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OUR Weekly: November 27

2023

Hi Hokies,

In this week’s newsletter:

Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Resources

Check out the OUR website

The OUR website has many resources to support you at any stage in your undergraduate research journey. Some pages of particular relevance:

Virginia Tech Research Opportunities 

1. The Austin Michelle Cloyd Social Justice Scholarship

The Austin Michelle Cloyd Social Justice Scholarship recognizes the unique role that social justice leaders can play in shaping more equitable and just societies. Scholars are selected based on their commitment to social justice, demonstrated activism and leadership capabilities. Past Cloyd scholars have made strides in serving marginalized communities, expanded their awareness of social issues and strengthening their potential for compassionate leadership.

The Austin Michelle Cloyd Social Justice Scholarship provides financial assistance to exceptional undergraduate and graduate Virginia Tech students to offset the costs of social justice-focused leadership building activities that may not otherwise be accessible for students due to financial limitations. Social justice is interpreted broadly to reflect the spectrum of challenges facing underserved communities and marginalized populations. The range of acceptable activities for scholarship application include, but are not limited to, internships, study abroad programs, alternative breaks, co-ops, apprenticeships, fellowships, service-learning, and undergraduate research.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but students are encouraged to apply at least one month before the experience they intend to use funding for. More information can be found on the Cloyd Scholarship webpage.

2. Fralin SURF Program

The Fralin Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program is a 10-week training program designed to give motivated Virginia Tech undergraduates the opportunity to engage in full-time (~40 hrs/week) research and related professional development activities that mirror graduate training.

The goal is to offer students experiences that will help them determine if they want to pursue a career in research while they develop skills for graduate school. The program includes weekly research and professional development seminars, periodic social events, and a final symposium during which students will present their research.

15 students will be selected to participate in this training program during summer 2024 and will receive a $5,350 stipend. Applications are now open. More information and the link to apply can be found on the OUR website.

3. Summer Peer Mentor Position

Are you an undergraduate or soon-to-be recent graduate with experience conducting undergraduate research, especially during an organized summer program? Do you have excellent communication and organizational skills? Can you drive? Apply for a summer job with OUR as a Peer Mentor! Positions are up to 20 hours per week, $12-15/hr and run from May 13–July 26. More information and application are available on the OUR website. Applications due March 15.

4. Spring and Summer Research Position in Freshwater Ecology

Are you interested in freshwater ecology? Want to gain paid field work experience that will directly affect water quality management? The Carey Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences is recruiting one paid undergraduate research assistant for Spring and Summer 2024 (March–August). This position will be based on-campus in Blacksburg during the spring semester, and in Sunapee, NH from early/mid June – late July over the summer. The undergraduate researcher will assist with water quality sampling, field sampling preparation, data management, and water chemistry sample analysis and gain valuable field and lab experience as part of an interdisciplinary team of scientists.  The student will work closely with a VT graduate student mentor who will travel with the undergraduate researcher in the summer to NH. The undergraduate researcher will develop an independent project in freshwater ecology that aligns with their interests. All applicants must be enrolled at Virginia Tech through Spring 2024. Students interested in working with the Carey Lab for multiple semesters beyond Summer 2024 and members of historically-excluded groups are particularly encouraged to apply. For more information and how to apply see the full position posting.

Conferences and Journal Submissions

1. National Conference on Undergraduate Research

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2024 will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California from April 8-10, 2024. NCUR is now accepting submissions from students and faculty! Students are encouraged to apply to attend to present, make new connections, build their resumes, and more.

Student registration and accommodation to NCUR will be provided by the Office of Undergraduate Research, and a limited number of travel grants will also be available. To receive any funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research, students must list VT Office of Undergraduate Research (use the email address kswaby@vt.edu) as institutional representation on their NCUR application form. Note: VT can only support one student per presentation.

More conference information and abstract guidelines are available on the NCUR website. Submissions are accepted through December 8, 2023.

2. Stanford Undergraduate Research Conference

Applications are now open for the 2024 Standford Undergraduate Research Conference, which will be held in person at Stanford April 5-7, 2024. This event serves as a distinguished platform for undergraduates nationwide to showcase their research, foster connections with fellow researchers, and engage with esteemed leaders in the research community. will be hosting a virtual Info Session on November 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT (10:00 p.m. ET). More details about the conference will soon be on our website. Financial support is available for some students, including housing and food for the conference.  

