Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellows (VURF) Summer Program

• Students must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates during the period of their funded activities. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for the VURF grant.
  
• Mentors should be Full-Time Continuing (FTC), Tenure Track (TT), or tenured faculty member. If a student seeks to work with an Adjunct faculty mentor, then the student will need a joint letter of support from both the Adjunct faculty member and a FTC or TT faculty member.
• Research projects associated with academic courses are not eligible for funding; projects may be occasioned by previous coursework, but all projects must be documented as substantive developments beyond the original work. Note Regarding Senior Theses: Research completed during the summer prior to a student's senior year can be supported by a VURF and incorporated into a senior thesis. This is encouraged to help students to strengthen arguments, make additional conclusions, and allow more opportunities for student publication. However, a VURF may not be used to replace any departmental requirements—including, for many majors, a full academic year of research and training during the student’s final, regular academic year.
• Collaboration between faculty and student researchers is encouraged, but student authorship within the project must be the core element; projects for which students are serving primarily as research assistants for faculty projects will not be funded.
• All project proposals must include their intended results and the venue within which the completed scholarship will be disseminated.
• Students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research course

The Center for Research and Fellowships is pleased to announce the annual call for proposals for the Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship (VURF) Program. Undergraduates from all colleges may apply for funding to undertake a scholarly research project with a Faculty Sponsor. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for the VURF grant.

VURF grantees are paid a $3,500 stipend for their summer research (10 weeks, 35 hours per week). VURF grantees who do not have housing near campus and who require access to campus facilities for their research will be guaranteed CRF-funded, on-campus summer room and board for 10 weeks. 

VURF applicants may also request supplemental funding for supplies and equipment related to the proposed research; in recent years, this supplemental funding has been limited to $500 per student to accommodate as many students as possible. If the applicant proposes a project for which funds in excess of $500 are required for equipment or supplies, then the applicant must account for or indicate the source of additional funds; the student must demonstrate that the proposal is feasible.

Students should not include conference travel in their supplemental budget. CRF Conference Travel Grants are available to all undergraduate researchers to present research at national and international conferences. Information about CRF Conference Travel Grants can be found here.

Your proposal must be submitted via the VURF Application Portal.

1.    Application for Funding  

2.    Resume

• One-page limit.
• CRF recommends that students visit the Villanova University Career Center to refine their resume in preparation for a VURF application.

3.    Research Proposal

• This two-page document outlines the Who/What/When/Where/Why/How of your proposal for your Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship project. Developing a strong, feasible, and compelling project is the most important aspect of a successful grant proposal. 
• Key points include a description of the proposed project, methods, final product, and anticipated timeline or schedule. Students may also consider addressing the following points: background information, feasibility, broader impacts, significance, and how this project fits into the student's overall goals or trajectory.
• Applicants might consider using the following sections as a way of organizing their proposal: Introduction, Background, Methods/Timeline, Feasibility, Broader Impacts, and Trajectory/Future Goals.
• A maximum of two pages of text will be accepted. A third page may be used for figures.
• Format: single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins.
• For 2022: it is recommended that students outline a contingency plan for their research methods in the event that research must be remote due to government and University directives.

4.    Bibliography

5.    Personal Statement

• This one-page narrative is designed to give reviewers a picture of you as an individual and about your trajectory and future plans. Concentrate on how your background has influenced your development and how that relates to the VURF. This should not be a reiteration of your resume or elaboration of the Research Proposal. Why is this research important to you, academically, personally, or professionally?
• Format: single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins.

6.    Unofficial transcript

7.    Budget

• Provide a budget for anticipated costs. Include any additional funding sources or amounts associated with your proposed research project. See Call for Proposals above for details on supplemental funding for supplies and equipment.
  
