Happy New Year from the Council on Undergraduate Research.  As many institutions are currently on winter break, we have decided to postpone the January ENews until the end of the month.  

However, we would like to remind you of some upcoming deadlines and events, and to share a couple research and funding opportunities.  

Important Dates:

Deadline to Apply for the West Region Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, at California State University, Northridge – January 11, 2008

CUR National Conference Registration Opens – January 15, 2008

Deadline to Apply for the Northwest Region Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, at Lewis & Clark College – January 18, 2008

Deadline to Submit Electronic Ballot for CUR Councilor Elections  – January 31, 2008

Deadline to Submit Poster Presentations for the 2008 CUR National Conference – February 1, 2008

Notification Date for Participants in the 2008 Posters on the Hill Event – February 15, 2008

Detailed Information:

West Region Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, at California State University, Northridge

The application for the CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research is available online at http://www.cur.org/grants/ccliworkshops.asp.  This workshop will be held February 15-17, 2008.  The deadline for application has been extended to January 11, 2008.

The Council on Undergraduate Research has received a grant from in the amount of $499,066 from the National Science Foundation.  The program includes eight regional workshops over the next two years and follow-up activities for institutions that participate in the regional workshops.  The purpose of the grant is to assist campuses in making institution-level changes to establish, formalize and expand undergraduate research opportunities.  These workshops will be directed toward campuses that have not yet institutionalized undergraduate research.  Workshop sites have been identified and dates have been confirmed.  The application and further information are available on the regional workshop website at http://www.cur.org/ccli.html

2008 CUR National Conference:  Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research

The Council on Undergraduate Research will hold its next national conference "Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research" at the College of Saint Benedict on June 21-24, 2008. This conference will bring together faculty, administrators, policy makers, representatives of funding agencies and other stakeholders with an interest in doing and promoting undergraduate research. With over 100 workshops, presentations by representatives of funding agencies and social interactions, this promises to be an outstanding conference.  Please visit the conference website at http://www.cur.org/conferences/csb/cur08natconf.asp for more information.

Registration will be available online January 15, 2008 at http://www.cur.org/register.html

Northwest Region Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, at Lewis & Clark College

This workshop will be held February 29- March 2, 2008.  The deadline for application is January 18, 2008.  The application for the CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research is available online at http://www.cur.org/grants/ccliworkshops.asp.

The Council on Undergraduate Research has received a grant from in the amount of $499,066 from the National Science Foundation.  The program includes eight regional workshops over the next two years and follow-up activities for institutions that participate in the regional workshops.  The purpose of the grant is to assist campuses in making institution-level changes to establish, formalize and expand undergraduate research opportunities.  These workshops will be directed toward campuses that have not yet institutionalized undergraduate research.  Workshop sites have been identified and dates have been confirmed.  The application and further information are available on the regional workshop website at http://www.cur.org/ccli.html

CUR Councilor Elections:

Divisional councilors serve CUR through the projects and initiatives of their division.  The combined work of these individuals contributes to the national scope of undergraduate research.  They play a key role in ensuring that our purpose and goals are fulfilled.  

Electronic Ballots were sent on January 7, 2008 to all CUR Members.  The deadline for completing the online ballot is January 31, 2008.  

Call for Proposals for 2008 CUR National Conference:

CUR is now accepting proposals for Poster Presentations for the 2008 CUR National Conference to be held at the College of Saint Benedict, in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.  The theme is "Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research".  A description of the theme, as well as sub themes are available by visiting the conference web page at http://www.cur.org/conferences/CSB/CUR08NatConf.asp   

Deadline for Poster Presentations is February 1, 2008.  The deadline for Workshops and Interactive sessions has passed.

Notifications for 2008 Posters on the Hill:

It is increasingly important that the scientific community works to ensure that those in the U.S. Congress who provide funding for science and science education have a clear understanding of the programs they fund and why these programs are important. Undergraduate research must be among those programs that members of Congress understand to ensure it's continued support. 

Nothing more effectively demonstrates the value of undergraduate research than the words and stories of the student participants themselves. In the Spring of 2008, CUR will host its 12th annual Posters on the Hill, an undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill that helps members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact.

CUR received over 200 applications for this years event, and the applications are currently under review.  Participants will be notified via email on February 15, 2008.

