, cultural exchange, community engagement, and mutual understanding by funding nine months abroad to study, research or teach English in countries around the world.

To find out more, advise your students to attend the info session below, or visit the UT Austin Study Abroad Fulbright page and IIE Fulbright U.S. Student Program page.  Flyer for info session attached.

FULBRIGHT GRANT INFO SESSIONS DATES AND TIMES:

·         Wednesday, April 15, from 3-4pm, CLA 0.128

·         Early May, CLA, TBA

Fulbright awards graduating seniors, recent graduates and alumni to travel for academic work in all disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and the performing and creative arts.  A number of countries also offer grants for those who wish to serve as English teaching assistants.

If your students aren’t quite ready, the competition happens every year, and we’d like to put the Fulbright Program in exceptional students’ minds as a goal to strive for after graduation!

Timeline:

INFO SESSION: Wed, April 15, 2015, 3-4pm, CLA 0.128 on UT Campus

INFO SESSION: Early May 2015, TBA

ONLINE APPLICATION OPENS:  Fri, May 1, 2015

UT APPLICATION CAMPUS DEADLINE:  Wed, September 2, 2015                               

INTERVIEW SLOT ASSIGNED: Fri, Sep 11, 2015

COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS: Mon-Fri, Sep 14-18 and 21-25, 2015 in the UT Austin International Office, 2400 Nueces St, Suite B, Austin, TX 78705, ROOM 104     

NATIONAL ONLINE APPLICATION DUE:  Tuesday, October 13, 4PM Central Time

AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS: March-June 2016

The Fine Print:

                The 2016-2017 Fulbright U.S. Student competition will open on May 1, 2015.  The Fulbright U.S. Student program is open to graduate students at all levels, undergraduates who will have completed their degree by the beginning of the grant period (for most countries, Sept. 1, 2015) and non-students who hold a bachelor’s degree.  The program is restricted to U.S. citizens.  The grants are for study and research abroad, and are available for most countries.  Grants are awarded for all disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and the performing and creative arts.  A number of countries also offer grants for those who wish to serve as English teaching assistants.

An information session for prospective applicants will be presented by an Alumni Ambassador from the Institute of International Education on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 from 3-4pm in CLA 0.128.

Deadlines and Procedures:

1.  Potential applicants must register with us, by completing the FULBRIGHT REGISTRATION SURVEY 2016-2017:

The survey will ask the applicant’s name, contact information, academic status (i.e., undergrad, grad, alumnus), country or region of interest, and area of study or research topic.

2.  The applicant should go to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website

(http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html) for country summaries, information about preparing an application, and, starting May 1, to begin the online application process.

3.  The applicant should also review our campus website:

http://world.utexas.edu/abroad/funding/scholarships/fulbright

4.  Campus Deadline: The applicant must submit copies of all application materials electronically to our office by 2 PM on September 3. Interviews are tentatively scheduled between September 14 and September 25.  While the deadline for final submission to the national office has not yet been announced, my expectation is that it will be around mid-October 2015.