Undergraduate Research Journal

The University of Texas at Austin Undergraduate Research Journal is now accepting submissions for its 2016 volume. Papers may be the products of classes, independent study, supervised research, honors theses, and they can be of any discipline or subject.

Papers will be reviewed by University of Texas faculty of the appropriate field, and accepted papers will be published in print as well as online on our website. The author of the winning article among those published will  be selected to receive a $200 prize, and a runner-up will receive a $100 prize.

More information and submission guidelines are available at http://texasurj.com/submit/. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit your paper as early as possible. You may also view previously published articles at http://texasurj.com/archive/.

Feel free to contact Patrick Haley at editor.in.chief@texasurj.com for any questions you may have.

Spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Fellowship competition

Announcing the Spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Fellowship competition

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Fellowship competition. You can click the link above to view the competition page, and review the details below as well.

  • Internal Submission Deadline: Friday, January 22, 2016
  • Award Cycle: 2015-16
  • Evaluation Criteria: • Clarity and thoroughness of presentation (error-free, jargon-free, clearly labeled and explained) • Relevance to the applicant’s degree program and career plans. • Scientific, scholarly, or creative merit of the project. • Evidence of ability to carry out the project (as shown by accomplishments and letter of support) • Budget reasonably reflects the proposed project’s needs, is itemized and justified.
  • For more information about the URF: http://www.utexas.edu/research/resources/awards-fellowships-grants
  • Description: The purpose of the URF competition is to provide support for scholarly research projects conducted by University undergraduate students. Fellowships are intended to cover costs associated with research projects proposed and written by undergraduate student applicants and undertaken with the supervision of a University tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure track faculty member, or full-time Research staff member. The supervisor will attest to the appropriateness of the student’s research expenses throughout the project, and will need Principal Investigator (PI) status in order to request IACUC, IBC, or IRB approvals, if applicable. For a list of personnel titles that qualify as PI, please visit: http://www.utexas.edu/research/osp/osp_handbook.html#pis.
    Deadlines
    There are two opportunities to apply during the academic year. The next deadline is Friday, January 22, 2016. Awards will be announced in mid-February. URFs will expire August 31, 2016, unless the student graduates earlier, in which case the fellowship will expire on UT’s official commencement date. All funds not spent by the expiration date will revert back to the URF fund.
    Eligibility

    • Only UT students may apply.
    • Applicants must be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 hours) at The University of Texas at Austin in a bachelor’s degree program or in the PharmD Program. Graduating seniors must provide full-time status certification by the Registrar’s Office or  academic advisor, if enrollment is less than 12 hours at time of applying.
    • URF awards are given once per student, per academic year, September 1st – August 31st. For instance, a student may re-apply again in the Spring, after an unsuccessful Fall application.
    • Previous URF recipients may apply in multiple years; however, the likelihood of receiving an award in two consecutive years is dependent upon funding constraints and the size and qualifications of the applicant pool.
    • Applicants must have a minimum overall in-residence UT GPA of 2.5.
    • Research projects must be independent. URFs will not fund UT-sponsored or specific class-associated research or travel (e.g., Study Abroad, seminars, etc.). Award limit is $1,000 per project. Applicant must meet eligibility requirements, and must  receive endorsement by the supervisor. Only one qualified supervisor is allowed per project.
  • Information session: Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 11:00am to 12:00pm, FAC 328

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

Deadline: February 5, 2016

CREEES offers FLAS Fellowships to fund highly competitive graduate and undergraduate students for the study of regional foreign languages, including (but not limited to):
  • Russian
  • Polish
  • Czech
  • Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian
  • Ukrainian
  • Bulgarian
  • Persian/Tajik*
  • Turkish*
  • Romani*
  • Yiddish*

Other languages may be added pending approval on a case-by-case basis. FLAS awards are available for both academic year (in residence at UT) and summer studies (at UT, abroad or elsewhere in the US). See our non-exhaustive list of FLAS eligible language programs!

*Applicants pursuing Persian/Tajik, Turkish, Romani, and Yiddish or any other languages for which they seek approval must show applicability to the study of our region, which includes the Balkans/Southeast Europe, Central/Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus or the former Soviet sphere of influence.

