Undergraduate Research Funding

Acceptable Use of Funds

The main purpose of SEF is to increase the number of undergraduate students receiving funding to participate in research.

In addition to funding for student researchers, faculty can apply for project supply expenses. Eligible project supply expenses include:

• Materials and supplies specific to the project
• Research Participant Compensation in accordance with NIU Policy
• Direct project expenses (copying, mailing surveys, etc…)

Travel Expenses

• Research-related travel expenses (travel to a research/field site and lodging)

SEF does not cover travel costs for conferences for students to present or attend professional conferences. Students interested in presenting their faculty-mentored research are encouraged to submit a Conference Travel Funding application.

CLAS faculty facilitating group field site and experiential learning experiences as part of course requirements should reach out directly to their college to request funds.

Limitations

You may limit the project timeline to one semester or extend it across multiple semesters during the application cycle (summer, fall, and spring). The following limitations will apply: 

• Faculty submits one application per project, for a maximum of two applications per faculty member.
• Each faculty member, regardless of whether they are submitting one or two applications, is limited to a maximum of $3,800 in SEF support per year, divided as follows:
  • $2,400 in student researcher funds
  • $1,000 in project supply funds
  • $400 in research-related travel expenses

Faculty have the option of dividing the funds per semester and hiring full-time or part-time undergraduate researchers. As such, the maximum funding outlined above can be divided as follows: 

• Student researchers: maximum of $2,400 per year.
  • Full-time researcher: $1,200 per semester
  • Part-time researcher: $600 per semester
• Project supplies: maximum of $1,000 per year
  • Full-time researcher: $500 per student
  • Part-time researcher: $250 per student
• Research-related travel expenses: maximum of $400 per year
  • Full-time researcher: $200 per student
  • Part-time researcher: $100 per student

Funding Timeline

• Application opens: mid-January
• Application deadline: end of February
• Awardees notified: early April
• Faculty-student learning agreement: two weeks prior to the start of the semester

Eligibility and Requirements

Student Eligibility

In order for students to receive a stipend as an undergraduate researcher, the following criteria must be met:

• Currently enrolled student at NIU
• In good academic standing
• Full time researchers must be able to contribute 10 hours per week, on average and part time researchers 5 hours per week, on average

Program Requirements

Faculty and students will be added to OSEEL’s Research Funding Programs Blackboard organization which will be used to communicate program requirements and expectations.

Students

• Meet with faculty to complete student-faculty mentor learning agreement and adhere to established commitments
• Maintain regular communication with your faculty mentor
• Submit monthly progress reports
• Complete end of project survey
• Present your research project at NIU’s annual Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE)

Faculty Mentors

• Meet with student and use the student-faculty mentor learning agreement to establish expectations
• Meet with student periodically to assess and review the stated learning outcomes of the project outlined in the student-faculty mentor learning agreement
• Provide resources and necessary tools for students
• Ensure students have completed any necessary safety training to participate in the project. Students and staff can create an account to access Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI training)
• Maintain regular communication with your student researcher and OSEEL staff on any major changes with the research project or mentoring relationship
• Review student abstract and presentation content for CURE
• Work with your department office/business manager to order awarded project supplies

Disbursement of Funds

Stipends

Stipends for OSEEL undergraduate researchers will be processed through your bursar account and disbursed into partial payments throughout your project on the 15th of each month. If you already have a direct deposit account with the Bursar’s Office, please contact them to make sure you have the correct bank account on file for your funding to be distributed. Direct deposit as an NIU employee is not the same. You will still need to set up this feature through the Bursars office. Visit go.niu.edu/DirectDeposit for more information and to sign up for direct deposit.