Undergraduate Research

Provost's Undergraduate Reserach Fund

The Provost's Undergraduate Research Fund (PURF) provides awards to support research by undergraduate students enrolled full-time in an Athens campus college. The Assistant Dean of the Honors Tutorial College administers the fund. As defined by this program, "research" includes scientific studies as well as scholarly work and creative projects. A full-time faculty member must supervise students applying for these funds.

Students who have previously received awards from this fund are not eligible to receive additional funding for the same project. However, they may apply for funding if they are undertaking a new research project, creative project, or scholarly work.

Download the May 2012 guidelines and application as PDF or Word Doc.

NOTE: Each recipient of PURF funding is expected to present his or her research at Ohio University's annual Research and Creativity Expo that is held each May. More information about registering for the Expo will be announced at the beginning of spring quarter.

Herbert L. Baer Prize

The annual Herbert L. Baer Prize Competition was established in honor of an Honors Tutorial College alumnus, Dr. Herbert L. Baer, who was very interested in research and work that bridged traditional disciplinary boundaries, particularly those involving mathematics in some way. This is a cash award of $1000 designed to recognize excellence and achievement in multi-or trans-disciplinary thinking. All students at Ohio University are eligible to enter this competition each April. The prize is announced in mid-May.

To view full details about the competition, download the Baer Prize form here.

Past Winners:
Jordan Pleasant (2009)
Lisa Howison (2008)
Jennifer Chambers (2007)
Patrick Heery (2006)
Kelsey Brennan (2005)
Anna Jagelewski (2004)
Nicholas Capell (2003)
David Armstrong (2002)

Research Apprenticeships

The purpose of the Research Apprenticeship Program is to support faculty research by providing assistance from an Honors Tutorial College student. The intent is to support the faculty member in his/her research while at the same time providing the student with an opportunity to experience original research firsthand. The relationship is mutually beneficial and supportive.

All academic disciplines are considered for Research Apprenticeships. The Dean of the Honors Tutorial College contacts Directors of Studies and Department Chairs each year, usually in early spring quarter, regarding the number of apprenticeships available.

Eligibility

Faculty who have been Directors of Studies, tutors, or thesis advisers for Honors Tutorial College students are eligible to submit proposals. Application Procedure: Faculty members apply by submitting the required application form, which requires a brief description of the research project planned for completion during the term of the apprenticeship experience/skills/benefits to be gained by the student during the apprenticeship qualifications expected from the student applicants (see application form).

Descriptions of the funded projects are made available to students and their Directors of Studies. Students contact faculty researchers for interviews. Faculty make the final selection for their own research apprentices.

If additional funds are necessary for travel to research libraries or other appropriate activities, the college will consider requests. These funds will be for the expenses of the student only.

More information can be found here.