Before applying, it is recommended to read the following FAQ:
Application Process:
IMPORTANT: In order to begin the online application process, be sure to have the following information available and ready to upload! 
  • Data needed for the application form: name, status and classification at UT-Austin, UT issued EID, biographical and contact information, Texas residency status, citizenship information, academic information (major, department, advisor and contact information, GPA, etc), language of study and level of language study, career goal information, date of FAFSA submission, acknowledgments to release FAFSA information and abide by FLAS Fellowship requirements.
  • Proof of FAFSA application submission (upload: screenshot or verification email) – NOT REQUIRED
  • Two-page proposal addressing your interest in studying this language/area, how language study will aid your career and/or research goals. This may be single or double spaced, but is limited to two (2) pages! (Must include your name, EID, and which FLAS you are applying for on the statement, upload as PDF)
  • Current CV limited to two (2) pages (upload as PDF)
  • Copies of your current UT transcript, or most recent transcripts, if you are an incoming student (upload as a PDF).  Incoming graduate applicants must include a copy of their GRE scores (upload as a PDF).
  • The names and email addresses of two (2) recommenders.
    NOTE: Applicants are responsible for providing correct email addresses and for giving their recommenders ample time (several weeks!) to agree to write and submit a letter of recommendation. It is preferred for recommendations to come from faculty and for at least one letter to speak to language learning abilities.
    Upon submission of the application form, recommenders will receive an email with a link, where they will upload their recommendation letters for you. Recommenders will have an extra week (until February 12th) to submit their letters for your application
Please submit your application material via the online application form(s):

If you have any questions please contact:
Agnes Sekowski, FLAS Coordinator for CREEES
Office: BUR 440 (M-F ~10:30am-5:30pm)
The University of Texas at Austin
2505 University Ave, Stop F3600
Austin, TX 78712
Email: agnes.sekowski@utexas.edu
Tel. (512) 232-9123

 

Holiday Book Fair Saturday, December 12 10:00-1:00 pm

“Love reading? Coffee and treats? Holiday cheer? Looking for the perfect present for that bibliophile on your gift list? Then come by the Byrne-Reed House (1410 Rio Grande Street) for Humanities Texas’s seventh annual Holiday Book Fair. On Saturday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., talented Texas authors will visit with holiday shoppers and sign copies of their latest books, available for purchase at a discounted price. Noteworthy authors participating in this year’s festivities include H. W. Brands, Ray Benson, Jan Jarboe Russell, Katherine Howe, Brandon Caro, Don Tate, Karen Olsson, Kirk Lynn, Sarah Cortez, Louisa Hall, Steven Moss, Antonio Ruiz-Camacho, Michael Barnes, Jacqueline Kelly, Chris Barton, David Gaines, Elizabeth Harris, Andrew J. Torget, Dave Oliphant, Javier Auyero, Chuck Bailey, Nikki Loftin, and Light Townsend Cummins. Come by for good conversation, delicious homemade baked goods and complimentary hot coffee. Free parking will be available in the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church lot on the northwest corner of 15th and Rio Grande Streets. All proceeds from the book fair and bake sale will benefit Texas libraries.

Click here, contact us at 512-440-1991, or find us on Facebook or Twitter for more details about this event.”

Spring Semester Part-Time Nanny needed Tuesdays and Thursdays

I am in need of a reliable, energetic person with a car to pick up my creative, energetic, 11 year old daughter from school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 and hang out with her to get her going on homework (tho’ she can be left alone). Pay $13.00 an hour. General time frame- Pick up at 3:30 until 5:30. The most important time is pick up. The length can be adjusted if you need to leave earlier.  My daughter attends Lamar Middle School off 2222 and Burnet Road (just north of UT campus). Please email me if interested. samorous@austin.utexas.edu

Shakespeare in Print and Performance

Shakespeare in Print and Performance

December 21, 2015–May 29, 2016

Explore the legacy of William Shakespeare at the Ransom Center. The Elizabethan world of Shakespeare and his contemporaries is presented through early printed books documenting his contemporary reputation, his textual sources, and his plays, all drawn from the Ransom Center’s holdings. Costume and set designs and promptbooks showcase the variety of ways artists have translated his plays into performance.

#ShakespeareATX

Admission is free; your donation supports the Ransom Center’s exhibitions and public programs.

Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended Thursday evening hours to 7 p.m. Open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Free public tours every day at noon, Thursdays at 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Mindfully Connected: A MIND-BODY-SPIRIT SUPPORT GROUP

Learn mindfulness meditation. Connect more authentically with others. Give and receive support.

Join us for this 8-week group that introduces you to mindfulness meditation and mind-body exercises to help reduce anxiety and pave the way for improved connection with others.