3. Virginia Tech Undergraduate Research Featured in Cell

Congratulations to Elea-Maria Abisamra, whose work was just featured in the journal Cell! Elea-Maria is an honors undergraduate student and research fellow at Virginia Tech. She is majoring in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and has passions for STEM, writing, and entrepreneurship. In June 2022, Elea acted on her dream and founded Kids Can Write, becoming a CEO of a global nonprofit organization helping turn kids into published authors while teaching them STEM in an innovative and unique way. You can read “The power of storytelling in STEM” online.

4. ACC Meeting of the Minds

Each year, Virginia Tech selects up to 5 outstanding undergraduate researchers through a formal application process (accompanied by a faculty/staff member) to present their research at the annual ACC Meeting of the Minds along with peers from the other 14 ACC – member institutions. It is truly an honor to be selected to participate in this conference. All expenses are paid by the ACCAC. Only individual presentations can be considered for this conference; no group or team projects are eligible. The meeting is from April 5-7, 2024 and the student application to attend is due January 29, 2024. More information on the student application can be found on the OUR website.

5. Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Symposium

The 2024 Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Symposium is on April 15 and 16, 2024. The deadline for papers and posters is January 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET.

6. Hot Topics in the Science of Security Symposium

The Hot Topics in the Science of Security (HotSoS) Symposium will take place virtually April 2-4, 2024. HotSOS is a research event centered on the Science of Security, which aims to address the fundamental problems of security in a principled manner. Student participation is highly encouraged. The call for papers is open in three categories with a Dec.15 deadline:

  • Already-published papers
  • Works in progress
  • Poster/demo submission 

Other Opportunities

1. Pathways to Science Summer Research Programs and Scholarships in STEM

Programs and professional development resources for undergraduates, including research experiences, scholarships, and travel, are available in a searchable database at the Pathways to Science website. There are currently over 65 scholarships and fellowships posted! Many have fall deadlines, so check them out soon.

2. New Class: Ecology Research in Local Waterways

Are you interested in an authentic, collaborative research experience in the biological and environmental sciences? Consider taking a new offering in Biological Sciences, BIOL 2984 Special Study: Ecology Research in Local Waterways (CRN 21555). Learn about the health of local waterways through a semester-long group research project. Gain professional skills in water quality sampling, developing research questions, reading peer-reviewed articles, team science, working with environmental datasets, and science communication. Share the results of your research with freshwater scientists and local community members. The class meets MF 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. and W from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and is for 2 credit hours. Email Dr. Erin Hotchkiss with questions or for more information.

3. INNOVATE Cyber Challenge

Apply now for the INNOVATE Cyber Challenge. This is a paid ($1000) experiential learning opportunity via Zoom (no in person meetings required!) for cybersecurity and IT field undergraduate majors. Apply by December 15, 2023.

4. Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate.

By providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly-qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields. Over its 30-year history, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to win other prestigious awards like the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship that support our Scholars’ graduate school work. Today, Goldwater alumni can be found conducting research that is helping defend the Nation, finding cures for catastrophic diseases and teaching future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship application is now open for Sophomores & Juniors in STEM engaged in research and planning to go on to graduate school. The award is for $7,500.

In order to gain access to the full application, a short pre-application is required. This should be done ASAP! Note: the pre-application asks you to identify 3 potential recommenders. At this stage these recommenders will not be contacted, and this is the rare exception to list people before asking them.

5. Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize

Submit a poem to the 2024 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize and be a part of Virginia Tech history! Monetary prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place, and the top 10 poets will read their poems publicly at the Nikki Giovanni Celebration of Poetry on April 10, 2024. See submission form and information.

6. Think Swiss Research Scholarship

The ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship opens doors to the world of Swiss academia, which combines a high quality curriculum with innovative thinking. For whom? This program is designed for students who are enrolled at a U.S. or Canadian university and who have completed their sophomore year. The scholarship is open to students from all fields if they have an acceptance letter from a professor at a Swiss university for a research stay in their group. More information about the application process and eligibility criteria are on the Think Swiss website. The application deadline is December 31, 2023.