• If the applicant proposes a project for which funds in excess of $500 are required for equipment or supplies, then the applicant must account for or indicate the source of additional funds; the student must demonstrate that the proposal is feasible.
• Do not include conference travel in your budget. CRF Conference Travel Grants are available to all undergraduate researchers and require a separate application once students have confirmation that they will present at a conference.
• CRF Research and Travel Grants are not intended to supplement VURF grants (i.e., travel for fieldwork). Such requests will be assessed on a case-by-case and limited basis.
• The budget document should consist of a table of the budget information with brief justification. A budget justification must accompany each expense item and include: Item, Quantity, Cost, Justification, Total.
  • Materials and Supplies - Itemize materials and supplies by nature of expense. Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations (e.g., vendor quotes, prior purchase of similar or like items, etc.)
  • Other – (Subscriptions, access to archives, etc.)

Please note that the stipend amount will be $3500. This amount is taxable. The Faculty Review Committee reserves the right to set limits on supplementary project costs.

8.    Faculty Sponsor Endorsement and Letter of Support

• Your faculty sponsor should address your academic potential and your ability to successfully complete the proposed project. The Faculty Sponsor materials will be submitted through the official VURF Application Portal.
  

AFTER FINAL AWARD NOTIFICATIONS ARE SENT IN APRIL:

9. Apply for the CRF Summer Housing Award in mid-April following award notification. All VURF grantees who do not have housing near campus AND whose research requires access to campus facilities are guaranteed summer housing on campus, but CRF-Sponsored Summer Housing is limited beyond VURF grantees.  Students whose projects are fully remote are ineligible for the CRF Research Summer Housing Award, which is intended for students whose research requires access to campus facilities.

A completed application consists of the following, uploaded on the official VURF Application Portal:

1. ____ Application (See official VURF portal)
   
2. ____ Resume: Listing your college honors, scholarships, extracurricular activities, publications, community service, performances, employment, hobbies/interests, etc. that you consider most significant.
   
3. ____ Research Proposal and citations: Two pages of text, plus one additional page for figures as needed. Citations are not considered part of the 3-page limit.
   
4. ____ Personal Statement: One page detailing your background and your motivations for pursuing a VURF opportunity.
   
5. ____ Transcript(s): Villanova Transcripts can be unofficial. If you would like submit an official transcript please request one in advance from the Registrar's Office through MyNova. If you have attended other undergraduate institutions for previous full time or summer study, include transcript(s) from these schools.
   
6. ____ Budget
7. ____ Faculty Sponsor Endorsement: Your faculty sponsor should address your academic potential and your ability to successfully complete the proposed project. Mentor submits through online portal.
   

You have been asked to serve as the Faculty Sponsor for a Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship (VURF) candidate. If awarded, the VURF program will provides funding for the student to conduct independent research under your mentorship. These awards are granted to students with strong academic records who show potential to excel in scholarly research.

As part of your endorsement, you will be asked to write a letter of recommendation. In this letter, please address the following:

• How long you have known the student and in what capacity.
• With specific examples, provide your evaluation of the applicant’s academic, intellectual or artistic abilities with respect to the proposed project. 
• Your commitment to serve as the faculty sponsor for this project.
• The nature of any special training or preparation the student has completed to allow execution of the project (may include relevant course work or independent study or consultation with you).
• Your role as advisor or collaborator in the project.
• Your critical assessment of the probability of successful completion of the work outlined in the student’s proposal.
• The nature of any other support you or your department will make available for the project, e.g., archived data, special collections, and laboratory or field equipment.
• In general terms where the project fits into your area of specialty or field of study.

Your letter of endorsement must contain a declaration of your commitment to serve as Advisor and Mentor to the student and state your commitment to assist the student in completing a successful, active, independent scholarly project; this commitment is essential--and quite distinct from utilizing the student as a research assistant for your own scholarly research. It also assures the student will engage in a meaningful research experience with you as a collaborator.

• The video interview component is not required for the VURF 2022 competition.
• VURF grantees are not permitted to hold outside employment or pursue summer classes in addition to their research (excluding weekends and evenings). A VURF grant is intended to be a full-time commitment, much like an internship. Any questions about this requirement should be directed to CRFresearch@villanova.edu.
• Presidential Scholars should apply for the VURF grant using the Presidential Scholars Program Professional Development Award mechanism.