This group is an 8-week commitment.

Thursdays: 2/11 through 4/7; (no meeting during spring break)

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Required information session:

1/28 from 2:00-4:00 pm, SSB 5th floor

Contact CMHC to reserve your place: 512-471-3515

Undergraduate Research Summer Programs at other universities

SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES (SROH) AT HARVARD

June 8–August 16

Application Deadline: February 1, 2015

Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard is a summer program offered for currently enrolled undergraduates from across the country who are considering pursuing a PhD in the humanities, social sciences, or life/physical sciences; who have already had at least one summer (or equivalent term-time) of research experience; and who have taken at least one upper-level course in their field of study. Areas of study: Economics, Education, Government, History, Law, Psychology, Public Policy, Religion, Social Policy, Sociology, and Religion.

ACTIVITIES

• Placement in faculty research groups in Cambridge spanning fields in the life and physical sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

• Weekly faculty lectures from departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) divisions, held jointly with students enrolled in the Harvard summer research programs.

• Weekly group meeting discussions on student research projects and a range of career and professional development topics.

• Participation in the Leadership Alliance National Symposium. Visiting student status includes housing with residential proctor; library privileges; athletics privileges; access to summer activities such as field trips, music, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must currently be enrolled full-time in an accredited public or private college or university in the United States or its territories, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• All applicants must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

• Demonstrate a committed interest to pursue graduate study toward a PhD or MD-PhD.

• Have completed at least two semesters and have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education by the start of the summer program.

• Be a US citizen or have permanent resident status at the time of application.

FUNDING

Students in the program will live in Harvard-affiliated housing. The program will provide all research and course-related expenses, room, travel to and from the program, and typically, a stipend of $3,500 and a food allowance of $1500.

Apply Today: https://www.gsas.harvard.edu/prospective_students/summer-research-opportunities-at-harvard.php 

SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (SROP) AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

June 20-August 11

Application Deadline: February, 2015

The Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) is an eight-week competitive research experience at Northwestern University for sophomores and juniors from colleges and universities across the United States. All fields of research at Northwestern are open to SROP participants including the social sciences and humanities, physical sciences, chemical and biological sciences, technology, math and engineering fields.

ACTIVITIES

• Conduct research with a Northwestern faculty member

• Orientation programming

• Professional development workshops

• GRE prep classes

• Research Forum and Poster Session

• Networking events with faculty and graduate students

ELIGIBILITY

• Be a current sophomore or junior.

• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• Have an interest in pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) at Northwestern University. Those interested in pursuing an MBA, JD, or MD are not eligible.

FUNDING

Students will receive a $4000 stipend, round trip travel to Northwestern, University housing (single rooms), and a meal subsidy of $450 (not intended to cover all meals).

Apply Today: http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/diversity/undergraduate-summer-research/ 

Fulbright Opportunity for Undergraduates

We are currently accepting applications for the 2016 – 2017 Killam Fellowship, a program administered by Fulbright Canada, to increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and Canada.  Students spend either one semester or one academic year on exchange attending a Canadian university (various university options available).

This fellowship comes with an award amount of $5,000 (for a semester) or $10,000 (for the academic year) to be used towards academic and/or program costs.  Additional award opportunities are also available for participants.

I am holding two information sessions regarding the Fulbright opportunity in the coming weeks.

Monday, November 23 in CLA 1.102

Wednesday, December 2 in PAR 101

The UT application deadline is December 15.  Students should schedule an appointment with me (Ashley McDonald) to open an application and further discuss the program.

Attached you will find more detailed information regarding the Fulbright and the following links provide further detail as well.

http://www.killamfellowships.com/about-us.html

https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/abroad/student/pgm_list/detail/nlogon/1316/

Travel and Write with Nicholas Kristof of the NY Times

From his blog:

I’m also announcing my win-a-trip contest for 2016, seeking a university student to travel with me on an expense-paid reporting trip to the developing world. The winner (this year it was Austin Meyer of Stanford University) will write posts for my blog on The New York Times’s website. This will be the 10th anniversary win-a-trip journey, and one former winner, Mitch Smith, is now a Times reporter. Another, Dr. Leana Wen, is health commissioner of Baltimore.

Information about how to apply is on my blog. The Center for Global Development in Washington will pick finalists.  I’m looking for a smart undergraduate or graduate student with great storytelling skills who wants to help shine a light on neglected issues and doesn’t mind bedbugs or warlords.