Posters on the Hill is scheduled for April 30, 2008 in Washington, D.C.  More information and the application are available at: http://www.cur.org/postersession.html.  

With funding from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, the Keck Geology Consortium announces the following projects for SUMMER 2008 and encourages students to review the projects on our website: http://keckgeology.org

All project dates are tentative. Application instructions are on the website. 

Application Deadline: February 1, 2008 

Identifying Tectonic Assembly in High-Grade Gneiss Terranes: Case Study in the Adirondack Lowlands, New York: July 12 – August 9, 2008 

Quaternary Tectonic and Geomorphic Evolution of the Deluun Nuruu, Mongolian Altai, Western Mongolia: July 15 - August 10, 2008 

Block Island, RI: A Microcosm for the Study of Anthropogenic and Natural Environmental Change: June 23 – July 18, 2008 

Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment of Early Tertiary Alaskan Forests, Matanuska Valley, Alaska: July 1 – July 28, 2008 

Seafloor Volcanic and Hydrothermal Controls on Early Life Preserved in an Archean Greenstone Belt – Canada: July 17 – August 14, 2008 

Interdisciplinary Studies in the Critical Zone, Boulder Creek Catchment, Front Range, Colorado: July 16 – August 14, 2008 

Geoarchaeology of the Poggio Colla Archaeology Field Site, Italy: June 22 – July 20, 2008 

25-30% of student participants will be from non-Consortium institutions. The Keck Geology Consortium welcomes student applications from underrepresented groups.

The program will run from June 22 through August 29, 2007 (10 weeks), and will engage physical science and engineering students in interdisciplinary team-based research, professional skills workshops and seminars. Participants will have access to sophisticated instrumentation and fabrication facilities. Benefits include a weekly stipend, on-campus housing and a travel grant to present results at a professional conference. Applicants must have GPA of 3.0 or greater, have completed their junior year, and clearly articulate an interest in nanotechnology in their personal statement. No previous research experience is required, and students from colleges where research opportunities are limited are especially encouraged to apply. 

NanoCER strives to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who continue on to doctoral study in science and engineering. Students must apply separately to BOTH the REU-NanoCER and SPUR programs. See the instructions on our web page for more information, http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu/reu-nanocer/app-requirements. 

Please note the application deadline is February 15, 2008.

Description: The HBCU Research Participation Program introduces faculty, graduates, and undergraduates from HBCUs to the research and development activities of the federal government through research, education, and training activities. In addition, the program provides incentives for HBCU students to enter into and continue with science and engineering careers. 

Discipline(s): computer science, engineering, earth or geosciences, health physics, materials science, mathematics, molecular/radiation biology, performance and risk assessments, physical sciences, statistics-relate

Eligibility: U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents. undergraduate and graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities; U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents 

Location(s): laboratories where Nuclear Regulatory Commission research is being conducted; some appointments on Historically Black Colleges and Universities campuses; some appointments at host universities under the guidance of principal investigators who have Nuclear Regulatory Commission research grants 

Duration: 10 to 12 weeks for summer appointments; some part-time appointments of one year Benefits: weekly stipend of $600 for undergraduates, $700 for graduate students; limited travel reimbursement (round-trip transportation expenses between facility and home or campus) 

Funding source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

How to apply: www.orau.org/nrc 

Program Contact: Alicia JoAnn Edwards, Wells Program Specialist, ORAU/ORISE Science Education Programs, P.O. Box 117, MS-36 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Phone: 865-576-3409 Fax: 865-241-5220

Are you interested in conducting research at the US Department of Energy’s largest multi-purpose laboratory?  Do you know someone who would be an excellent intern, participating in world-class research with world-class scientists?  Would you like to get paid to learn?  Are you interested in expanding your resumι?  Would you like to gain research experience before entering the workforce or graduate school?  If you answered yes to any of the questions above then you should visit www.scied.science.doe.gov to learn more about the following programs: 

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) Program 

Community College Institute (CCI) Program 

Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Program 

Faculty and Student Teams (FaST) Program 

Please see www.scied.science.doe.gov for specific program eligibility requirements. 

Deadline February 1, 2008

ORNL Education Program Contacts: Ebony Vauss, (865) 576-3426, ebony.vauss@orau.org Terry Howard, (865) 241-6395, terry.howard@orau.org

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