Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution
Next Offering: November 20-22, 2009, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Application Deadline: October 15, 2009
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Starting a successful research program and doing scholarly work at a predominantly undergraduate institution poses unique challenges for a beginning faculty member. A goal of the institute is to give pre-tenured faculty the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experienced faculty how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates. While at the institute, participants will also prepare plans for starting and/or advancing their individual research programs at their respective campuses. The institute is timely and especially important for faculty in the beginning of their career due to the increased national emphasis on research that is part of the national stimulus package. A range of topics will be covered during the institute, and the specific goals include ways to achieve career success in undergraduate research by learning how to:

• select undergraduate researchers
• mentor student researchers and develop and use their research skills
• time management - balancing teaching, research and service activities
• develop and select research projects appropriate for undergraduates
• adapt to an undergraduate research environment vs. that in graduate school
• link research to the classroom and
• develop grantsmanship skills related to gaining external and institutional research support

For further details, please visit http://www.cur.org/institutes/newfaculty.html Before you apply, please review the following information about your Narrative Statement, which must be provided at the time of application. Narrative Statement: As a part of the Institute application, please provide a one paragraph narrative statement in which you

• describe what you see as the future of undergraduate research at your institution and
• what outcomes you hope to realize through participation in the CUR Institute.

In addition to the paragraph, please pose 3 questions that you hope will be discussed during the Institute. If you wish, you may choose questions from the following list.

1. What should be my research expectations for undergraduates?
2. When should I submit my first grant proposal and why?
3. I find myself in a department in which research is expected but not yet valued. What strategies can I use to overcome the notion seemingly held by some of the faculty that classroom teaching is much more important than supervised research and that research detracts from a teacher's classroom performance?
4. In addition to learning about the research process, independent thinking, use of research instruments, etc., what else should students gain from doing a research experience?
5. How do I establish rules (e.g. lab safety rules) and ensure that students obey them?
6. How do I use my department's curriculum and my particular classes to attract students to do long-term research projects in my lab?
7. How do I establish continuity between students coming into and leaving my research group so that I can keep the research program going nearly continuously?
8. How do I introduce research into my classroom?
9. My institution does not have a grants and contracts office. How do I find the time to find appropriate funding agencies and prepare and submit research grant proposals?
10. What institutional and departmental policies and practices should I expect that will encourage or support my research with undergraduates.

Link to Application

Application Deadline: October 15, 2009

Deadlines:
Research Grant Program: November 2, 2009
Faculty Enrichment (Course Development) Program: December 1, 2009

The Canadian Government, through its Embassy and Consulates in the United States, supports research, conferences, teaching, and program activity related to Canada and/or Canada-U.S. relations. The Canadian Studies grant program seeks to encourage comparative research and teaching, faculty exchanges, student mobility, and collaboration between American and Canadian researchers. The program also seeks to build stronger ties between American and Canadian universities and colleges.

• Research Grant Program assists individual scholars or teams of scholars in writing an article-length manuscript of publishable quality with a focus on Canada or Canada-U.S. relations.
• Faculty Enrichment (Course Development) Program provides faculty members an opportunity to develop or update a course with substantial Canadian content that will be offered as part of their regular teaching load.

Deadline: November 13, 2009 (Please click here for application details.)

Fellows will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Acknowledged expertise in one or more areas of public policy important to the future of North Carolina;
• A history of public engagement; and
• Demonstrated excellence in writing for a non-academic audience.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) or the Faculty Fellows program should visit the IEI's website at www.emergingissues.org.